Ancient Greece

1. Ancient Greece City State Athens 1400-Today Birthplace of Democracy

2. Essential Standards • 6.C&G.1 Understand the development of government in various civilizations, societies and regions. • 6.G.1Understand geographic factors that influenced the emergence, expansion and decline of civilizations, societies and regions (i.e. Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas) over time. • 6.H.2 Understand the political, economic and/or social significance of historical events, issues, individuals and cultural groups.

3. Clarifying Objectives • 6.C&G.1.1 Explain the origins and structures of various governmental systems (e.g., democracy, absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy). • 6.C&G.1.2 Summarize the ideas that shaped political thought in various civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., divine right, equality, liberty, citizen participation and integration of religious principles). • 6.G.1.3 Compare distinguishing characteristics of various world regions (e.g., physical features, culture, political organization and ethnic make-up). • 6.H.2.2 Compare historical and contemporary events and issues to understand continuity and change.

4. Essential Questions • What is the basis of Democracy vs. Absolute Monarchy? • What were the political thoughts/ideas behind a Democratic Government? • How can politics characterize Ancient Athens?

5. City States • Ancient Greece was broken up into city states • Think of this as all of Ancient Greece being the whole USA • North Carolina being one of the city states

6. Ancient Greece’s Government • Ancient Greece had always been run as a MONARCHY for hundreds of years • Then it was run as an OLIGARCHY • Then a TYRANY • Finally DEMOCRACY took root

7. Experiment called Democracy • All civilizations up until this point in history had been an ABSOLUTE MONARCHY • But what if the people were given the right to choose, make decisions • This was DEMOCRACY

8. Essential Questions • Get with a partner and answer…. • What is the basis of Democracy vs. Absolute Monarchy?

9. Persia was Coming • The great Persian Army was coming to take over all of Ancient Greece • The people were given a choice (vote) on whether to go & fight or to hide behind the city walls • The freedom for ordinary people to CHOOSE was DEMOCRACY at work for the first time in history • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IndRAsYX4W4

10. Political Thought • The idea/political thought behind democracy was give power to the people of the city • Not to Kings or Queens but rather to ordinary citizens • This was founded on the thought that every person deserved • Equality • Freedom • Liberty

11. Essential Questions • Get with a partner and answer…. • What were the political thoughts/ideas behind a Democratic Government?

12. Democracy Becomes the Way of Life • Democracy works so well in Athens that it becomes the way of life as people love having the power • There are no more Kings & Queens that will make decisions by themselves • How did it work??

13. Acropolis & Agora • There were two main important areas in the city state of Athens • Acropolis • Agora • Acropolis was a place of worship. It was on top of a hill and was where the temples were built • Agora was the place of government, place of decision making for the people

14. Acropolis • Acropolis was the “high” part of the city of Athens • Highest point in the city • Place where they worshiped the highest gods in Greek Mythology • This was a place of worship to the gods & goddesses of Greek Mythology • It is highlighted by the Parthenon which was a temple built for the Goddess Athena • http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-greece-democracy/videos#deconstructing-history-the-acropolis

15. Agora • Agora was the town center & marketplace of Ancient Athens • This is where all the Athenian people gathered • This was the center for Athenian people for… • Commercial • Social • Political

16. Athenian Commercial Agora • Commercial Section of the Agora was where Athenian citizens could buy & sell things • Athenians could either buy…. • Food • Clothing • Books • It was the site of the world’s first malls

17. Athenian Social Agora • Social section of the Agora was where Athenians went to “hang out” • This was where the famous philosophers hung out and talked to people about their thoughts • It was also where rich Athenians went to school • Where Athletic events would take place

18. Athenian Political Agora • Political area of the Agora was where all the Democratic government decisions took place • This was where the… • Boule • Ekklesia (Pynx) • Dikasteria

19. Agora Boule • The Boule was a council of 500 men from every major part of Athens (big city) • They met everyday and decided what was going to be important enough to bring to Ekklasia

20. Agora Ekklasia (Pynx) • AgroraPynx was a gathering place in the Agora where people would come to vote • There was enough room for 6,000 people at the Pynx • People would stand up at the front and state their idea & Athenians would either “cheer or boo” the idea

21. Orators • Orators are great public speakers that would try to convince the voters to vote for their ideas • The Pinnex would always have at least 2 Orators that would have two different sides to the argument • This way voters always got a chance to vote for what they felt was right

22. Example: How do we spend the silver? • Get a tax break from the Athenian Government (get a little bit of money) • Or • Use the extra silver to construct more ships

23. Agora Dikasteria • Dikasteria was the 3rd part of the political Agora • There were no police • This was another 500 man council that would act a court system • The members of the Dikasteria would decide who was innocent & who was guilty

24. Athens Becomes Powerful • Under the Democratic Government Athens became the most powerful city state in all of Greece • Democracy became the government choice of most of Ancient Greece

25. Athens lives On • Today in America our government is a Democracy • We vote for the laws of our country • We are not governed by a King or Queen but rather by a President who is supposed to oversee the people not rule over them

26. Essential Questions • Get with a partner and answer…. • How can politics characterize Ancient Athens?

27. EOG Questions • Order of Ruling Powers in Ancient Greece • 1. Monarchy • 2. Oligarchy • 3. Tyranny • 4. Democracy • Which statement explains the list above? • A) Some city-states of Ancient Greece went from being governed by their citizens to being ruled by a king. • B) Some city-states of Ancient Greece went from being ruled by nobility to being governed by their citizens. • C) Some city-states of Ancient Greece went from being ruled by military leaders to being governed by the upper class. • D) Some city-states of Ancient Greece went from being ruled by rich merchants to being governed by men of nobility.

28. EOG Questions • An absolute monarchy is a type of government structure. Which of the statements describes this type of structure? • A) The citizens have an equal say in their government. • B) The citizens elect representatives to run the government. • C) The ruler has complete power over the citizens or inhabitants. • D) The ruler has control of the government, but citizens have rights

29. Important Points • 6.C&G.1.1 ATHENS is where DEMOCRACY started • 6.C&G.1.1 DEMOCRACY is government by the citizens not by Kings & Queens • 6.C&G.1.1 In DEMOCRACY the citizens get to CHOOSE • 6.H.2.2 (Historical vs. Contemporary Events) Today the USA still uses Democracy to govern their people. They got this from Ancient Greece • 6.C&G.1.2 (Political Thought/Idea) Liberty, Equality, Freedom, Civic Participation is the thought behind Democracy • 6.G.1.3 (Distinguishing Characteristics) Everybody all over the world today knows that ATHENS started DEMOCRACY