Ancient Greek History 101

by Christopher M. Bellitto

To understand Christian history and Western civilization, one must understand Greek history.

All four gospels were composed in Greek. The empire Alexander conquered and the culture his followers conveyed became the Roman territories in which Christianity first spread. Ancient Greek philosophers, particularly Aristotle, bequeathed to Christian theology a framework and method that profoundly shaped Christian faith down through the ages.

Now, you are invited to join award-winning historian Christopher Bellitto on this gripping journey through centuries of Greek history.

Ancient Greek History 101 is one of the most vital topics in history, and its influence is undeniable on Western philosophy, theology, and civilization. However, we often talk about ancient Greece and without really being able to place it in place, time, and context. Now, you can discover the fascinating legacy of ancient Greece through entertaining and enlightening lectures.

You'll begin by exploring how ancient Greece fits on a broad canvas of world history, geography, and chronology viewed from a wide-angle lens. You will move forward in time, stopping often to explore closely important moments, topics, and themes. You will cover the most essential events in ancient Greece as you travel through centuries of history. Along the way, you will gain a level of understanding that will help you better understand the factors that have so influenced Christian theology, democracy, and civilization.

You don't want to miss this essential and expertly taught course.

Genres: History, Audiobook, Nonfiction

Audible Audio

Published July 24, 2017

Reviews

[Priskah]

Dnf.

[Ambarish · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book (lecture) is very informative about Greek civilization and puts a lots of things into perspective. But its only worth reading if you are into history (specifically greek history). I liked it even though I rated it badly. Also, this is kinda a course in a university, so its a lecture and not a book to be specific.

Notes from the book about Greek Civilization (Chronologically) —
1. Timelines
1. Before 13000 BCE humans were Hunter Gatherers
1. 13000 - 3000 — Is also called as “Stone Age” (everything made of stone)
2. Staring 13000 BCE humans created stone tools and started settling down
3. Starting 8000 BCE humans created big cities in mesopotemia
4. 3000 - 1000 BCE — Is also called as “Bronze Age” (settled humans), development, homer (person), trojan war
5. 1000 - 0 BCE — Is also called as “Iron Age”, everything made of Iron
6. Greek Civilization
1. 3300 — 1600 BCE — Minoan civilization Greece
2. 3300 — 1300 BC — Indus Valley Civilization (just for context)
3. 1600 — 1000 BCE — Mycenian civilization
1. 1200 - 1100 BCE - Troy war (1260 BCE)
1. Troy in turkey (middle men, traders)
4. 1000 — 500 BCE — Dark Ages
5. 500 — 150 BCE — Great Greek civilization
1. 499 — 449 BCE — Persian wars (Greek United)
2. 449 — ~400 BCE — Intra greek
3. 356 — 323 BCE — Alexander the great (fan of achilles)
6. Starting 140 BCE Roman started to rise and conquered Greece
7. 0 AD - now — Is also called as the “Technology Age”
2. In medivial period christian held muslim slaves and vice versa
3. Slavery was ethnic not racial earlier (I defeated your city state ur my slave, so being a slave was temporary)
1. Racial slavey started in 1300 AD (started by portugese smugling blacks from Africa)
4. Socrates (guru) —> Plato (guru) —> Aristotle (had wierd views, it was ohk to enslave people)
1. All these greats existed during the end of athenian civilization
5. During Shakspeare time Juliet was a boy, girls weren’t allowed to play in theaters
6. Athenian Civilization —
1. The athenian people thought democracy means everybody should be involved in all decisions so any decision public was involved.
2. More noisy it gets the better it is, which means everybody is participating
3. So every decision takes place in a big ground where everybody is present
4. The con to it is a raged fickle mob, which takes decision without thinking
7. Socrates —
1. Socrates was kinda the first known greek philosopher. He was wise, but irritating. He used to play with peoples mind, philosophically. If you want an answer, he will ask you questions so that you yourself will answer it. He was tried for being too wise and teaching unnecessary wisdom, being honest and being atheist. But he was very intelligent.
2. Desire to free the soul from body is usually find in a true philosopher.
3. Socrates was a annoying person, mostly used to say “I told you so”.
4. Socrates was punished to death, coz he was too open minded and democratic. In some athenian war 10 generals ran off the field and it was considered to be a crime. Socrates said they should be tried differently and not at once. People were mad at that time and they wanted to see the blood of those 10 generals. Socrates was also punished by those people, to drink hemlock (poison). He said I want to enlighten people, so he accepted the punishment. He could have said sorry. But he said whats right whats right. And drank hemlock, and with his death kind of told people what democracy and sticking to ideals is. And there comes the famous picture of “Death of Socrates” plato and Aristotle sitting by his side. Nobody was happy.
8. Alexander
1. Alexander was from Macedonia
2. He claimed that he was God
3. He was only defeated in later stages of his life
4. On his deathbed, his generals asked whom should rule after you. And he said whoever is the strongest. So his kingdom fell apart in between his generals.
9. Babylon in Persia (Alexander went there)
10. Alexandria in Egypt (Alexander went there)
11. Roman Empire —
1. Started during 750 BCE (before that they were nowhere)
2. In rome
3. Romans conquered Greece around 150 BCE
4. Coz after alexander everything fell to his general who had small territories, which were easy to defeat
5. Rome invaded Greece but greek ideals still dominated romans
6. Romans weren’t innovators they were monarchs

[Leah Moyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Bellitto is not your typical history professor or lecturer. He brings such a fun, dynamic aspect to learning as he presents a cliffs notes version of Greek History in (12) 30 minute sections.

He doesn’t necessarily list events chronologically, but breaks down the history of Greece… as city-states and the enemies and allies within. He also brings forth a strong understanding of the historians, culture, people, and geography as well.

For the most part, I think many of us know the connection between the Spartans and the Athenians. For some it came from watching the movie 300. The Spartans, being the well-built land warriors and the Athenians, the conquerors of the sea. Each had their strengths and weaknesses and it is surprising that they even came together at all to fight against Xerxes and the Persians at Thermopylae.

To truly understand the strength of these 300 warriors you would need to understand their culture and way of life. The Spartans knew when they left for Thermopylae that they would die but fought for the good of all of Greece despite the fractured city-states functioning on their own. Persia was the common enemy and threatened their homes, families, and lives. This act was astounding to me as they fought each other 99% of the time before and after this event.

Professor Bellitto not only uses humor and metaphors to teach history, he does it in a way that we might relate to. He equates scenarios in ancient Greece to modern behaviors and actions that we are familiar with in our own culture. This type of lecture makes the information so much more relatable.

I enjoyed this audiobook so much I purchased his Roman History 101 shortly after.

[Tom Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version. The book delivers on its promise and I found the lecturer to be engaging and descriptive of the many different eras of Greek history. With such a wide scope and "history 101" in the title it is certain to leave many wanting more on some topics and I'm no exception. For me the broad overview was helpful after learning some of the history in short segments over time. As an example the section where the author describes the overlap of different periods and events in the Mediterranean region is an interesting approach to the subject. I did want to get more information about the Greek writers and philosophers in addition to Socrates, Plato and Aristotle that have contributed so much to Western civilization.

[CaptC · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine. A classic format of 30 minute lectures about a topic the professor knows exceptionally well. And I like the structure. And I wanted to know more about the topic.

Surely, that is a win. You get what you pay for. In rating the book, I look for something more. After all, there are certainly many professors that could put this together without much effort. And I didn't find much. I found his analogies strained, at time, and too extensive. (In ancient Greece they have X, which is similar to modern world Y. Now, let me go on and on about Y, for a bit, because I want to, even though it doesn't help you understand Greece and X.)

But that is just me.

[Alicia Colón · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this is excellent as a refresher or supplemental information to ancient greece. This is a great intro there was plenty of new information that I am looking forward to researching further. However, I think this will be better enjoyed and understood if you have some prior knowledge going into this.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very engaging. I binged on a plane to Athens and it helped the flight to go by. The only reason I take off 1 star is because some major pieces felt a bit rushed, like how there were only a few sentences about Pericles. I would have preferred another hour or two of content to go a little deeper.

[Joshua Dew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-organized and delivered. Interesting survey of Ancient Greek history squeezed into 5 hours.

[Ditte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m definitely gonna reread this one. It gets the larger picture, and in a language you can understand and follow.

[Bindareyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fab introduction to the ancient Greeks.

[em :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this was so much fun
Now will I remember any of it is a whole separate thing but it was fun