The Early Greeks

Chapter 4, Section 1, page 116

Chapter 4, Section 1 Objectives

• After this lesson, students will be able to:– explain how geography impacted Greece’s early

civilizations, the Minoans and the Mycenaeans.– describe how colonies and trade spread Greek culture,

which included the idea of citizenship.

The Geography of Greece – page 117

• mild climate• a land tied to the sea• mountainous terrain

The Geography of Greece – page 117• peninsula – a body of land with water on three sides• Peloponnesus – peninsula forming the southern part of the

mainland of Greece• strait – a narrow strip of water with land on both sides

The Geography of Greece – page 117

The Minoans – page 118• The Minoans– first civilization to arise in the region that became

Greece– seafaring trade network

The Minoans – page 118

• The palace at Knossos

The Minoans – page 118

• mysterious disappearance– natural disasters?

• volcanic eruptions• earthquakes• tidal waves

– invasion?

The First Greek Kingdoms – page 119

• The Mycenaeans– war

• cyclopean walls• art depicting hunting and war

– trade • learned navigation by the

sun and stars from the Minoans

– disappearance• invasion?• reversion from urban society to

rural one and a decrease in writing leads to…

The First Greek Kingdoms – page 119

The Greek Dark Ages – page 129

• The Greek Dark Ages ( 1100 B.C. – 750 B.C.)– natural disasters– war– food shortages– writing all but disappears

A Move to Colonize – page 121

• Why?– resource shortages

• Consequences– surge in trade– coinage

The Polis – page 122

• polis – the early Greek city-state– most between 50 and 500 square miles and around

10,000 residents

• acropolis – an upper fortified part of the city• agora – open area that served as a market and a

meeting place

The Polis – page 122

The Polis – page 122

What was Greek Citizenship? – page 122

• Greeks were first to develop the idea of citizenship.– free, native-born, men who owned land made up

citizens• rights:

– vote – hold office – own property– defend oneself in court

• responsibilities:– participate in government– serve in the army (hoplites – ordinary citizens in the army)

Chapter 4, Section 1 Questions

1. A _____ is a body of land with water on three sides.2. Name one way in which Greece’s geography

impacted how civilization developed there.3. What early civilization established a seafaring

network and built the palace complex at Knossos?4. Define acropolis and agora.5. Name the requirements for citizenship in the Greek

city-states.

Sparta and Athens

Chapter 4, Section 2, page 124

Chapter 4, Section 2 Objectives

• After this lesson, students will be able to:– describe how tyrants seized control over many city-

states.– explain how the Spartans focused on military rule, while

the Athenians were more interested in democracy.

Tyranny in the City-States – page 125

• farmers and merchants dissatisfied with status quo• tyrants – person who takes power by force and

rules with total authority– used the backing of the common people to gain control

of government– not necessarily cruel, for instance some set up building

programs to provide jobs and housing– fell out of favor around 500 B.C.

Sparta – page 126• Spartan society– Homoioi – ruling class of kings and warriors– Perioikoi – “dwellers around” free people, mostly

merchants and farmers who were not citizens– helots - people who were conquered and enslaved

by the Spartans• c. 725 B.C. – Sparta conquers its neighbors, Messenia• the Messenians → helots• helot revolt – almost successful

Sparta – page 126• a military state– Why?

• Spartans conquered neighbors when they needed territory• helot revolt left an impression

– life in a place that is an “armed camp”– victory no matter the cost – retreat was not an option

• “With this shield, or on it.”

– Spartans focused on military service to the state above all else• tombstones only for warriors who died in battle and mothers who died

in childbirth

Sparta – page 126

• What to expect as a Spartan:– inspection as a child– placed in barracks at 7 years old, when training

would begin (boot camp)– children were property of the state– given little clothing and no shoes– days spent marching, fighting, and exercising– food was sparse (black porridge); encouraged

to steal to make up for it– punishments were severe– entered the regular army at 20– stayed in barracks until 30– served in army until 60

Spartan Government – page 127

• oligarchy – government in which a few people hold power– two kings– council of 28 elders (men over 60)– assembly of all Spartan men over 30– ephors – oversaw law enforcement and managed tx

collection

Athens – page 128

• Athens focused on government and education.– school was more similar to what we

have today than the Spartan agoge– boys taught to read, write, do

arithmetic, play sports, as well as sing or play instruments

– goal of school was to develop well rounded young men

– girls stayed home and learned how to run a household

A Budding Democracy – page 129

• 600 B.C. – farmers begin to rebel against the nobles• 594 B.C. Solon is chosen to settle the problems– cancels farmers’ debts and freed those who had become

slaves– creates a council of 400 wealthy men to write laws– allows a council of all male citizens to meet to pass laws

• 560 B.C. – Pesistratus seized power as a tyrant• 508 B.C. – Cleisthenes – credited with making the

government of Athens a democracy

Chapter 4, Section 2 Questions

1. Who were the tyrants?2. Why did the Spartans place so much stress on military

service?3. Explain the meaning of the statement, “With this shield, or

on it.” What does that tell us about the Spartan mindset?4. How did Athens’ focus differ from that of Sparta?5. What is Cleisthenes credited with accomplishing?6. Imagine you are a 28-year-old man living in Sparta in 700

B.C. Write a letter to your 6-year-old nephew telling him what to expect when he leaves home on his next birthday.

Persia Attacks the Greeks

Chapter 4, Section 3, page 131

Chapter 4, Section 3 Objectives

• After this lesson, students will be able to:– discuss how the Persian Empire united a wide area

under a single government.– describe how Sparta and Athens joined forces to defeat

the Persians.

The Persian Empire – page 132

• Persian Empire – united a wide area under a single government– east of Greece– extremely powerful state– Cyrus the Great – King of Persia• merciful rule helped to hold empire together; “absolutism with

toleration”

– system of roads

The Persian Empire – page132

What was Persian Government Like? – page 133

• Darius – Persian king who reorganized the government– satrapies – states into

which Darius divided the empire• each led by a satrap –

means “defender of the kingdom”– acted as tax collector,

judge, chief of police, and head recruiter for the army

The Persian Religion – page 133

• Zoroastrianism – Persian religion founded by Zoroaster– monotheistic– humans choose between right and wrong– good will eventually triumph over evil

The Persian Wars – page 134• Why?

– Persians felt wrongs had been committed against them by the Greeks– clashes between Greek colonies and the Persians in Asia Minor– Darius’ desire for vengeance – “Sire, remember the Athenians.”

• 490 B.C. – Persians land 25,000 men on the plain of Marathon, about 26 miles from Athens

• Athenians number about 10,000 infantry• Persians unprepared for the Greek phalanxes• Greeks slaughter the Persians: killing 6,000 Persians at a cost

of less than 200 of their own• Pheidippides – “Victory.”

Another Persian Strike – page 135

• Xerxes – Persian king (son of Darius) who invaded Greece to increase his country’s wealth, for glory, and for revenge– 180,000 troops and thousands of warships and supply

vessels

• Themistocles, an Athenian general, decides the best strategy is to cut Persia’s supply lines on the seas, but he needs time to raise a navy.

Another Persian Strike – page 136

• Thermopylae – the famous last stand of the 300– 7,000 Greeks versus

180,000 Persians (500,000 total?)

– bottleneck nullifies numbers– Greeks betrayed and

defeated, but delay worked

Another Persian Strike – page 136

• Salamis – naval battle in which the Greeks crushed the Persian fleet– won because of the

maneuverability of their ships

• Persians continue on and burn Athens

• Platea – Greek victory over the Persians that convinced the Persians to go home

What Caused the Persian Empire to Fall? – page 137

• losses to the Greeks weaken its power• new rulers raise tax rates• overextended its army• fights over who should be king• plots to take the throne• Alexander the Great

Chapter 4, Section 3 Questions

1. What quality helped Cyrus the Great hold Perisa together?2. What move did Darius make that helped him manage the

empire?3. What helped cause Darius to decide to invade Greece?4. Place the following battles in the order in which they

occurred: Platea, Marathon, Salamis, Thermopylae.5. Why was Thermopylae successful in a way?

The Age of Pericles

Chapter 4, Section 4, page 138

Chapter 4, Section 4 Objectives

• After this lesson, students will be able to:– discuss how Athens became very powerful and more

democratic.– describe what happened when Athens and Sparta went

to war over control of Greece.

The Athenian Empire – page 139

• The Delian League– island of Delos– began as an alliance of Greek city-states led by Athens

(Sparta was not included)– purpose was to create an alliance to defend Greece

and her colonies from the Persians– effective in controlling the Persian threat– Athens grew to dominate the treasury, fleet, and army– Delian League → effectively an Athenian Empire

Democracy in Athens – page 139

• direct democracy – system of government in which people gather at mass meetings to decide on government matters– Athens: 43,000 male citizens– about 6,000 attend meetings in the agora every ten days– assembly passes laws, elects officials, and made

decisions on foreign policy– ten generals carried out the assembly’s laws

Democracy in Athens – page 139

• representative democracy – system of government in which citizens choose a smaller group to make laws and governmental decisions on their behalf

The Achievements of Pericles – page 140• Pericles – Athenian statesman who is credited

with making Athens more democratic– strides in democracy

• Greeks see ability as the key to holding office• included lower-class citizens in government• paid officeholders

– Age of Pericles – age of great creativity and learning in Athens• support for artists, writers, architects, and philosophers

(thinkers who ponder questions about life)

The Achievements of Pericles – page 141The Parthenon - • approximately 15 years to complete• 20,000+ tons of marble• cost: $3 billion (based on the value of money today)

Daily Life in Athens – page 142

• Population– 285,000 residents• 150,000 citizens (43,000 men with political rights)• 35,000 foreigners• 100,000 slaves

• The Roles of Men and Women– men worked in the morning and usually exercised or

attended the assembly in the evenings– women not seen as the equals of men• notable exception: Aspasia

The Peloponnesian War – page 144

• Why?– other city-states (Sparta and Corinth) suspicious of Athenian motives

• Who?– Delian League (Athenian Empire) vs. Peloponnesian League (Sparta and

her allies)

• When?– 431 B.C. to 404 B.C.

• Strategy– Sparta – surround the Athenians and goad them into a fight– Athens – avoid pitched battles and use their superior navy to raid the

Peloponnesus

Why Was Athens Defeated? – page 145

• disease strikes Athens (Pericles dies 429 B.C.)• war off and on for years• Sparta made a deal with Persia to get money for its

own navy• 404 B.C. – Athens surrenders; Sparta is in control

Why Was Athens Defeated? – page 146

• Outcome: The Peloponnesian War was bad for the winners as well as the losers.– Greece was ravaged by years of war: farms were

destroyed, thousands were without jobs, manpower reduced from fighting

– unity among the city states was rendered impossible (fighting between city-states continued)

– Overall, Greece was weaker and easier to conquer. (Alexander the Great)

Chapter 4, Section 4 Questions

1. Why was the Delian League originally formed?2. What did the Delian League effectively develop

into?3. What is the difference between a direct and a

representative democracy?4. What is Pericles known for?5. Why was the Peloponnesian War bad for the

winners as well as the losers?