Social Studies 9R – Mr. Berman

Aim #6: What were the major achievements of Ancient Greece in sports, architecture and medicine?

Document 1: SportsThe Greeks started the Olympic Games almost 3,000 years ago in 776 B.C. Ancient Greeks held athletic competitions every four years to honor their gods. These contests were held in the city of Olympia and soon became known as the Olympic Games. They included running, boxing, wrestling, and other events. Winners of the competitions won olive wreaths, branches, as well as woolen ribbons.

Religion played a big part in the games. Eventually, the games lasted five days with the first and last days being devoted to honoring the gods. One hundred oxen were sacrificed to Zeus during the games. Politics played a role in the games as well. During the games a truce was observed between warring city-states. Athletes were allowed to pass through enemy territory to get to the games. The pictures below include an ancient Olympic contest on the left, and a modern Olympic athlete on the right,

The Ancient Olympic Games Modern Olympic Games

1. Provide two reasons why the Ancient Greeks held the Olympic Games.

2. Based on the text and the pictures, name two similarities between the Ancient Greek Olympic games and modern Olympic games.

3. Based on the text and the pictures, name two differences between the Ancient Greek Olympic games and modern Olympic games.

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Document 2: Architecture Architecture was very important to the ancient Greeks. After about 600 B.C., the Greeks began building temples to honor their gods. One of the most famous examples is the Parthenon (pictured below), a temple built in Athens to honor the goddess of wisdom Athena (for whom the city was named). One distinctive feature in these temples was the use of columns. Greek temples were built in three different styles, or orders: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. Each of these styles is best identified by the distinctive design of its columns and capitals (the decorated tops of the columns). The Parthenon is mostly a Doric temple, with some Ionic columns supporting the roof. Modern architecture is often modeled after Greek architecture, particularly in the United States. Look at the three types of Greek columns, along with a photograph of the White House.

The Parthenon

1. What were the three main styles used for columns in Ancient Greece? Which of those styles were used in the Parthenon?

2. Which type of column do the White House columns most closely resemble? Why do you think we have designed many of our government buildings in Washington D.C. to resemble Greek architecture?

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Document 3: Medicine Hippocrates, who practiced medicine in ancient Greece around 400 B.C., is considered the father of modern medicine. He believed that illness came from natural causes rather than from the gods. He was the first to actually view medicine as a science, completely separate from religion. He also believed that human beings could use their reason and knowledge, and rely on medical writings and experience to find treatments for illnesses. Today doctors take a modern version of the Hippocratic Oath upon graduation from medical school. What follows is a part of the original oath:

1. How was Hippocrates influenced by the ideas of the Greek philosophers we talked about last week?

2. From the oath, name at least two principles Hippocrates thought were important in the practice of medicine.

3. Which of these principles are expectations for doctors today?

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“I will follow that method of treatment which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain [stay away] from whatever is deleterious [harmful] and mischievous. Whatever, in connection with my professional practice, or not in connection with it, I may see or hear in the lives of men