Ancient Greece Life During the Homeric Age: Political, Social, Economic, and Religious Life
The article explores the political, social, economic, and religious life of ancient Greece, particularly during the Homeric Age (c. 1200-800 B.C.).
The overall system of Greek civilization:
Highlights the complexity and richness of ancient Greek civilization, illustrating its political structures, social dynamics, economic challenges, and profound religious beliefs.
Political Life:
Greek tribes were led by courageous leaders who eventually became kings, seen as first among equals. Governance involved a council of elders and an assembly of armed men, fostering a sense of rights and responsibilities among citizens. Greece did not unify into a single kingdom, leading to the development of city-states like Athens and Sparta, each with distinct political structures, including monarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, tyranny, and democracy.
Tribal Organization:
Like the Aryans in the Early Vedic Age in India, the Greeks in the Homeric Age or Age of Kings (c. 1200-800 B.C.) had a tribal organization. Each tribe was led in war and peace by a man of great courage, warlike qualities, wisdom and resourcefulness.
Council and Assembly:
A tribe had mainly two bodies:
- a small council of wise old men to deal with the relatively small problems of the tribe, and
- an assembly of able-bodied weapon bearing men of the tribe to discuss problems relating to the welfare of all.
King:
In course of time, the leader of the tribe came to be called king. He represented the tribe before the gods. He was supposed, to protect the members of the tribe, lead them in sunshine and sorrow, peace and war, settle disputes, give justice, and promote the welfare of all.
The concept of monarchy in Greece was different from that in other countries. Like the Lord Mayor of the modern times, the Greek king was not far above the ordinary man. In fact, he was regarded as the first among equals. He could remain in power only as long as he worked for the good of the people, and could be overthrown, if he worked contrary to their common interests.
Members of a Greek tribe were conscious of their rights and responsibilities, They protected their rights with great vigilance wud never tolerated any outside interference.
City state’s
The whole of Greece never became one kingdom. Geographical influence, tribal loyalties, parochial spirit and other factors led to the growth of city states: A local area with an acropolis or rained plateau with the surrounding plain became a city state, In the beginning, there were only about a dozen city states. Later the number rose to 150. Among these, Athens, Sparta, Corinth, Argos, Thebes, Ephesus and Miletus became prominent as great centers Of trade and commerce, art, learning and literature.
A city state was a well-knit organization.
People took great interest in the affairs of the city state, and completely identified themselves with it. However, in their overenthusiasm to protect their own interest and honour, they distrusted and hated the people of the neighboring city states. Sometimes two neighboring city states recklessly quarreled and ruined themselves.
Political Experiments:
In their city states, the Greeks conducted several political experiments like monarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, tyranny and democracy.
Social Life:
- Greek society at one stage had the tribal leader or king at the top.
- Next in rank came the nobles. Below the nobles were the free mon.
- At the bottom of the social structure there were the slaves.
Women did not enjoy a high status in society, They had no citizenship and political rights. They did not have the rights and freedom enjoyed by women in countries like Egypt.
Like the Aryans in India, the Greeks had patriarchal families. The father exercised full control and had the power of life and death over his children. Men worked on the field, while women prepared food, and spun and wove for the family.
Economic Life:
Economics life wan not rich. The soil was poor, and the farmer had to struggle hard to eke out a livelihood. The farmer grew grains like wheat and barley, vegetables like pens and lentils, and fruits like olives, grapes and figs.
The nobles had large farms and were very wealthy. They lent money at high rates of interest. They enslaved free men, who could not repay the loans. The number of debt slaves was large.
During the Age of Kings (1200-800 B.C.) the enterprising and vigorous young Greeks colonized in foreign countries. Oppression by Kings, tyranny of aristocrats or oligarchs, excessive parental control, pressure of population and hard life, the example of Ionian traders, and attractive opportunities in countries across the sea led to large-scale colonization.
Flourishing Greek colonics flowered in Asia Minor, the Black Sea coast, in Sicily, in Italy, along the coasts of France and Spain and in Egypt. A few of the Greek colonies attained great fume and became the centers of rich trade and commerce. All round the Black Sea there were Greek settlements.
The colonies of Chalcedon and Byzantium (founded by the city state of Megara) in the Straits, Marseilles in France, Syracuse (established by Corinth in 735 B.C.) in Sicily, Cumae on the Bay of Naples, Croton in South Italy, Cyrene (Cyrenaica) and Naucratis near the later Alexandria in North Africa were some of the well known colonies. The, Greek colonies of Southern Italy and Sicily formed an area later known as Magna Graecia.
One of the most flourishing cities in Italy was Neapolis (New -City), the modern Naples. At that tine Rome was an obscure place. Some city states took a great initiative in a well planned colonization. For instance, Corinth established the colony of Syracuse. Miletus, an outstanding city of Asia Minor, proudly said that she was the mother or grandmother of more than seventy towns on the southern shore of the Black Sea. Greek civilization spread far and wide through these colonies.
Religion:
The Greek worshipped a number of gods and goddesses, who were anthropomorphic. They behaved like human beings. They revealed the same emotions and passions, likes and dislikes, and virtues and drawbacks like human beings. But unlike human beings, they were very powerful and had immortality. At times, they were pleased and happy, while at times they were angry and vindictive. They were like magnified human beings, living on the snow clad peak of Mount Olympus in north Thessaly. Surprisingly, in response to the call of their favorites on earth, they would come down to earth with spear and shield to take part in wars.
The various city states had their own local gods, but certain gods and rituals were common to all Greeks. In the beginning, they worshipped their own original nature gods and goddesses, but their contact with the Cretans and other peoples made-them worship new gods.
The most important Greek gods or goddesses were the following:
- Zeus, the father or king of gods and human beings, wielder of the thunderbolt and leader of the council of the twelve chosen gods.
- Hera, the wife of Zeus, who presided at marriage ceremonies.
- Apollo, the son of Zeus, god of light and healing, remover of darkness and evil, and paragon of man’s beauty.
- Athena, the daughter of Zeus springing frum his head, goddess of wisdom, patroness of arts and learning, and protectress of women and cities.
- Poseidon, god of the sea and shaker of the earth.
- Demeter, the mother goddess of the earth.
- Artemis, the moon goddess, the protectress of forests and wild life. .
- Aphrodite, the goddess of love, born of sea foam.
- Dionysus, the god of wine and suffering.
- Ares, the god of war.
- Phoebus, the sun-god.
- Hades, the god of the under-world.
Besides, there was a large population of local and household gods.
The Greeks did not have an established church, or a systematic theology or official dogmas. It was not necessary to engage priests as in ancient India for the performance of rituals. Priests were regarded only as public officials, who were to perform religious rites.
Every city had a god or goddess as patron, whose worship was the duty of, all patriotic citizens.
Rich mythology arose around the gods of the Greek pantheon. Temples were built for the gods, hymns and songs were composed in their honour, and festivals were celebrated.
Many Greeks believed that they descended from the gods, and they entertained the hope of becoming gods after death It was believed that man Was nude out of clay by Prometheus who stole fire and gave it too man. This annoyed Zeus, who sent Pandora with a box full of worries and disease to mankind. The sufferings of human beige rapidly multiplied till Zeus sent a great flood destroying everything except two persons the son of Prometheus and his wife.
The gods and goddesses were worshipped and sacrifices were offered to have fevered The Greek a believed that human life was nothing but a puppet show in which gods and goddesses pulled the strings Before each meal, food and wine were given to the gods. On festival days, at the opening of assemblies and law courts- marriages, births and deaths, sacrifices wore offered.
No Faith in Heaven:
The Aryans in India believed in heaven and bell, and followed the path of virtue to have divine favors and shunned the path of evil to escape from punishment. The principle to be followed was:
Speak the truth and act according to Dharma.
In the Greek religion, there was nothing to inspire people to do goad and avoid evil. All persons, good and evil, had to cross the river Styx and go to Hades, the dark nether world. Only great heroes were favored, and after death they were supposed to go to the Elysian fields or the Islands of the Blessed in the far west beyond the unknown sea.
All Greeks desired to do great and heroic deeds to be entitled to go to the Elysian Fields. There was nothing noble and elevating in religion to draw human being to the path of goodness and righteousness. This was indeed a great drawback of Greek religion. They tried to be brave and clever rather than good and virtuous.
Oracles:
The Greeks believed that the will of the gods and goddesses could be known through the mediums. Gods gave their opinions or verdicts and forecast events. Thus arose the Greek faith in oracles, the divine mediums or agencies of divine revelations They consulted oracles before going to war or embarking on a great enterprise, The oracle of Delphi was widely known.
Intolerance:
In the early days, the Greeks put blind faith in their gods and goddesses, and could not free themselves completely from it with all their scientific and rational outlook. Even Herodotus, the Father of History, was supposed to have written his History as directed by the gods. In Athens, several free thinkers became unpopular, as they cast doubts on the very existence of the gods, Anaxagoras, the philosopher and scientist, was punished for having the audacity to examine the composition of the sun, the home of god Apollo. Intolerance and fanaticism led to the condemnation of Socrates. One of the causes of putting him to death was his desire to know the why and how of things, disregarding the existence of the gods.
Homage to Gods through Olympic Games:
The Greek paid homage to their gods through the Olympic games. Once in four years, athletes and writers from the various city states came to Olympia to take part in contests. The winners in these contents were believed to be the favorites of the gods. The Greeks could never unite politically, and the numerous city states quarreled among themselves. But during the Olympic games, all the city states forgot their mutual rivalry and observed truce for o month. Thus the Olympic festival promoted unity and understanding by bringing together all the sportsmen and writers. It was a national festival, eagerly awaited by all. The contestants did their best ty win name and fume at Olympia.
Many kinds of games were played, and the sportsman’s spirit was at its best. The best athletes of Greece could be seen contesting for national honour in broad jump, discus and javelin throw, racing, wrestling and other sports. The winner of each item was liven a crown of olives and was honoured as a national hero.
The interval of four years between two Olympics was called Olympiad. The winner of the stadion, that is, 200 yards dash, was honoured by naming the Olympiad after him. The Olympiads became so important that time was calculated in Olympiads.
The traditional date of the first Olympic festival is 776 B.C. Since then for the next twelve hundred years till 394 A.D. the Olympics were played regularly.
The modern world emulated the great Greek spirit of sportsmanship, and started in 1896 the modern Olympic games for fostering sportsmanship and bringing together various nations on the playground.
Language And Literature:
The Achaeans, Ionians, Illyrians and other Greeks spoke different dialects; but in course of time they all developed Greek, their common language, which became the medium of thought and expression. National literature was produced in Greek, which rose to classical heights.
The Greeks read with national pride and pleasure their two great epics, the Ziad and the Odyssey, which according to tradition were composed by the blind bard Homer.