Introduction to the Ancient World: Greece

From Lysistrata to Alexander the Great

I. Aristophanes (c. 450-383 B.C.) and Lysistrata (411 B.C.) 

A. Comedy (from komos) by inversion: women seizing political control,  women engaging in military activity, women making speeches
B. parody: of oaths, prayers, tragedy, etc. 
C. The serious underbelly: e.g., topic of silent women at home and remarriage  (pp. 56ff.) 

II. The significance of Alexander: world history 

III. The beginnings:  

A. Philip II of Macedon; Olympias; Chaeronea (338 B.C.); Demosthenes
B. Alexander takes over: against the Achaemenids (Persians); Troy, Gordion (Gordian knot); Ephesus; Issos (333 B.C.), King Darius,   Egypt (Alexandria, Zeus oracle at Shiwa) 
C. Mesopotamia (Iraq), Iran, India - Gaugamela (331 B.C.); satrap Bessos; admiral Nearchos; oikumene 

IV. The final years 

A. wedding at Susa
B. return of the exiles in Greece
C. apotheosis; proskynesis 

Lecture 31 Images

Forward to Lecture 32

Forward to Lecture 32 Images