World historyChapter 5

Ancient Greece

Section 1The Early Civilizations of

Greece

• 20 minute video about Greece

The Geography of Greece

• Very mountainous region of southeastern Europe– Isolated the Greek

people for each other

• Numerous islands

• No great rivers---Little rainfall

• Dry, rocky soil – Grew- barley, grapes,

and olives– raised -pigs, sheep,

goats, and chickens

-Food was scarce

The Sea

• Most people lived 40 miles of the sea• Built great harbors • became sailors, fishers, & traders

– traded olive oil, wine, wool, and marble for grain and metals

Early Greek Communities• people were separated by water and mountains

& developed different communities

The Minoan Civilization

• the island Crete• In the Aegean Sea• No written record• King-government • interested in trade,

not war or conquest

• influenced Greek-speaking Mycenaean's

• culture mysteriously vanished around 1600 BC

– Volcanic eruption ?

The Palace of Knossos

• built of stone around central courtyard; used for royal family, worship, storerooms (for tax payments), workshops, large bathrooms, & plumbing system

• Art was important in Minoan culture (frescoes) see front of school

The Mycenaean's Grow Powerful

• First Greeks to leave written records• Dominated the mainland• Ruled by Kings• Traded with Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine,

Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Sicily

The Trojan War 1250 BC

Mycenaean & other Greek vs. Troy (on Asia Minor)

– Trojan prince Paris kidnapped Helen-sister-in-law of Mycenaean king

– Troy was burnt to the ground

The Decline of Mycenae and the Age of Homer

• At Home and Abroad– 1100bc Mycenaean disappeared – Many Greeks left for Asia Minor, Sicily, &

Southern Italy, spread culture

The Iliad and the Odyssey--long, epic, narrative poems by Greek poet Homer

lliad• Last few days

of the Trojan Wars

Odyssey

The story of the long journey home of Odysseus• The Greek

hero of the war

Greek Religion

----gods had human feelings & form– Built marble temples to honor gods &

goddesses– People needed to please the Gods– Zeus – king of the gods; – Athena – goddess of wisdom– Live on Mt Olympus

Section 2

Greek City-States Rise to Power

City state develop• 800B.C. first Greek large political units

formed called Polis—city-state• Completed against each other for control

of land and trade• All city-states shared common language &

adapted Phoenician alphabet in 750bc; shared common religion & culture;

• Citizenship only free males• Olympics

Governments of the City-States

• most city-states began as monarchies protected by citizen-soldiers

• ARISTOCRACY: government in which the upper class, or a privileged few, rule

• OLIGARCHY: government in which only a few powerful people rule, “rule of the few”

• 800 BC tools became cheaper & more available as they were made of iron; Athens & Sparta gained power

Sparta Becomes a Military State

a Spartan life = “a life with few luxuries” • A Society of Soldiers- boys sent to train at age

7 until 30 • 600’s B.C. first Greek constitution• governed by 2 military kings,• 28-member council of elders (over age 60)

(chose issues)• lawmaking assembly voted on laws made up

of all free adult males over 30 with 5 overseers• Conquered people were helots, or slaves, who

farmed the land

Women of Sparta

• had more rights than other Greeks women; inherited land

• girls received physical training & some education

• Learned to run, wrestle, throw a javelin,

Athenians and Their Right to Govern

• Government Reforms and Limited Democracy• 800bc-700bc Athens grew quickly• 500 chosen men made up the LEGISLATURE

lawmaking body in government• DEMOCRACY: government that gives its

citizens the ruling power, “power from the people”

• Slaves & women had no power in government

Education in Athens

• boys learned reading, writing, math, music, athletics, & speaking

• only wealthy citizens were educated due to cost

• Athenians generally more educated than other Greeks

Greek Unity in the Persian Wars

• 400’s B.C.- Greeks joined together against Persia

• 499BC -Greeks in Asia Minor rebelled against Persian rule

• Athens & Sparta joined to beat Persians & end Persian Wars

The End of the Persian Wars alliances were formed

Delian League

formed 478bc between 140Greek city-states that had fought in Persian Wars; lead by Athenians

Peloponnesian League:

formed by Sparta

Section 3 The Golden Age of Athens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-mkVSasZIM

The Age of PericlesAthens becomes the richest, most powerful

city-state

Expanding Democracy

• TRIBUTE: payment given by one nation to another more powerful nation; may be paid in exchange for protection; Athens demanded tribute from members of the Delian League

• Classical Age: 480bc-323bc when Athenian art, politics, & literature flourished (refers to order, balance, & harmony)

• DIRECT DEMOCRACY: government in which citizens take part directly rather than through representatives; belief of Pericles

• JURY: group of people that considers the evidence in a trial & makes a judgment

Culture in the Golden Age

Architecture and Art• public buildings, like temples were large,

homes were small• most art was on practical pottery• 450bc natural, fluid style of art developed with

idealized forms

Poetry, Drama, and History

• Earliest literature:– poetry – poets include Homer, Sappho

• Greek Drama: – tragedies dealt with suffering & misery

• Comedies:– poked fun at leaders & their politics

• Women weren’t allowed to be actors;– female parts played by men

Three Great Thinker Philosopher- “lover of wisdom”

• Socrates, Plato, Aristotle;– asked what it means to lead a good life

• Socrates– taught by going to the agora & asking

questions– Was arrested & sentences in death in 399bc

• Plato, Socrates’ student, wrote about Socrates’ life, the ideal state, the ideal society, the nature of goodness and friendship, and the idea of truth; founded school The Academy 387bc

• Aristotle, Plato’s student, went to Macedonia to tutor Alexander the Great, went to Athens & set up school, Lyceum, taught to learn by observation, book Politics he praised the middle class

The Peloponnesian War: Plague and Starvation

– began in 412B.C. between Greek city-states, Athens & Sparta

– 404bc Athens was starved & surrendered to Spartan

Aftermath– Sparta won Peloponnesian War– Athenian democracy lost energy &

corruption grew; unity was lost

Section 4Alexander builds a great empire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LsrkWDCvxg

The Rise of Macedonia

Philip II Gains Control• 404BC city-states continued to fight• 359BC Philip II became king of

Macedonia & looked to Greece• Philip defeated Greek city-states of

Athens & Thebes • his son Alexander defeated the Sacred

Band of 300 Theban soldiers

Alexander Takes the Throne

• Philip wanted to unit Macedonia & Greece then defeat Persia

• ASSASSINATION: murder of a leader for political reason

• Philip was assassinated & his son Alexander became king at 20

Alexander Builds an Empirehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LsrkWDCvxg

• 334bc Alexander leads army to attack Persia in Asia Minor

• Alexander is considered one of the greatest military leaders of ancient times

• They never lost a battle • 331BC established Alexandria on northern

coast of Egypt• Army made it 11,000 miles into India before

stopping

Death and Division

• 323bc Alexander died at 33 from an infection or fever

• Empire was left “to the strongest;” it was divided into 3 kingdoms

• Richest & most powerful, Egypt, went to A Macedonian General Ptolemy I

Hellenistic Civilization The Economy and the Growth of cities

• blend of Greek, Egyptian, Persian, Indian and other influences – from 323BC-146BC

• Use of money increased (including real banks)• Alexandra in Egypt became a busy port and

center of education with the world’s largest library

• ended when Greece was conquered by Rome• Left an important impact on the world and the

future

The End