The Classical World

Objectives

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- To gain knowledge of the classical civilisation of Greece - To know Athenian democracy and the age of Pericles - To understand how a small town (Rome) emerged as a republic and later became an empire - To learn the contribution of Rome to world civilization - To aquire knowledge of classical China and its achievements - To trace the origin of Christianity and its spread in Eastern Roman Empire

Recap

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- The Greeks fought patriotically and repulsed the invasion of Persians. - Athens rejected monarchy and oligarchy, and opted for democracy. - During the reign of Pericles, Athens was in a higher plane of civilization. - After the death of Alexander, Science, Mathematics and Philosophy reached its peak in the Greek-Egyptian city of Alexandria, heralding a new Hellenistic era. - By the late 6th century BC (BCE), Rome became prosperous and developed into a republic. - Class wars between Patricians and Plebeians, and slave revolts led to emergence of Rome as an Empire. - The period of Principate in general and Augustus in particular witnessed rich contribution of Romans to science, engineering, architecture and sculpture. - Internal crisis and invasion of Franks, Goths and Vandals ended the Roman Empire. - Romans carried on their civilisation in the East with Constantinople as capital. This is called Byzantine Civilization. - Christianity became a state religion of Byzantium and began to spread in Europe.