Ancient Greece

1. Ancient Greece Mr. Giesler Global Studies

2. What I Know About Greece What I Want to Learn About Greece What I Learned About Greece

3. Refer to Notes Packet

4. Geography • Unlike other early civilizations, Greek civilization did NOT rise in a fertile river valley • Rugged and remote corner of S.E. Europe • Much of Greece is mountainous and rocky terrain • Has several plains.

5. Geography • The Pindus Mountains start in northern Greece and stretch south to the Gulf of Patra. • Geographically no where in Greece is more than 60 km from the sea • Greece is located on the southernmost point of the Balkan Peninsula and is flanked by 3 large bodies of water: the Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. 

6. Geography • The Peloponnesus Mountains occupy southern part of Greece. • Approximately 20% of Greece is made up of islands. • Crete is a large island located in the Mediterranean Sea • Most of the people in Greece live along the coast, or along rivers and harbors. • Climate - Most of Greece has a mild climate • Summers are warm and dry • Rain is heavy during the winter months, with some mountain areas getting snow.

13. Early Civilizations of Greece • Minoan Civilization • Occupied the island of Crete • First inhabitants probably migrated from Asia Minor • We do not know a lot of the Minoan Civilization • What we do know, English archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans provided • Success of the Minoans was a result of trade…not conquest • Minoans established outposts throughout the Aegean world, including mainland Greece • Location allowed the Minoans to cross the seas to the Nile River Valley and the Middle East

14. Early Civilizations of Greece • Minoan Civilization • Through contact with Egypt and Mesopotamia, the Minoans acquired ideas and technology – Cultural Diffusion • Minoan reached its peak between 1750 – 1500 BCE • The Palace of Knossos (NAHS uhs) • Archeologist digs reveal painting suggests that women moved freely and may have enjoyed more rights than women in most ancient civilizations

15. Early Civilizations of Greece • Minoan Civilization • About 1400 BCE, Minoan Civilization vanished • Archaeologists are not sure why…maybe a volcanic eruption on nearby island • Maybe an earthquake • Invaders definitely played a role – the Mycenaeans

16. Early Civilizations of Greece • The Mycenaean's • Indo-European people • Conquered Greek mainland • Dominated the Aegean world from 1400 – 1200 BCE • Sea Traders • Reached Sicily, Italy, Egypt, and Mesopotamia • Influenced by the Egyptians and Mesopotamia – Cultural Diffusion

17. Early Civilizations of Greece • The Mycenaean's • Lived in separate city-states on the mainland • Warrior-king ruled his village • Rulers amasses treasure; gold ornaments that archaeologists have unearthed from their tombs)

18. Early Civilizations of Greece • The Mycenaean's • The Trojan War – 1250 BCE • Legend or Reality??? • May had its origin due to economic rivalry with Troy • Troy – rich trading city in now present-day Turkey • Troy controlled the straits that connect the Mediterranean and Black Sea • Trojan prince Pars kidnapped Helen, wife of a Greek King • The Mycenaeans sailed to Troy to rescue her • For 10 years, the Greeks and Troy fought

19. Early Civilizations of Greece • The Mycenaean's • The Trojan Horse • Seeking entrance into Troy, Odysseus ordered a large wooden horse to be built. • Its insides were to be hollow so that soldiers could hide within it. • A number of the Greek warriors, along with Odysseus, climbed inside. • The rest of the Greek fleet sailed away, so as to deceive the Trojans. • One man, Sinon, was left behind.

20. Early Civilizations of Greece • The Mycenaean's • The Trojan Horse • When the Trojans came to marvel at the huge creation, Sinon pretended to be angry with the Greeks, stating that they had deserted him. • He assured the Trojans that the wooden horse was safe and would bring luck to the Trojans. • The Trojans celebrated what they thought was their victory, and dragged the wooden horse into Troy. • At night, after most of Troy was asleep or in a drunken stupor, Sinon let the Greek warriors out from the horse, and they slaughtered the Trojans.

22. Early Civilizations of Greece • Homer • Mycenaean power faded • 1100 to 800 BCE, Greek Civilization seemed to • have step backwards; trade declined, cities were • abandoned, and people stopped writing • Homer; Greek poet; author of the Iliad and Odyssey • According to legend, Homer was blind and would wander from village to village playing his harp and singing of heroic deeds • His tales were passed from generation to generation before they were written down Not This Homer

23. Early Civilizations of Greece • Homer • The Iliad, serves as our primary source about the Trojan War, including several writing liberties such as gods, goddesses, and a talking horse Mother tells me,the immortal goddess Thetis with her glistening feet,that two fates bear me on to the day of death.If I hold out here and I lay siege to Troy,my journey home is gone, but my glory never dies.If I voyage back to the fatherland I love,my pride, my glory dies… TTYN – what is Homer’s message in this passage?

24. Early Civilizations of Greece • Homer • The Odyssey, • Homer tells the reader a story of the struggles of the Greek hero Odysseus to return home to his faithful wife, Penelope, after the fall of Troy. • During his journey home, Odysseus encounters a sea monster, a race of one-eyed giants, and beautiful sorceress who turns men into swine. • TTYN – The Iliad and the Odyssey tell us what about the ancient Greeks? • Homer depicts the heroism and courage of the ancient Greeks

25. The Rise of Greek City-States • How Geography played a big role in the development of Ancient Greece • The mountains divided the peninsula into isolate valleys • Beyond the coastline sat hundreds of rocky islands • The Greeks did NOT establish a large empire as the Egyptians and Mesopotamians had – they built many small city-states • City-states were cut off from one another by either land or water • Strong loyalty to their own city-state • Fiercely defended their independence • Frequent wars between the city-states

26. The Rise of Greek City-States • The Polis • 750 BCE, a unique version of the city-state called the polis • The top of the city sat the acropolis or high city, with great marble temples dedicated to gods and goddesses • On flatter grounds lay the walled main city with its market place, theater, public buildings, and homes • Men would spend time in the marketplace, debating issues that affected their lives

27. The Rise of Greek City-States • Early Governments • 750 – 500 BCE • Different forms of government • First, Monarchy – king or queen exercised power • Next, Aristocracy – class of noble landowners would win power for themselves • Trade expands and new middle class of wealthy merchants emerge • Challenged the landowning nobles for power. • Oligarchy – power is in the hands of a small, powerful elite, usually from the business elite

28. The Rise of Greek City-States • Changes in Warfare • Technology contributes to military strategies and power • Iron weapons replaced bronze; iron cheaper; now the common man could acquire iron helmets, shields, and swords • New fighting methods emerge • The Phalanx emerges – formation of heavily armed foot soldiers • The phalanx reduces class differences • TTYN – why did the phalanx impact class differences? • Defense was now in the hands of ordinary citizens

29. What I Know About Greece What I Want to Learn About Greece What I Have Learned So far About Greece

30. Sparta and Athens • The effect of new technology and warfare lead to emergences of two dominate city-states: Sparta and Athens • Developed very different ways of life • Sparta stressed military virtues and discipline • Athens glorified the individual; would extend political rights to more citizens

31. Sparta and Athens • Sparta • Spartans conquer Laconia • This region lies in the Peloponnesus (southern part of Greece) • Conquered people turned into slaves, called helots • Helots worked the land • Spartans administered a brutal system of strict control • Spartan Government – consisted of two kings and a council of elders who advised the elders • Assembly, made up of all citizens approved major decisions; citizens were male and over 30

32. Sparta and Athens • Life as a Spartan • Young boys were bred to be strong Spartans • Spartan boys were only allowed to wear one layer of clothing • Spartan youth became excellent soldiers • Encouraged to steal to develop cunning and supplement their diet; if caught they would be beaten • Spartan women wrestled and took part in sports • Had to obey their fathers or husbands • The culture of Sparta changed from normal Archaic Greek to military and athletic.

33. Sparta and Athens • Life as a Spartan • Elders judged whether Spartan babies were strong or weak enough to live. • If they were judged too weak, they were hurled into a gorge or left to die in a hillside. • Life was made tough for the Spartan citizens so they could forever control the Messenians. • Even alcohol was banned to the Spartans, but the helots were allowed to drink. 

34. Leonidas, warrior-king of Sparta

35. Sparta and Athens • Life as a Spartan • Sparta isolate itself from its neighborssuch as the Greeks • Looked down and wealth • Forbade their citizens from traveling • Had little use for new ideas or the arts • Were willing to die for their city • TTYN – Why would Sparta’s rigid system and inability to change lead to their decline in power

36. Sparta and Athens • Athens • Athens was located in Attica, north of Peloponnesus • Government would evolve from a monarchy into an aristocracy • 700 BCE, noble landowners held the power and chose chief officials • Nobles judged major cases in court and dominated the assembly • Merchants and soldiers resented the power of the nobles • Argued that their service to Athens entitled them to more rights • Demands for change also came from farmers • During hard times, farmers were forced to sell their lands to nobles; some were forced to sell themselves and family into slavery

37. Sparta and Athens • Athens • Athens moves closer to democracy; government by the people • Solon’s Reform • Solon – Chief Official granted permission to make needed reform • Outlawed slavery because of debt • High office to more citizens • Granted citizenship to foreigners • Gave Athenian assemble more say in important decisions

38. Sparta and Athens • Athens • Economic Reform • Encouraged the export of wine and olive oil; helped merchants and farmers by increasing demand • Citizenship still remained limited • Wealthy landowners still held onto the highest positions of authority • Rise of the Tyrants – people who gained power by force • Won support by imposing reforms

39. Sparta and Athens • Athens • Athenian tyrant, Pisistratus (pi SIHS truhtuhs) seized power in 546BCE • Helped farmers by giving them loans and land taken from nobles • New building projects – gave jobs to the poor • Gave the poor a voice and weakened the aristocracy • 507BCE, reformer Cleisthenes created the Council of 500 • members were chosen by lot of all citizens • Created law and supervised the day-to-day work of government • Created a legislature – lawmaking body, debated law • All male citizens over 30 were members

40. Sparta and Athens • Athens • Limited Rights • Only males citizens could participate in government • Slavery still existed • Slavery provided the citizens with the time to participate in government

41. Sparta and Athens • Athens • Women, as in other Greek city-states had no share in public life • Women must be guided by men • Managed the house, cared for the children, and prepared food • Boys received an education, girls received very little, if any • Young men received military training and encouraged to explore many others areas of knowledge • Studied to become public speakers • TTYN – why would it be necessary to become a good public speaker? • In a democracy you were expected to voice your opinion and views

43. Sparta and Athens • Athens • Common Culture • Spoke same language • Honored same ancient heroes • Participated in common festivals such as the Olympic Games • Prayed to the same gods (polytheistic)

44. Sparta and Athens • Athens • Believed the gods lived on Mt. Olympus in Northern Greece • Zeus – the most powerful god • Hera – goddess of marriage • Poseidon – god of the sea • Aphrodite – goddess of love • Ares – god of war • Athena – god of wisdom, gave her name to Athens

45. Sparta and Athens • Athens • View of non-Greeks • Trade expanded and so did Greek colonies • Came in contact with people who had different cultures and languages • Felt superior to non-Greeks • Called outsiders or non-Greeks barbaroi; people who did not speak Greek • English word Barbarians comes from barbaroi • This feeling of superiority and what they learned from other cultures would help the Greeks face a threat from the mightiest power in the Mediterranean world – The Persian Empire

46. What I Know About Greece What I Want to Learn About Greece What I Have Learned So far About Greece

47. Sparta and Athens • The Persian Wars • “Earth and Water” • 492 BCE, King Darius of Persia sent messengers to the Greek city-states demanding gifts of “earth and water” as a symbol of surrender • Many states obeyed • Athens and Sparta declined • Prior to the Persian demand, the Greek city-states, despite their cultural ties, were often bitterly divided. • However, when Persia made their threat, they united to defend their freedom

49. Sparta and Athens • The Persian Wars • By 500 BCE, Persian authority had stretched into the Ionian Sea • Ionian Greeks rebelled against Persian rule • Athens sent ships to help • Persians crush the rebellion within the Ionian cities. • Persia looks to punish Athens for interfering • Battle at Marathon – 490 BCE • Marathon, north of Athens