12-3 Notes: Rise of Greek Cities

1. 12-3 Notes: Rise of Greek Cities

2. Homer • Poet who is thought to have lived sometime between 800 and 700 B.C.E. • Wrote epic poems such as Odyssey and Iliad

3. Herodotus • “Father of History” lived between c. 484 and 425 B.C.E. • Often credited as the first person to systematically gather evidence, test their accuracy, and arrange them to create narrative stories of the past (“history”) • The Histories is his only known work

4. Rise of the Polis • 1500 B.C.E., Mycenaean civilization dominates Greece • By the 700s B.C.E., new independent city-states(“polis”) became cultural centers of Greece • Athens, Sparta

5. Acropolis – Large hill where city residents could find shelter in times of war Agora – Clearing near the Acropolis where people would trade; marketplace, meeting place

6. Government in Greek City States • Citizenship – Leaders of governments had to be citizens of their polis • Naturally born native, free men only • Women, slaves have less rights • 600 B.C.E. – Greek city of Athens ruled by an oligarchy, a system of government in which the most rich and powerful citizens control most decision making • Athens was also ruled by a monarchy, a system of government ruled by one person

7. Sparta • 700 B.C.E. – Sparta covers most of southern Peloponnesus and was Greece’s largest polis • Slavery common in Sparta – 7 to 1 slave ratio at times • 600s B.C.E. – Spartans forced to crush slave revolt; militarize their state

8. Spartan Children • Boys and girls begin school at age 7 • Boys enter the agoge system, a highly rigorous education system that included military training, education, social preparation • Starting at the age of 20, Spartan boys served the army for 10 years • Spartan women went to school and trained vigorously to become strong women, mostly to become strong mothers • Women engaged in business, public life

9. Athenian Children • Athenian girls spent their time at home, helping their mothers weave cloth or farm • Athenian boys worked in the fields or in workshops • Some parents could afford to send their children to school to study reading, writing, and physical education

10. Democracy in Athens • Over time, poorer people began to grow unhappy with Athens’ government, which was dominated by richer people • Government slowly began to include large meetings where all people could participate in decision making • Democracy – “rule by the people”