HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY 603THE CIVILIZATIONS OFGREECE AND ROME

CONTENTS

I. THE CIVILIZATION OF GREECE . . . . . . . . . . 4

Geography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Beginning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

City-States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Wars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

II. THE CIVILIZATION OF ROME . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Geography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Beginning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Struggle for Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Way of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Christianity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Decline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Author: Ethel Hofflund, M.A.Editor-in-Chief: Richard W. Wheeler, M.A.Ed.Editor: Elizabeth Loeks BoumanConsulting Editor: Howard Stitt, Th.M., Ed.D.Revision Editor: Alan Christopherson, M.S.

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OBJECTIVES

Read these objectives. The objectives will tell you what you should be able todo when you have successfully completed this LIFEPAC.

When you have finished this LIFEPAC, you should be able to:

1. Describe the geography of Greece and how it affected the development ofGreece.

2. Name influences that affected the Grecian culture.3. List the contributions of the Greeks.4. Describe the geography of the Roman Empire.5. State some facts of Roman life and history.6. List the contributions of Rome.7. Relate the reasons for the decline of the Roman Empire.

VOCABULARY

Study these new words. Learning the meanings of these words is a good studyhabit and will improve your understanding of this LIFEPAC.administrative (ad min´ u stra tiv). Having to do with managing.aristocrat (u ris´ tu krat). Person who has a high position in society because of birth.complexity (kum plek´ su te). Made up of a number of parts.corbel (kôr´ bul). A bracket of stone, wood, or other material on the side of a wall. It

helps to support a projecting ledge above.crucify (kru´ su fi). To put to death by nailing to a cross.dictatorship (dik ta tur ship). Rule of a person with absolute authority.

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THE CIVILIZATIONSOF GREECE AND ROME

After 200 years of being an importantpower in the Middle-East, the PersianEmpire was conquered by Alexander theGreat of Macedonia, a country near Greece.After that time, the Fertile Crescent, Egypt,and the known lands around theMediterranean were ruled by the Greeks,from whom we have inherited much ofwhat we value in Western civilization.

The Greek reign gave way to the Romancivilization. During the time of the Romans,the manner of recording years waschanged to correspond with the birth ofJesus. Christianity became the mostpowerful influence on earth. In thisLIFEPAC® we shall study the exciting agesof the Greek and Roman civilizations.

Epicurean (ep´ u kyu re´ un). A person fond of luxury and pleasure.equestrian (i kwes´ tre un). One who rides horseback; a knight.fortification (for´ tu fu ka shun). A wall or fort built to make a place strong.

Something such as a wall used against an attack.frieze (frez). A decorated band around a room.gladiator (glad´ e a ´ tur). A slave, captive, or paid fighter who fought at the public

shows in the arenas in ancient Rome.helot (hel´ ut). A member of the class of slaves or serfs in ancient Sparta.hoplite (hop´ li t). A heavily armed Greek foot soldier who fought in close formation

with other hoplites.inflation (in fla´ shun). A sharp rise in prices.labyrinth (lab´ u rinth). A maze; a number of connecting passages so arranged that it

is hard to find one’s way from point to point.nomad (no´ mad). A member of a tribe who moves his cattle from place to place for

pasture; a wanderer.patrician (pu trish´ un). An aristocrat. A member of the nobility of ancient Rome.Perioeci (per e e´ si ). People in ancient Greece. Class of persons in ancient Sparta who

had no political rights, but enjoyed personal freedom and were protected by law.philosopher (fu los´ u fur). Person who studies truth and principles of knowledge.philosophy (fu los´ u fe ). The study of truth and principles underlying all real

knowledge.plebeian (pli be´ un). A common person. One of the common people (or) belonging to

or having to do with the lower class of citizens in ancient Rome.protectorate (pru tek´ tur it). A weak country under the protection of a stronger

country.pumice (pum´ is). A light, spongy stone thrown out from volcanoes.saffron (saf´ run). An orange-yellow coloring matter obtained from the crocus flower.sewer (su´ ur). A pipe or channel for carrying away water and refuse, usually

underground.topography (tu pog´ ru fe). Surface features of a place or region.trance (trans). State or condition somewhat like sleep.tribune (trib´ yün). An official of ancient Rome chosen by the plebeians to protect their

rights and interests.trireme (tri´ rem). A Greek ship with three rows of oars, one above the other, on each

side.triumvirate (tri um´ vur it). A group of three. Government by three persons together.veto (ve’ to). The right to reject bills passed by a lawmaking body.

Note: All vocabulary words in this LIFEPAC appear in boldface print the first time they areused. If you are unsure of the meaning when you are reading, study the definitions given.

Pronunciation Key: hat, a-ge, cãre, fär; let, e- qual, te.rm; it, i

-ce; hot, o-pen, ôrder; oil; out;

cup, pu. t, rüle; child; long; thin; /T-H/ for then; /zh/ for measure; /u/ represents /a/ in about,/e/ in taken, /i/ in pencil, /o/ in lemon, and /u/ in circus.

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Map1

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Review the objectives. When you have finished this LIFEPAC, you should be able to:

1. Describe the geography of Greece and how it affected the development ofGreece.

2. Name the influences which affected the Grecian culture.3. List the contributions of the Greeks.

Restudy these words.

complexity helot philosophycorbel hoplite pumicedictatorship labyrinth saffronfortification Perioeci topographyfrieze philosopher trance

nomad trireme

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I. THE CIVILIZATION OF GREECE

While the Sumerians were learning towrite and the Egyptians were building theirpyramids, another group of people weresailing the seas and living pleasant lives inthe eastern end of the Mediterraneanregion. These people were the Cretans,

whose ideas spread to other Aegeanislands and to Greece proper. Greece roseto a position of leadership and influenceand then fell under the weight of her owncarelessness and luxury.

GEOGRAPHY

Complete each statement.

1.1 Greece lies on the ______________________________________ peninsula.1.2 Greece has many isolated sections because ____________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________ .

Greece is made up of the lower part ofthe Balkan peninsula, which is in thenortheastern part of the MediterraneanSea. It has numerous islands off the coast.Greece is bounded on the east by theAegean Sea, and on the west by theAdriatic Sea. On the north are other Balkancountries. Greece has many fine harbors

and much natural beauty. However, themountain ranges and the deep valleys cutGreece into isolated sections. Generally,the soil is stony and dry, although there aresome valleys that have rich, red earth.Usually, little rain falls except along theeastern border.