By Shandra and CamilleBy Shandra and Camille

Ancient AthensAncient Athens

Time PeriodTime PeriodGreek Colonization began in the 11Greek Colonization began in the 11thth to 10 to 10thth century BCE, the century BCE, the

city-state of Athens was part of the original colonization of city-state of Athens was part of the original colonization of Greece.Greece.

Around 700BCE Athens had established it’s self as a polis Around 700BCE Athens had established it’s self as a polis (a Greek city state)(a Greek city state)

Just shortly after that around 600BCE Athens developed Just shortly after that around 600BCE Athens developed the system of democracythe system of democracy

This Map is This Map is of Ancient of Ancient

Athens and Athens and all the land all the land

that was that was part of the part of the

ancient ancient empire.empire.

This map is of This map is of where Athens is where Athens is in comparison in comparison

to today’s to today’s world.world.

Political SystemsPolitical Systems

Early on Athens was ruled by a series of Tyrants and rich

Early on Athens was ruled by a series of Tyrants and rich

landowners. Athens along with some other small city

landowners. Athens along with some other small city

states drove out the Tyrants and created DEMOCRACY

states drove out the Tyrants and created DEMOCRACY.

Meetings would take place on the hill

Meetings would take place on the hill

called the Phynx which was near the

called the Phynx which was near the

Acropolis, all citizens whether they were

Acropolis, all citizens whether they were

rich or if they were poor could make a

rich or if they were poor could make a

speech in the forum and all citizens could

speech in the forum and all citizens could

vote at the Assembly.

vote at the Assembly.

The Assembly made important

The Assembly made important

decisions such as if the country

decisions such as if the country

would go to war or not.

would go to war or not. Athens created Athens created democracy around democracy around

600 B.C.E.600 B.C.E.

Economic SystemsEconomic Systems

Like many other ancient societies the Athenian’s economy consisted Like many other ancient societies the Athenian’s economy consisted mainly of farming fishing and the trading of those goods. mainly of farming fishing and the trading of those goods.

Athens had been a major economic “power” as you’d call it.Athens had been a major economic “power” as you’d call it.

Athenians were also known to have produced great marble Athenians were also known to have produced great marble and bronze works. and bronze works.

The soil quality caused them to have to import many The soil quality caused them to have to import many crops and food because they couldn’t grow these things crops and food because they couldn’t grow these things

in large amounts.in large amounts.

Social SystemsSocial SystemsThe Athenian citizens were split into two different social The Athenian citizens were split into two different social

classes. The Hoplite and the Thetes.classes. The Hoplite and the Thetes.

The Hoplite consisted of military The Hoplite consisted of military citizens. Every one was male in the citizens. Every one was male in the Hoplite. As long as they could afford Hoplite. As long as they could afford the equipment (swords, shields, etc.) the equipment (swords, shields, etc.)

they could be a Hoplite.they could be a Hoplite.

The Thetes consisted of all the poorer people, like The Thetes consisted of all the poorer people, like small farmers and craftsmen.small farmers and craftsmen.

Both social classes were Both social classes were generally equal in the generally equal in the number in each one.number in each one.

Gender RolesGender Roles

The roles o

f the m

en and

The roles o

f the m

en and

women in ancie

nt Athens

women in ancie

nt Athens

close

ly rese

mbles the id

ea

close

ly rese

mbles the id

ea

of the w

omen stayin

g at

of the w

omen stayin

g at

home and the m

en going

home and the m

en going

hunting and fis

hing.

hunting and fis

hing.

Women usually

Women usually stayed in the stayed in the home, taking

home, taking care children,

care children, house and the

house and the husband.husband.

Women were always

Women were always

under the control of a

under the control of a

man and were not aloud

man and were not aloud

to live independently.

to live independently.

Women of poorer

Women of poorer

stature often helped

stature often helped

their husbands in the

their husbands in the

fields doing the

fields doing the

traditional m

ans work,

traditio

nal mans work,

because they couldn’t

because they couldn’t

afford slaves or

afford slaves or

servants.

servants.

Women did not have Women did not have political rights.political rights.

ArtArtKnown for pottery. Pottery was Known for pottery. Pottery was unique and had specific designs unique and had specific designs

of everyday life lived by the of everyday life lived by the Athenian people.Athenian people.

Clay impressions, shows that Athenians Clay impressions, shows that Athenians were involved in metal work.were involved in metal work.

Art was inspired by religion.Art was inspired by religion.

Greek paintings looked simple but unique. Greek paintings looked simple but unique. The body language represented showed The body language represented showed

the emotions of the time. the emotions of the time.

This is the statue of Athena that is This is the statue of Athena that is located inside the Parthenon. This located inside the Parthenon. This huge statue is made out of gold and huge statue is made out of gold and

ivory. ivory.

WeaponryWeaponryThe Athenians along with most The Athenians along with most other Greeks used spears that other Greeks used spears that were in between 6 ½ feet to 10 were in between 6 ½ feet to 10

feet in length.feet in length.

The Athenian military also The Athenian military also used short swords for used short swords for

when they were face to when they were face to face with their opponent.face with their opponent.

Used a heavy round Used a heavy round shield called a Hoplon shield called a Hoplon (comes from the word (comes from the word

Hoplite)Hoplite)

They had other armor to They had other armor to cover the rest of their cover the rest of their

body that was made out body that was made out of bronze which of bronze which includes bronze includes bronze

helmets.helmets.

Poorer Hoplites didn’t wear all bronze they often Poorer Hoplites didn’t wear all bronze they often wore numerous layers of linen backed by small wore numerous layers of linen backed by small

amounts of metal.amounts of metal.

In the 5In the 5thth century they also started using century they also started using Trireme ships that used 170 rowers to fight Trireme ships that used 170 rowers to fight

in the water.in the water.

ArchitectureArchitectureGreek life was dominated by Greek life was dominated by

religion so it should come as no religion so it should come as no surprise that most buildings served surprise that most buildings served

religious purposes.religious purposes.

The Athenians used mainly limestone The Athenians used mainly limestone and marble for their temples.and marble for their temples.

Their homes were made of wood, Their homes were made of wood, unbaked bricks and terracotta for roof unbaked bricks and terracotta for roof

tiles.tiles.

Their cities were Their cities were planned on a grid planned on a grid

system, with roads system, with roads that intersect at right that intersect at right

angles which was angles which was one of the first one of the first

places that this type places that this type of grid was planned.of grid was planned.

Buildings could be Buildings could be for one of five for one of five

general purposes: general purposes: religious, civic, religious, civic,

domestic, funeral domestic, funeral and recreational.and recreational.

The most famous example of The most famous example of Athenian architecture was the Athenian architecture was the

Parthenon.Parthenon.

The ParthenonThe Parthenon

ReligionReligion

Athenian people took Athenian people took religion very seriously religion very seriously

and alters were placed in and alters were placed in their homes.their homes.

Athenian people Athenian people worshiped many gods worshiped many gods

especially Athena. especially Athena. Whom their city was Whom their city was

named after.named after.

Women had their Women had their own festival. To own festival. To honor Demeter honor Demeter

and Persephone.and Persephone.

Many Many festivals festivals

were were celebrated celebrated

with singing, with singing, dancing and dancing and

athletics.athletics.

The Greek religion is extremely The Greek religion is extremely well known and commonly well known and commonly

referred now as Greek mythology.referred now as Greek mythology.

The Greeks had many gods and The Greeks had many gods and goddesses that served different goddesses that served different

purposes and explained events that purposes and explained events that they could not yet explain. Such as they could not yet explain. Such as

the sunrise and fall which was the sunrise and fall which was controlled by Helios who rode a controlled by Helios who rode a burning chariot across the sky. burning chariot across the sky.

The gods also each represented The gods also each represented certain characteristics like Ares who certain characteristics like Ares who was the god of war and Hades who was the god of war and Hades who

had control of the underworld.had control of the underworld.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM0dpyUJX14

Greek Religion Reference

Bibliography• http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~loxias/r

edfigure.jpg• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Economic_history_of_Greece_and_the_Greek_world#Athens

• http://depthomebrooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dinkle/athnlife/index.htm

• http://upge.wn.com/?+=ancient+greese/index12.htm