Ancient Greece

SOL WHI.5

Geography

• Located on the Balkan and Peloponnesus Peninsula between the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea.

• Mountain terrain resulted in the formation of isolated cities.– City states formed governments instead of a

national government.– city-state: a sovereign state consisting of an

independent city and its surrounding territory.

Mountains of Greece

Mountainous Terrain

• Land provided poor farming– limited arable land– forced people to trade and colonize elsewhere– located within sailing distance of Egypt and

Mesopotamia– through trade Greeks were able to spread their

culture – Hellenistic (Hellenic) culture

• Greece did have good harbors for trade.• Greece shifted from a barter economy to a

money economy (coins) to increase trade.

Economic Development

Stop! Question

1. Why would an economy based on money bring more trade than an economy based on

bartering?

Poor farmland

Geography Effected Political Development

• Mountainous terrain hindered the development of a national government

– 2. WHY?

• Therefore, city-states were formed.

• Greek city-states were designed to promote civic and economic activities.– City-states were independent of each other.

• Because of overpopulation, Greeks began to colonize new lands and search for arable land.

Early Greek History

The Minoans

• The Minoans civilization was based in Crete.– Made it an excellent trade location between

the mainland of Greece and Egypt.

• The Minoans lived peacefully but experienced outside invasions.– Minoan civilization fell about 1450BCE either

because of invasion or a volcanic eruption.

The Mycenaeans

• Sometime before 2200BCE Indo-Europeans migrated onto the Peloponnesian peninsula.

• They reached their height between 1400 and 1230BCE.– The Minoans and Mycenaeans were the first

European civilizations.

The Dorian Invasion• Between 1200 and 750BCE Greece fell

into a decline – Dark Ages of Greece.• Around 1200BCE the Dorians invaded and

conquered the Greek mainland.• The Dorians were barbaric people.• They organized themselves into small

fortified cities.– The beginnings of the city-state.

• They were polytheistic.– Beginnings of Greek mythology.

The Archaic Period

• Between 800 and 500 BCE Greece was transformed.– The population outgrew its resources and

class struggle emerged.

• City states of Greece began to colonize other lands for arable land.

• Trade, economics, and Greek civilization began to emerge.

Religion (Greek Mythology)

• Religion of Greece was polytheistic and integral to culture, politics, and art of Greece.

• Greeks believed gods interacted with humans and were part of private lives.– Humanized the Gods– Greeks mythology developed as a collection of

stories to explain what could not be explained.– Explanation of natural phenomena, human

qualities and life events.– Myths often carried a moral with them.

Stop! Question?

3. Why would a civilization want to create stories to explain the unexplainable?

Greek gods and goddesses

Can you name any?

• Zeus – king of the gods, ruled from Mt. Olympus.

• Hera- Queen of Gods and wife of Zeus.

Hermes

• Hermes is a god of transitions and boundaries

• Son of Zeus

Demeter

• Demeter is the godess of corn, grain, and the harvest

Athena

- Goddess of Wisdom.

Athena

Aphrodite

- Goddess of Love and Beauty

Aphrodite

Poseidon- god of the sea.

Apollo- god of music

and light.

Artemis- virgin god of the hunt

and newborn creatures

Muses- are the

goddesses of the inspiration

They were considered the

source of knowledge

The Fates - The Fates have the subtle but awesome power of

deciding a man's destiny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dc_mkH2pGE

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=greek%20gods%20and%20goddesses&oq=greek%20gods

%20&gs_l=youtube.3.0.0l10.56434.60241.2.62065.14.11.2.1.2.0.192.1188.8j3.11.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.A6EyljJ0Pj

4

• Today Greek gods symbols and images are used in Western literature, art, monumental architecture, and politics.

Social Structure and Citizenship

• City-states were called the polis• Members of the polis:

– 1. Citizens – free adult males – had political rights and responsibility of civic preparation in government.

– 2. Free people – women, foreigners, and young males.

• had no political rights

– 3. Slaves – non-citizens – had no political rights

• To become a citizen, men served 10 years of military service.

• Adult males became citizens and had a voice in government and protection from government

• Participation in government was expected.

4. What's the purpose of participating in government?

Democracy in Athens• The city state of Athens went through

several stages of government development before forming a democracy.– 1. Monarchy – form of government in

which a king or queen rules.– 2. Aristocracy – rule by upper class people

– usually a minority group.– 3. Tyranny – harsh rule by an absolute

monarch or dictator.– 4. Democracy – rule by the people

Reformers of Athens

• Draco – was a harsh tyrant ruler about 620 BCE.– responsible for first written laws of Athens.– had harsh penalties for crimes, BUT accused had

a right to a jury trial and were innocent until proven guilty.

• Sound Familiar?

• Solon – tyrant ruled about 544 BCE.– made laws of Draco less harsh.– freed slaves and favored rights of lower classes.

Direct Democracy in Athens• Athens was a direct democracy –

citizens voted on each issue considered by the government.

• Public debates and hearing were held so citizens could express their views.– Free people were allowed to participate in

debates BUT could not vote.– Citizens were expected to partake in

debates and voting.

5. Why do YOU think citizens were expected to partake in debates and voting?

Sparta

• Sparta formed an oligarchy – rule by a small elite group.

• Military leaders who controlled the army led the oligarchy.

• Rigid social classes developed with lower classes having few rights and people lived in constant awareness of the military.

• Sparta developed an aggressive city-state where military conquests were held above all else.

Objectives for Class

1. Summarize how the Persian Wars effects Greece

2. Understand the cause and effect of the Peloponnesian War

Wars of Ancient Greece

The Trojan War

• The war took place around 1194 BCE.

• The war probably began over economic control of the Dardanelles.– Greek legend says it began when Prince Paris of

Troy kidnapped Helen (the wife of a Greek King).– The Greeks sailed to Troy to rescue her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RYGQQ_qybY

• For the next 10 years war raged between the Greeks and the Trojans.

• Most of what we know comes from the myths of Ancient Greece and from the poems of Homer.

• Some of the greatest Greek heroes fought in this war (Ajax, Achilles, Odysseus, and Hector).

• The German archeologist Heinrich Schliemann uncovered the remains of Troy in 1820.– He found evidence of war and a fire that

destroyed the city.

• Legend says the Greeks built a large horse as a peace offering to the Trojans.

• The Greek army hid inside while the large wooden horse was brought into Troy.

• After nightfall the Greeks exited the horse and attacked and burned the city.

• The Greeks were left to be the dominant group of people in the region.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbiR6IMf5KQ

Persian War: 499-449 BCE • Greek city-states faced a threat from the Persian

Empire.• Athens and Sparta united to fight the Persians.• Persia conquered most of Asia minor and moved

towards Greece.• At the Plains of Marathon, 26 miles from Athens,

the Greeks fought and defeated the Persians. This left the Greeks in control of the Aegean Sea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkWS9PiXekE

What is a marathon?

• The Greeks crushed the Persians a messenger ran back to Athens and yelled Nike! (victory) and then dropped dead.

• City-states formed an alliance to beat Persians. • Athens preserved its independence and

continued innovations in government and culture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkWS9PiXekE

Battle of Thermopylae

• 7,000 Greeks led by King Leonidas of Sparta stood firm against the Persians for 3 days– Greek traitor showed enemy a trail over the

Greeks– Leonidas sent off troops

• 300 remained obedient to the law of Sparta• Their stand gave Themistocles enough time to

carry out his plan of a counter attack

Battle of Salamis

• Themistocles drew Persian fleet into the strait of Salamis

• Heavy Persian ships crowded together and made easy targets for the Greek ships

• Greeks destroyed entire Persian fleet

• After battle, Greeks gained upper hand

• 479BC- Persians retreated for good

• End of Persian Wars- Greeks returned to their traditional quarrels

Delian League

• League was formed as a result of the Persian War.

• United city-states to prevent future attacks and for trade

• Worked until Athens became too powerful and controlling

(Objective 1 of the Class)

Peloponnesian Wars

• Sparta challenged Athens because of the Delian League.

• Sparta won, but Greece was no longer united.– left Greece open to outside invaders. – Slowing of cultural advances and a

weakening of political power.

Persian/Pelpop. Wars chart

Golden Age of Pericles• Mostly occurring between the Persian

and Peloponnesian Wars• Time of peace and prosperity for Athens• Pericles, the ruler of Athens, extended

democracy to most males and they had an equal voice.

• Pericles rebuilt Athens from destruction that occurred in the Persian Wars. Parthenon example of reconstruction.

• This was the period in which Greece gave many gifts to the world.

Describe characteristic of Beauty

Greek Gifts to the World

Art and Architecture

• Greek sculptors moved through three distinct periods: The Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic styles.

Archaic Style

• Very Rigid

• Freestanding

• Little detail

• Similar to Egyptian

Hera

Calf Bearer

TwinsKleobis and Biton

Classical Style

• Shows movement and perfection of the human body

• Very ornate

• Very detailed

Discobolas

Discobolas

Poseidon

Poseidon

Hellenistic Style

• Shows human emotion and suffering

• Greater detail and movement

• Looks “real”

Dying Gual

Venus de Melos

Winged Victory

Old Market Woman

The Boxer

Columns

• There were three distinct styles of Greek columns

• 1. Doric

The Parthenon

The Parthenon was built on the Acropolis in Athens by Phidias.

It was dedicated to their patron goddess, Athena, the goddess of wisdom.

It had 46 Doric columns, was 237 feet long and 110 feet wide.

During construction, the builders knew the columns appeared to bend when viewed from a distance. Each column has a

slight curve so it appears straight.

• 2. Ionic

• 3. Corinthian

Which is which?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEXZgX9Em2w – Greek Architexture

Greek Philosophers

Socrates

• Felt through logical thinking people could discover wisdom, truth, and laws of nature.

• Taught by using the Socratic Method.– Educate and enlighten through asking

questions

Greek Philosophers

• Leaders of Athens felt that he was a threat.– In 399BCE, he was accused of corrupting the

young and plotting to overthrow the government.

– He was sentenced to death but declared himself innocent.

– He believed in his teachings and carried out the death sentence by drinking hemlock

SOCRATES

SOCRATES TEACHING

Death of Socrates

Plato

• Student of Socrates and carried out Socrates work.

• He took Socrates teachings and organized them into a philosophical thought.

• Opened a school in Athens called The Academy.

• Wrote The Apology in which he explained the teachings of Socrates.

• Wrote The Republic in which he set forth his views of government.

– he felt the state was more important than the individual.

• Believed Philosopher Kings should rule – educated people.

PLATO

School of Athens

Plato and Aristotle

Aristotle

• Last great philosopher of Ancient Greece

• Student of Plato

• Opened his own school in Athens and contributed to the field of logic

• He observed nature, biology, political science, physics and wrote his thoughts about the subjects.

• Was the teacher of Alexander the Great

Aristotle

Alexander the Great - Student of

Aristotle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smm_6PtpvHY – Greek

Philosophers

Historians

• Herodotus – Father of History

– Wrote about the Persian wars 200 years after they occurred.

– Wrote in a first person style as though he was there.

– Often tended to exaggerate events and glorify Athens.

Historians

• Thucydides

– Participated in and wrote about the Peloponnesian Wars

– Regarded as being accurate

– Is considered a Primary Source – eyewitness.

Scientists

• Archimedes – Greek inventor – worked with optics, physics, and hydraulics

– Archimedes Screw – way of pumping water, used in boats.

Archimedes Screw

Scientists

• Hippocrates – Father of medicine

– believed that all diseases came from natural causes and not supernatural

– drew up a code of ethics for doctors – Hippocratic oath.

Poetry

• Homer - blind epic poet of Ancient Greece.

– epic poem – tells a story.

– Wrote the Iliad and The Odyssey which tell the stories of the Trojan war and the adventures of Odysseus.

Iliad

• Trojan Prince Paris falls in love with Helen (wife of Mycenaean king) and takes her with him to Troy

• To avenge her kidnapping, the Mycenaeans lay siege to Troy for 10 years, but could not capture the city

• Tricked Trojans by building a huge hollow wooden horse- best soldiers hid inside while the Trojans brought the horse in the city

• Greeks snuck out of the horse that night and slaughtered the Trojan men, enslaved women and children, and burned the city to the ground

Odyssey

• Describes the homeward wanderings of the Mycenaean king Odysseus after the fall of Troy

• Took him 10 years to return to Greece

• Any long adventure is called an odyssey

Mathematics

• Euclid – Founder of Geometry.– Wrote a series of 13 books on mathematics.

• Pythagoras – student of Euclid, extended the work of Euclid.

– responsible for Pythagorean theorem.

Drama

• Greeks were the first to write and perform plays.– Tragedies – unhappy endings and human

suffering– Comedies – humorous themes – happy

endings• Sophocles – wrote tragedies most famous is

Antigone and Oedipus Rex• Aeschylus – wrote over 80 plays – tragedies,

including Oresteia– fought in Persian War.

Culture of Greece

The culture of Greece that emerged during the Golden Age of Pericles became known as Hellenistic Culture.

King Phillip II and Alexander

• Following the Peloponnesian Wars, Greece was left without unity.– a number of invaders threatened Greece.– the most powerful were the Macedonians.

• King Phillip II led his army to Greece and conquered northern Greece.– He moved into southern Greece, but died

before all of Greece was conquered.

King Phillip II and Alexander

• His son, Alexander the Great, age 23, took over and conquered Greece.

• Alexander adopted Hellenistic culture and spread it with him as his army conquered land.

• Alexander’s army was the most powerful of its age.

• Alexander’s empire went from Egypt to India and Greek culture went with it.

Alexander’s Empire

Hellenistic Empires

Alexander

• He died at age 33 under mysterious causes.

• After his death, the empire was divided among his three top generals.

– without unity, Alexander’s empire was defeated by the Romans.