Hellenism

 Historic and Cultural Conditions that lead to the Greek Enlightenment

The Ionian civilization was the precursor to Athenian civilization. As a group, the Ionians were individualistic, imaginative, and speculative. They reveled in the luxuries of their culture.

The Dorian civilization produced Sparta. The Dorians were disciplinarians and very conservative. Despite their political and ideological differences, there was little difference in the day to day life of the Ionians and the Dorians.

The sixth century B.C. produced a change in Sparta as power centralized into corporate states and permanent military garrisons. As a result, the Spartans became xenophobic and began to discourage any form of discourse with the outside world. Sparta became a closed system, ruled by martial law. Education and cultural development were de-emphasized.

In contrast, Athens began to seek commerce. As a result, the increase in travel exposed the Greeks to societies which had no governmental control. Because of this, the Athenians began to question the need for Archons (kings). Until this time, the Olympian cults, were the religion of the aristocrats. As Athenian society began to change, Dionyssian (Dionysus - the god of wine, orgies, and chaos) cults became the religion of the masses (especially women). Worship was emotional and frenzied. The services focused on such themes as death, dismemberment, and rebirth. Dionysus did not reproach his worshippers (ala Zeus) but instead offered them balm and comfort. Dinoysus also offered the hope of immortality through rebirth rather than the Hades that the Olympian gods promised.

The Grecian climate also added to the promise of enlightenment. There were enough available resources that the Greeks were nearly self-sufficient. Still mainly farmers, the Greeks began to spend their leisure time in social discourse. Greeks began to dominate regional commerce. A rising merchant class began to compete for land that was previously owned by Aristocrats.

Until 487 B.C. the Greeks were incessantly at war. In 480 B.C. the Greeks claimed a decisive victory over Persia. This victory solidified Athens role as a "super-power." The cessation of war lead to social and economic stability. Peace was vital to the development of the enlightenment.

After the battles in 480 B.C. the Delian League was developed as a confederation designed to defend the city states. Each city state had one vote. Athens moved to centralize and control the power of the city states through the league.

Head to Pre-Hellenic Philosophers .