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Greek Unification Dbq

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After the fall of the Mycenaean Civilization and the great migration, there was a unification of people in the same area. The potential of an attack from outsiders was the central factor that drove this unification; a unified body is able to execute actions more responsively than people who are not unified. The goal of a city-state was to be self-sufficient, thus the people who belonged to it needed to utilize the available talent, labor and resources. As the people worked together for the benefit of their city-state, their loyalty shifted from their household to their city-state. Before the 8th century B.C., a person was identified by the household to which he belonged; consequently, he was first and foremost loyal to his household; Pomeroy …show more content…

The colonies had the same form of government and religious traditions as the original metropolis. However, there were no political ties between the metropolis and the apoikia, resulting in political independence. In the 8th century B.C., when colonization first occurred, the locations of the colonies reflected the trading outposts on the coast of the land; the colonies were in those locations in order to secure and control the trade routes. Consequently, the Greeks frequently came into contact with other groups of people who would pass through these trades post, connecting them with other resources. As the Greeks expanded from the western direction, another power was expanding to the same place from the eastern direction. The Greek colonies located in Asia Minor were overtaken by the Persian Empire under the rule of King Darius. In the early 5th century B.C., the Ionian Greeks intended to revolt against the unwanted Persian rule. As they revolt against the Persians, they get help from Athens, “Once persuaded to accede to Aristagoras’ appeal, the Athenians passed a decree for the dispatch of twenty ships to Ionia…These ships were the beginning of evils for Greeks and barbarians” (Herodotus, 5.97). Because Athens helps her former colonies revolt against the tyrants appointed by Persia, Persia seeks revenge against Athens. The rapid colonization of the areas outside of mainland Greece, particularly to Asia Minor, created an inevitable conflict between the Greeks and the

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