ANCIENT GREECE

W O R L D HI S

T O R Y

1. What are the 2 great epics that were written in ancient Greece and who wrote them?

2. Compare Greek religion with others you have learned about.

3. How did nobles get power in Greece? How did they lose it? What part did tyrants play?

4. What 4 things did all Greek city-states have in common?

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER BY THE END OF THIS LESSON:

WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT GREECE?

GEOGRAPHY OF GREECE

NO UNITY BECAUSE OF GEOGRAPHY

Mountain ranges and water separatedCommunities.

NO great river systems unlike otherAncient civilizations.

AGRICULTUREClimate good for crops (mild)Good pasture for sheep and goatsBUT not enough flat land to grow a lot of crops

So………………………………………..

GREEKS DEPENDED ON SEA TRADE

RESULTS OF SEA TRADEGreek traders gained knowledge from places like Egypt and

the Fertile Crescent.

Check up: How did geography influence the way of life of the early Greeks?

MINOAN CIVLIZATIONOn CreteMinos= kingMinotaur myth

DEVELOPMENTS IN MINOAN CIVILIZATIONWriting, running water in homes!Frescoes, art, bronze. Ivory, gold, silverWomen has important rolesMinoans playful, had festivals, worshipped bull and earth

goddesses….

VOLCANO!Weakened Minoan civilization. Eventually, Indo-Europeans came and took over.

DARK AGESWar-like Mycenaeans conquered Crete. Illiterate. Knowledge of reading and writing disappeared

until Phoenicians introduced alphabet around 750 BCE

CITY-STATES = POLISInfluenced by geographic and tribal organization . polis- fort + city + land surrounding

COMMON FEATURES OF CITY-STATES1. Small size (300-500 sq miles) Athens is smaller than

Rhode Island!2. Small population (usually less than 10,000 people).

Citizens=free males. Women were citizens but had no political rights.

3. Placed on a hill or mountain (Acropolis)4. Has a public market place (Agora)

IN EACH CITY STATEUnique for each city state: laws, calendar, money,

system of weights and measures

All city states: common language, descendant (Hellen), religious ideas, common temples and festivals like the Olympics! Prejudice against non-Greeks

GREEK GOV’T AND SOCIETYHomeric Age: named after poet Homer who wrote

epics: Iliad and OdysseyStory of both revolves aroundthe Trojan War

RELIGION AND MORALSPurposes: 1. Explain the physical world2. Explain human passions3. Means for gaining long life, good harvest, and fortune

People needed to speak to gods through priests and priestesesOracle: could predict future

GREEK GODSHuman characteristics and weaknesses

MYTHSExplained the world

ATHLETICSImportant because displays of strength pleased the

gods. Only men!

NOBLESTook over kingdoms because they controlled armies and

had the power to take over! They owned land and farmers were allowed to live and work on land if they paid a small amount.

COLONIES SPREAD GREEK CULTURESometimes farmers couldn’t pay for their land so they

were forced to leave. Some moved to cities to become merchants, some left to settle colonies . This also spread Greek culture around the Mediterranean and helped the Greeks to learn from other civilizations.

TRADEColonies imported goods from Greece and exported

grain and other products to Greece.

ARISTOCRACIES: RULE BY THE BESTCity-states ruled by nobles = AristocraciesEventually power of nobles weakened by hoplites (non-aristocratic

soldiers who could afford their own weapons. They fought in phalanx (close rows) so they could withstand cavalry

charges by aristocratic horsemen.

DEMANDS OF HOPLITESMore say in gov’tPoor citizens and farmers also wanted leaders who

promised a better life: tyrants.Idea of popular gov’t led to democracy.

CHECK UP!Answer the following questions!

1. What are the 2 great epics that were written in ancient Greece and who wrote them?

2. Compare Greek religion with others you have learned about.

3. How did nobles get power in Greece? How did they lose it? What part did tyrants play?

4. What 4 things did all Greek city-states have in common?

SPARTA!

?S TO ANSWER BY THE END OF THE LESSON1. Describe the gov’t of Sparta, incl the

emphasis on militarism2. Define the following: helot, ephors,

metics, archon,Draco, Solon, Persistratus, Cleisthenes.

3. Define the features of the early government of Athens. What reforms occurred to transform this government into a democracy?

4. What is the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy?

STRUCTURE OF SPARTAEst. by Dorian invaders. Highly militarized

3 social groups:1. Equals: citizens descendant to Dorians. Land dist equally

among them and worked on by helots.2. Half-citizens: free, paid taxes, served in army, but no political

power. Some were farmers and some lived in towns and were merchants.

3. Helots: slaves of Sparta city-state. Outnumbered other groups!

Spartans terrorized helots to keep them from rebelling.

GOVERNMENTAssembly: all adult male citizensCouncil of elders2 kings5 ephors (overseers) elected by assembly for 1 year

term. Monitored kings and citizens. Unlimited power as guardians of the state.

MILITARY MACHINETraining from birth!Every adult male had to be in the militaryWeak baby boys sent to die7 year olds went to live in military barracksHad to steal food to live: punished only for being caught.

EXPECTED to steal!

RULES OF THE MILITARYService from age 20-50!

Can marry @ 20 but can’t live at home or go to the marketplace until you’re 30.

No trade or business: love of money gets in the way of military discipline

SPARTAN GIRLSHad to be strong to raise soldiers!

Boys and girls: studies music to learn discipline and coordination

SACRIFICES OF MILITARY MIGHT-No individual freedom, no art, no literature, no

philosophy or science

ATHENS: BIRTH OF DEMOCRACYDif from Sparta: passed up by Dorian invaders.Infertile land: they became traders, coined money, city

inlandTypical polis: on a hill, protected by city walls.

SOCIAL STANDING1.Citizens: All adult men had full rights NOT

women2.Non-citizens: metics: worked as merchants or

artisans. Free but couldn’t vote or own land.3.Slaves: considered a necessity. Captured in war

At Athens' peak, over half of the population were metics and slaves!

EARLY GOVERNMENT IN ATHENSAfter monarchy, aristocratic citizens with a certain

amt of land held office.

Elections: All adult males met in assembly and elected generals and 9 archons (rulers).

Judges interpreted the laws and applied them to specific situations.

POLITICAL REFORMLate 600s: economic discontent, Arbitrary decisions

made by aristocratic judges.

LAWSGreeks began writing down laws so everyone knew what

they were.

Draco’s laws: 1st law code-harsh. Today Draconian = harsh law or rule

MORE PROBLEMS: INEQUALITYNobles and metics were wealthy but

peasants and farmers were poor and unhappy so………

NEW LEADER: SOLONSolon became a leader in 594 BCE and mediated between debtors and

auditors.

Awesome things Solon did:Cancelled debt for poor, outlawed enslavement for debt, freed those

who had been enslaved for non-payment.

MORE THINGS SOLON DID:Solon divided citizens into 4 groups based on

wealth3 wealthiest groups could hold public office. All

citizens could sit in assembly to elect officials. Limited power of judges: set up court composed

of many citizens who could appeal unfavorable decisions.

Unrest NOT over! Nobles formed rival political groups and struggled to control gov’t

TYRANT PEISITRATUS SEIZED POWERImproved economy and exiled nobles who

disagreed with him. MAY have distributed land to poor farmers.

DEMOCRATIC STATECleithenes (508 BCE): turned Athens into a democracy.

Divided citizens into 10 tribes and subdivided them into 100 smaller units widely spread out.

Unit of Power: self-governing states. Representatives chosen by lot. Members of the Council of 500 (50 members from each tribe)

Rules: members serve 1 year and can’t serve more than twice

Laws: proposed by council to assemby at least 10x/year. Source of ultimate

COURTS DEMOCRATICJurors chosen by lotEquality of all citizens for government serviceEach man pleads own case. Jury votes by

secret ballot.

UNDER CLEISTHENESDirect democracy: all citizens

participate in making decisions. CONTRAST to U.S!

Representative Government: Citizens vote for government representatives to make decisions.

CHECK UP: ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:1. Describe the gov’t of Sparta, incl the

emphasis on militarism2. Define the following: helot, ephors,

metics, archon,Draco, Solon, Persistratus, Cleisthenes.

3. Define the features of the early government of Athens. What reforms occurred to transform this government into a democracy?

4. What is the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy?

ATHENS SOCIETY

DAILY LIFE IN ATHENSFarming: Over ½ citizens Used terracing Farming not good, so Athens

depended on trade.

?’S TO ANSWER AT END OF LESSON1.Define terracing, pedagogue, rhetoric2.Why was Athens so dependent on trade?3.Describe Greek attitudes toward women as

shown in marriage, rights of citizenship, social life and education.

4.What does Greek education reveal about their society?

MANUFACTURING AND TRADESmall, in homes

HOMESSimpleMoney spent on community buildings not private

property

Streets: dirty

FAMILYMarriage=important because of having kidsArranged. Girls usually 13 or 14, husbands 2x age

Women's rights: inferior but citizens. Couldn’t own or inherit land (In Sparta they could inherit land). Rarely in public places. Housework. Didn’t go to school

EDUCATION AND MILITARYLiteracy and education=goodMany boys went to school to learn literature,

poetry incl. Iliad and Odyssey by heart. Also learned from pedagogue: Greek slave who took boys to school and looked after them.

Around 400 BCE Older men: sophists: wise men who learned and discussed politics, ethics, math poetry and rhetoric: the study of oratory.

Military training at 18. Those who could afford armor: hoplites

Education spread Greek language and civilization all over. Mediterranean traders spoke Greek commonly

EXPANSION OF GREECEQuestions to answer:

1.Identify Darius, Xerxes, Themistocles, Pericles2.How did the Persian Wars begin and what

were the results?3.Why did the Peloponnesian War start?4.Why are the Battles of Marathon, Salamis, and

Plataea considered decisive in the history of the world?

5.What happened in the Battle of Thermopylae?

PERSIA CONQUERED GREECERuled by DariusDarius raised taxes. Greeks rebelled all over Asia Minor

500-429BCE

BATTLE OF MARATHONOutnumbered Greeks won! 490 BCEUneasy peace for 10 years

XERXES TAKES OVER FOR HIS FATHER DARIUSBrought Persian army to try to take over AthensGreeks from many city states united to fight.

BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAEMovie: 300 300 Spartan soldiers fought huge Persian army and all

Spartans died fighting.Greeks (Sparta) lost BUT inspirational story. When

Persians got to Athens the people had all evacuated.

Persia destroyed Athens.

BATTLE OF THEMISTOCLESLeader of Athens attacked Persia in small strait where

they had no where to escape. Greeks won!

SIGNIFICANCE OF GREEK VICTORIESPersia remained powerful but defeating Persia

in the Persian Wars gave Greece confidence to create their own empire in the Aegean and have a period of unparalleled cultural achievement.

ATHENS AS LEADERRebuilt city with temples and other public buildingsAthens successful with Delian League: system of

alliances (140 other city states). Each city-state contributed money and/or ships

AGE OF PERICLES 461-429 BCEGreat general and oratorTime of Athen’s greatest power and prosperity

HEIGHT OF DEMOCRACY UNDER PERICLESAll male citizens could hold public PAID office. Most

offices chosen by lot. No one had an advantage.

THUCYDIDESHistorian. Called Athens a tyranny against other city

states because they used Delian League money only for Athens. Forced city states to join league and crushed revolts if they tried to challenge Athen’s power.

PELOPONNESIAN WAR 431 BCEAthens and Sparta responsible. Very competitive and

eager to fight

PLAGUE 430 BCEMany died, including Pericles

THE END OF THE WARAthens democratic gov’t discredited and aristocrats

siezed power.Persia blocked food from Athens. Athens, starving,

surrendered in 404BCE

After war, Persia, Sparta and Thebes tried to get power. Meanwhile, civilization achieved greatness!

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING:1.Identify Darius, Xerxes, Themistocles,

Pericles2.How did the Persian Wars begin and what

were the results?3.Why did the Peloponnesian War start?4.Why are the Battles of Marathon, Salamis,

and Plataea considered decisive in the history of the world?

5.What happened in the Battle of Thermopylae?

BRAIN POP!http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/athens/

QUIZ NEXT TIME! MAKE SURE YOU CAN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:1. Define the following terms: democracy, polis, agora,

terracing, myth, aristocracy, tyrant, popular government, helot, metic, rhetoric, direct demopcracy, representative democracy, Minoans, Mycenaeans, Dorians

2. What are the 2 most famous Greek epics and who is credited with writing them?

3. How did nobles get power in Greece? Why did they lose power? What role did tyrants play?

4. Describe the government in Sparta (incl emphasis on militarism)5. Describe the featurs of the early gov’t of Athens. What reforms

occurred to transform this gov’t into a democracy? (hint: See p120)

6. How did the Persian Wars begin and what were the results?7. What is the Age of Pericles? 8. Why did the Peloponnesian War start? 9. What 4 things did all Greek city states have in common?

Essay questions on NEXT slide!

ESSAY QUESTIONS1. Describe the democratic system in Athens. Try to

answer the following questions in your essay:What were the three major characteristics of Athenian

democracy?How did the Athenian democracy protect people against

injustices by leaders?What was a major deficiency in the Athenian system of

democracy? 2. Why are the Battles of Marathon, Salamis, Plataea,

and Thermopylae considered decisive in the history of the world. Choose one of these battles to discuss in detail and explain why it is important to know about to understand Greek history.

 

GREECE’S GOLDEN AND HELLENISTIC AGEAthens: center of Greek culture

During the 400s known as “Greece’s golden age”

Hellenistic Culture: culture founded on Greek ideas and features from other cultures of the Mediterranean region.

?’S TO ANSWER AT END OF LESSON1. Define Hellenistic Culture.2. What teaching method did Socrates use?3. What were the main characteristics of the ideal gov’t in

Plato’s Republic?4. How was Aristotle’s view of gov’t different from Plato’s?5. What value do ancient Greek mathematicians and

scientists have for us today?6. List some famous playwrights7. How did Euripides and Aristophanes feel about war?

ARCHITECTUREBeautiful temples, gymnasiums and theaters

PAINTINGMuch destroyed, but evidence on vase painting.

SCULPTUREAlso much destroyed but there are Roman copies!

STYLE OF ART1. Glorified human beings2. Pride for city state (gods thanked for good fortune)3. Ideals of simplicity in life4. Combine beauty and usefulness

PHILOSOPHERS AND WRITERSCosmologists: wanted to understand the nature of the

universe. Philosopher: lover of wisdomFamous philosophers: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

SOCRATES 470-399BCEExamine life, think for yourself,Persistent questioning = Socratic methodCriticized democracy because it is unwise for unskilled people to hold

power.

Downfall: Socrates was criticized for not showing gods respect and corrupting youth. He was put to death.

PLATOLearned from Socrates.Wrote imaginary dialogues about government, education,

justice, virtue and religionThe Republic: ideal org of society. People should do the work

best suited to them

Ideal gov’t = aristocracy based on intelligence, education, reasoning, and high ideals.

PLATO’S ALLEGORY OF THE CAVETheory of forms: Everything physical is an imperfect

expression of a perfect universal form or idea.

ARISTOTLEStudent of Plato. Collector and organizer of factsWrote Ethics: what brings people happiness? Poetics: looked at Greek drama

and defined what was good and bad.

Ideas about government: Middle class important! Perfect gov’t=mix of aristocracy, monarchy and democracy.

UNLIKE Plato, A believed that lower class people could rise above their position in life WITHOUT the help and guidance of intellectual leaders who rep higher authority.

MATH AND SCIENCEPythagoras: Pythagorean theorem

Medicine: Hippocrates: Hippocratic oath, disease comes from natural causes not the gods

Herodotus: 1st historyian in western world

Thucydides: wrote History of the Peloponnesian War. Tried to be unbiased.

DRAMAGreeks 1st to write dramaPerformances in outdoor theaters built into hillsides.

Tragedies: main character struggles against fate and fails. Tragic heroes have hubris.

(excessive pride)

Some writers: Aeschylus, Sophocles (Oedipus Rex), Euripides (Trojan Women)

Euripides: anti-war. Used his plays to challenge the ideals of war.

COMEDIESUnlike dramas, central characters usually

succeed in solving problems.

Famous comedy playwrights: Aristophanes: Clouds: made fun of Socrates and his methods of educating youth of Athens

Aristophanes disliked war and used his comedies to make Athenians think about its causes and consequences.

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING1. Define Hellenistic Culture.2. What teaching method did Socrates use?3. What were the main characteristics of the ideal gov’t in

Plato’s Republic?4. How was Aristotle’s view of gov’t different from Plato’s?5. What value do ancient Greek mathematicians and

scientists have for us today?6. List some famous playwrights7. How did Euripides and Aristophanes feel about war?

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

?’S TO ANSWER BY THE END OF THE LESSON1. Define infantry, phalanx, orator, Philip of

Macedonia, Demosthanes, Alexander the Great.

2. How did Philip of Macedonia prepare for the spread of Hellenistic culture?

3. What specific qualities did Alexander the Great have as a leader? What did he do?

4. Why did Alexander the Great’s empire collapse after his death?

MACEDONIA Brought unity to Greece NOT Persia.

Philip II of Macedonia: Hostage of Thebes as a kid, admired Greek (Hellenistic) culture

Armed forces: cavalry, infantry, phalanx, archers

VARYING OPINIONS ABOUT PHILIPSome thought he was great because he brought unity to Greec

Others like orator Demosthenes said that he was a menace to liberty.

DEMOSTHENEStried to organize a defense of Greek city0states but failed to unite

everyone. Some city-states had traitors paid by Philip for military secrets.

BATTLE OF CHAERONEA 338 BCEPhilip won control of Greece.He took away Greek freedom and was assassinated in 336 at his

daughter’s wedding.

His son, Alexander the Great took over

ALEXANDER THE GREATMilitary training in Macedonian army and was educated by Aristotle.Unique preparation for leadership.

ALEXANDER’S MILITARY CAMPAIGNSCrushed city-state rebellions and declared himself master of Greece.Then tried to conquer the world!

Went as far east as the Indus Rover. Wanted to capture more of India but many soldiers died because the trip was too difficult.

Growing discontent in his empire.

He died of disease when he was 32 years old

IMPACT OF ALEXANDER’S EMPIRE1. Spread Greek culture as army traveled2. Encouraged integration of Macedonians and Persians into one ruling

groupHe married a Persian princess and officiated at a mass wedding of 9000 of his troops to Persian women!3. He wanted his subjects to consider him a divine monarch.

BREAKUP OF ALEXANDER’S EMPIREGenerals murdered his family and divided his empire into Macedonia,

Syria and several smaller kingdoms.

Roman legions invaded and conquered most of Hellenistic empire around 200 BC.

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING1. Define infantry, phalanx, orator, Philip of Macedonia,

Demosthanes, Alexander the Great.2. How did Philip of Macedonia prepare for the spread of Hellenistic

culture?3. What specific qualities did Alexander the Great have as a leader?

What did he do?4. Why did Alexander the Great’s empire collapse after his death?

THE SPREAD OF HELLENISTIC CULTURE1. What changes occurred in society during the

Hellenistic Age?2. What ideas about ethics did the philosophers

of the Hellenistic Age have?3. In what ways did Hellenistic scientists add to

the existing body of knowledge?4. What were the primary ideas of the 4 major

Hellenistic philosophies?

THE ECONOMYSmall class of wealthy: rulers of gov’t owned most of the landLarge class of VERY poorIn between=middle class: thrived because many opportunities for

acquiring wealth.

TRADEMost profitable activityTrade routes connected most of the Mediterranean world

CITIES BUILT BY ALEXANDER Had town squares, public buildings (libraries, gymnasiums, theaters)Alexandria: largest city state: center of learning and commerce.

CHANGING ATTITUDESWith middle class, education spread. Novels, status of women

improved,

New definition of Greek (Hellenized Egyptian of Syrian also considered Greek)

HELLENISTIC RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHYDecline of polisPeople felt less control over their lives and turned to religion or

philosophy for comfort

4 SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHYCynicism: live according to nature. Scorn pleasure, wealth,

social position

Skeptic: No definite knowledge is possible because everything is always changing. People can’t know how things really are. Today, skeptics bout generally accepted ideas.

Stoic: Est by Zeno: divine reason directs the world. Accept what nature brings you. Happiness = discovering how to best fulfill the role given to you by the spark of the divine. Influenced Roman and Christian thinking

Epicurius: Aim of life: seek pleasure and avoid pain. Limitless desires. Don’t try to fulfill all of them. Today epicure is someone who enjoys the pleasures of the senses. Postpones worry.

MATH AND PHYSICSEuclid: dev geometry into a system. Wrote

Elements.

Archimedes: greatest scientist on Hellenistic Age. Used geometry to measure spheres, cones, cylinders. Calculated the value of pi, ratio of circumference to diameter. Built lever, compound pulley, Archimedes Screw.

MEDICINEPeople in Hellenistic Age dissected bodies of

executed criminals. Figured out that the brain is the center of the nervous system.

ASTRONOMY AND GEOGRAPHYCalculated the position of stars and planets (Aristarchus)- earth and

planets revolve around the sun.

Hipparchus: 1st to use trigonometry for science. Calculated times of the eclipse of the sun and moon and the length of a year accordingly.

Geographers knew earth was round. Erasthothanes: calculated the circumference of the earth.

Scientists learned about hoe the work worked using simple instruments.They showed little interest in making labor saving devices perhaps

because slaves did all of the hard labor in Greece.

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING1. What changes occurred in society during the

Hellenistic Age?2. What ideas about ethics did the philosophers

of the Hellenistic Age have?3. In what ways did Hellenistic scientists add to

the existing body of knowledge?4. What were the primary ideas of the 4 major

Hellenistic philosophies?

QUIZ NEXT TIME ON THE FOLLOWING:1. Define the following: Hellenistic culture, hubris, philosophy,

phalanx, Golden Age of Greece, Parthenon, stoics, skeptics, cynics, epicurius, Hellinistic culture,

2. Know the following people: Phidias, Socrates, Herodotus, Sophocles, Aristotle, Eratoosthenes, Philip II of Macedonia, Hippocrates, Archimedes, Euclid, Plato, Euripides, Aeschylus, Aristophanes.

3. In what ways did Aristotle’s view of the principles of gov’t differ from Plato’s?

4. What special qualities made Alexander the Great a great leader? How large was his empire? How did his empire collapse?

Essay Question: Write an essay describing Alexander the Great’s plan for a new culture. Consider the following:

What was Alexander’s dream? How did he plan to carry out that dream? What actions did the take to carry out his three-step plan? How has he influences leaders today?