GREEK CITY-STATESLesson 8.3 Outline
Do Now Turn to page 284 of your textbook and
let’s read about the Dark Age of Greece
Do Now #2 Let’s review the vocabulary words from
page 288.
The Rise of City-StatesA. In 750 B.C., Greek settlements grew
into large city-states
1. A polis connected a city and farms, towns, and villages around it
a. Sparta, Athens, Argos, and Corinth were four major city-states
Greek City States
The Rise of City-StatesB. Setup of city-states
1. All free people were citizens, unless they or their parents were foreigners
2. Most city-states had fewer than 5,000 people
a. Corinth had as many as 10,000 people
b. Athens may have had more than 20,000 people
Greek City States
The Rise of City-States C. Development started similarly in all city-
states
1. Most started at a base of a large hill on which a fort, or acropolis, was built
a. During enemy attacks, people would be protected in its walls
b. Later this became a center for religion in many city-states
Acropolis
The Rise of City-States2. Outside the acropolis were houses,
temples, and an open-air market called an agora
a. The agora was the political center of the city-state
b. There people traded and discussed the news of the day
Agora
The Rise of City-StatesD. Boundaries of city-states
1. Natural barriers such as mountains and seas separated each city-state
a. This caused the city-states to develop independently and kept them from uniting under one government
Greece’s Mountains
New Ways of GoverningOligarchies developed as a way to rule
1. Kings ruled during the Dark Age of Greece
2. A small group of aristocrats, or the wealthy ruling class, replaced kings
New Ways of Governing3. They each ruled over one specific
aspect of the society
a. This included the army, economy, and religion
New Ways of Governing4. They also decided laws and
punishments for breaking those laws
New Ways of GoverningB. Problems with oligarchies
1. Poorer people wanted new leaders who could provide them with a better life
2. Ambitious aristocrats struggled to become the sole ruler of the city-state
New Ways of GoverningC. Tyrants developed in the 600’s B.C.
1. Claimed total and sole control over many city-states
2. Originally, they had the support of the people
a. They ruled well and improved lives
New Ways of Governing3. Later, tyrants began to rule harshly
a. By 500 B.C., the people of many city-states had overthrown the tyrants
New Ways of GoverningD. Democracies grew from disabled tyranny
1. Democracy is a rule by the people
a. This developed in a few city-states, such as Athens
b. Only free males over 18 years of age could vote
Activity Let’s turn to page 290 of your textbook
to review Democratic Values.
Commerce and ColoniesA. Large-scale trade, or commerce, formed
in Greece around 700 B.C.
1. This brought much-wanted goods and resources to the city-states
Commerce and Coloniesa. Grain, wine, olive oil, wood, pottery, and metal works, such as iron weapons and tools were exchanged among the city-states
b. Use of iron tools allowed for more food from farms, which brought about larger populations, and a competition over farmland
c. In search of land and resources, such as iron ore, people in these city-states looked beyond the Aegean Sea
Commerce and ColoniesB. New settlements started along coastlines of Mediterranean and Black Seas
1. These colonies were independent city-states but remained tied to homeland through religion and trade
a. By 500 B.C., the Greeks founded colonies in southern Europe, northern Africa, and Asia Minor
Greek Colonies
13 American Colonies
A New Kind of WarfareA. Even though the city-states had a
common culture, they were rivals
A New Kind of Warfare1. They fought over land and resources
a. To defend themselves, they kept large armies
A New Kind of WarfareB. All adult male citizens served at least some time in the army
1. Wealth and status determined his rank
A New Kind of Warfarea. The wealthiest men were leaders
A New Kind of Warfareb. Those who could afford their own horse
were in the cavalry
A New Kind of Warfarec. The next rank were foot soldiers and
hoplites
A New Kind of Warfared. The lowest rank were the poorest men,
who served as archers and stone throwers
Military Ranks
A New Kind of WarfareC. Hoplites made up most of the army
1. They were outfitted with at least 70 pounds of bronze body armor, including a helmet and a chest piece
2. They carried a long spear in their right hands and a round shield in their left hands
3. They had to be strong enough to fight under the weight of heavy armor and wealthy enough to pay for it
A New Kind of WarfareD. Fought in a rectangular formation,
marching in rows, sometimes hundreds of soldiers long and eight or more deep
A New Kind of Warfare1. Fought shoulder to shoulder, with their
shields nearly touching
2. Each counted on the soldiers next to him for protection
3. Archers, chariots, and cavalry backed up the hoplites
4. Marched forward in a thick, moving wall
A New Kind of Warfarea. One army of hoplites pushed up against
the other army’s wall in a brutal style of fighting
Hoplite Vase
Wrap Up Define oligarchy, democracy, commerce, and
colonies
What were the major city-states of Greece?
Describe the progression of Greek government
How is Greek democracy similar and different from the democracy of the United States?
What were the ranks of Greek soldiers?
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