The Cradle of Western Civilization

1. The Cradle of Western Civilization A webquest by Mariah Reinard

2. The Basics of Ancient Greece • Ancient Greece is also known as “The Cradle of Western Civilization” • Ancient Greece lasted from about 1100 B.C. to about 146 B.C. The Greek Parthenon

3. Ancient Greece Geography • Greece is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. • Three regions: coast, lowlands, and mountains • Ancient Greece has more than 1,400 islands • Greece is a mountainous area, making it bad for agriculture • There were very few rivers • The mountains made travel across the land difficult • Many city-states were on the coasts of other modern-day countries • Lots of high land

4. Ancient Greece Geography Continued • Living on the Acropolis was great for war • The Greek’s could see the enemies coming • The people of a city-state most likely knew the mountains around their area better than others • Mountains provide places for the wives and children to hide during war. • Hills of the Acropolis made it hard for enemies to reach the city.

5. Government In General • There were 4 types of government in Ancient Greece • They were monarchy, oligarchy, tyranny, democracy • Monarchy is when an area is ruled by a king or queen. • Oligarchy is when an area is ruled by a small group. • Tyranny is when an area is ruled by a dictator or a group of dictators. • Democracy is when an area is ruled by its citizens. • A monarchy was the most common form of Ancient Greece. • There are two types of democracy. • They are direct and representative. • A direct democracy is where citizens vote for who is going into power and their own laws. • A representative democracy is when the citizens vote for the person who will represent them and make their laws.

6. Democracy In Athens • When Athens made the change from monarchy to democracy, it was a slow process. • When the last king of Athens was replaced, he was replaced, not with a new king, but an archon. • At first, the positions of king and archon were very nearly identical • The archon was to rule for life and had to be a part of a royal family. • About 200 years later, there was a different archon. • His name was Solon. • Athens was divided into 10 tribes. • Each division would elect 50 representatives to the Assembly. • The Areopagus was a group of former archons acting as a supreme court • Once the Areopagus lost power, Athens became a full democracy. • Athens was considered unique, as it used a lottery system to appoint all officials.

7. Democracy In Athens Continued • Short “in office” times were used to insure no person gained too much power. • It is also allowed almost every citizen to be a part of his government at some point in time. • Women were not allowed to be citizens and had less rights. • Athenian government was a direct democracy. • When the Assembly met, there had to be at least 6,000 citizens in attendance. • The Assembly had many powers. • These powers included: deciding troop strengths and declaring war. • It was the Assembly’s job to give people citizenship. • The council was another important group. • They were 50 people from each of the 10 tribes. • The council met daily, exceptions on festival days. • The military leader or strategoi was a very important position as well. • They trained the military for battle

8. Ancient Greece Religion • Mythology was the religion f Ancient Greece. • It was a polytheistic belief, meaning that they believed in many gods. • The Greeks believed the most powerful gods lived on Mount Olympus. • Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece. • There was no formal structure or sacred book to live by. • Festivals were the central way to worship the gods. • Great temples and monuments were built to the gods. • Zeus was believed to be the most powerful god. Athena

9. The Gods Of Ancient Greece • Zeus was believed to be the “King of the Gods” His Roman name was Jupiter. • He could controlled the weather and the sky. • He created thunder. • Poseidon was god of the seas, horses, and earthquakes. • His Roman name was Neptune • Hera was the queen of heaven, goddess of women, childbirth and marriage. • Her Roman name was Juno. • Aphrodite was the goddess of beauty and love. • Her Roman name was Venus. • Apollo was the god of light, honesty, healing, archery, music, and poetry. Namely the arts. • Ares was the god of war. • His Roman name was Mars. • Artemis is the goddess of the hunt, moon and children. • Her Roman name is Diana. • Athena was goddess of wisdom, war, patriotism, and good citizenship.

10. Education In Sparta Boys Girls • Sent to military school at age 6 or 7 • Taught the skills needed to be a great soldier. • Were not fed well and told that stealing was okay as long as they weren’t caught. • At ages 18-20, boys had to pass a strenuous test of strength, leadership, and ability.’ • Also went to school at age 6 or 7 • They were taught combat skills, wrestling, and gymnastics. • Once they were 18, if they passed the skills and fitness test, they were assigned a husband and went home.

11. Education In Athens Boys Girls • Up until age 6, boys were taught at home by their mother or a male slave. • Ages 7-14 they attended a primary school or a private school • They learned by memorization as subjects are read aloud. • They had to learn the original words of Homer ( a Greek poet) and how to play the lyre (a musical instrument) • The teachers were always male. • After that they attended a “high school” for 4 years and then a military school for 2 years. • At age 20, they graduated. • Girls didn’t attend school. • Received their entire education at home. A lyre.

12. Greek Babies • Considered to be “youths” until the age of 30. • Families decorated the doorways with wreaths when a baby was born. • A wreath of olives was used for a boy. • A wreath of wool was used for a girl. • In some city-states, babies were wrapped tightly in cloths for up to 2 years. • This was to insure straight limbs.

13. Greek Girls • Girls stayed home until they were married. • Their job was to help their mothers and in the field as needed. • At age 12 or 13, they were considered adults and were allowed to marry. • They had to do whatever their father told them. • They had to marry the man of her father’s choice.

14. Greek Boys • Helped in the fields • Some were taught the trade of their fathers while others went to school. • Greek boys played games like hockey. • Most cities required boys to have at least 2 years of military service. • Had to reach age 30 before they were allowed to participate in politics.

15. Citatons • http://greece.mrdonn.org/ for notes on Geography, Religion, Government, and Education • http://www.historylink102.com/greece3/index.htm for notes on Geography. Religion, Government, and Children • http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Main_Page/ for notes on Geography and Children • http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/ for notes on Geography and Religion • http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ancientgreece/main_menu.shtml for notes on Government • http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/Greece.html for notes on Children • Mrs.Yanko for help with everything.