SMC Barbarian Perceptions Greek Stereotypes Article Questions

Description

Links to an external site. and answer the following questions:

1. When you hear the term “barbarian”, what does it mean to you? What do you usually associate this term with?
2. How did the Greeks use the term “barbarian”. What are the origins of this term, according to this article?
3. In constructing the concept of “barbarian”, what other stereotypes did the Greeks invent?
4. Reflection: What are your thoughts after reading this article? Were you aware of the origins of the term “barbarian”? What are some of your takeaways? Do you have any questions?

The Greeks invented the concept of the “other” by centering themselves as superior. They believed to be superior to any other cultures around them. (*note* Greeks did not think of themselves as a “race” because the concept of race was not invented until the 19th century by Europeans. The invention of race is based on the belief that other groups of people are biologically inferior to Europeans and their descendants. Though Greeks did not think this, they did think that their culture, values, language etc was superior. These attitudes influenced the invention of race later on)

Part 2

This image portrays how the Greeks visually represented “barbarians”. The person on the ground on the left side is a Persian warrior, who would be known as a barbarian to the Greeks. The Person standing on the right is a Greek warrior. Compare the two men and describe how each are portrayed.

Greek hoplite and Persian warrior fighting each other. Depiction in ancient kylix. 5th c. B.C. National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Links to an external site.