Greece’s Geography

2. Greece’s Geography • Mostly islands and peninsulas - Peninsula- a body of land that is surrounded by water on 3 sides • Mountains make Greece a poor place to farm • Since Greeks could not farm, they had to become sailors, traders, and build colonies elsewhere • Since the mountains separated the Greeks, they saw themselves as small city-states, not one unified country

3. How did Greece’s Geography Affect Its People? Greece had many mountains The mountains prevented people from sharing ideas and unify as a country (it was not easy to get around from one area to another) The mountains prevented people from farming (not enough flat land) Since people couldn’t farm they had to become sailors, trade, and create colonies elsewhere Since people were isolates by the mountains, Greece was never united as one country, instead it was separated into city-states that shared a common language and belief system

4. Where did the Greeks come from? • Minoans- peaceful society living on the island of Crete (around 2500BC) • Minoans were taken over by the Mycenaeans (around 2000BC) • The Mycenaeans mainly settled in Peloponesse, they were the ancestors of the people we refer to as the “Ancient Greeks” • Mycenaeans conquered Troy (around 1250 BC)

5. The Greeks had their legends: • The Trojan War- a famous Greek legend about their ancestors the Myceaneans. • This legend was finally written down by Homer around 750 BC • By reading the story of The Trojan War, we can some of the beliefs and values of the first Greeks

6. The Dark Ages of Greece • After the end of Troy, the civilization in Greece collapsed (no one is really sure why) • This time period (from 1100 BC to 750 BC) is known as the Dark Ages because little was written about this time period. • Without writing, people depended on word of mouth to keep traditions and history alive.

7. The Dark Ages of Greece Cont’d • During this time people began to set up farms near an acropolis which was a rocky hill that would safe from attack. -An acropolis means a “high city.”

8. Ancient Greece- Early Government: • Ancient Greece was not one united country, instead it was divided into small independent nations called city-states. • Each city-state had its own traditions, government and laws. • During the Mycenaean era most city-states had a monarchy (kings ruled) • By the end of the Dark Ages, most city-states were ruled by aristocrats or members of rich and powerful families. • However, many common people were not happy with the rich ruling over everyone. Therefore, with the support of the middle class, tyrants usually ended up taking over.

9. What is Democracy? Democracy: - The people vote to create laws and to select rulers Direct Democracy: - Each eligible citizen votes for a law directly. The votes are counted and that decides if a law is created. Works well in small areas. Representative Democracy: - Citizens vote to elect people who then decide on the laws and rules. Works well in large areas. Question: What type of democracy do we have in the United States today?

10. Ancient Greece- Birth of Democracy: • Athens (one of the most famous Greek city-states) decided to create a new form of government known as a democracy (people voted on rulers and laws.) • However, not everyone was allowed to vote. Women, children, foreigners and slaves were unable to participate in the voting process. • Council of 500- Each year, Athens selected 500 people to serve as lawmakers for one year. • For every law that was created, all free man had to vote to put the law into action. Majority would win. This was known as a direct democracy

11. Democracy Today Today we have a representative democracy (we elect people to create and implement the laws.) Our government is divided into three branches:

12. Ancient Greek Section 1 Review Terms to know: • Acropolis Direct Democracy • Peninsula Representative Dem. • City-states Democracy • Monarchy Tyrant • Aristocrats • People to know: • Minoans Myceneans • Homer Council of 500

13. Athenian Golden Age a period of peace, harmony, stability, and prosperity Lasted from 479 to 431 BC During this time, Athenians made great progress in arts, philosophy and literature

14. Architecture: Parthenon • Temple for the Goddess • Athena • Symbol of Democracy • Served as the treasury for the Delian League

15. Sculpture • Realistic, lifelike and accurate • Showed action • Showed balance and order • Portrayed the ideal, not the “average Joe”

16. The Search for Knowledge

17. Greek Religion • 12 Great Gods- lead by Zeus • Had human form, but considered immortal • Honored heroes such as Achilles

18. Philosophers • People began to look outside of myths to understand the world around them • Philosophers believed they could use the power of mind and reason to understand natural events

19. Philosopher- Thales and Democritus • Thales- believed that everything was made from a basic material Democritus- believed that everything was made out of something called atoms

20. Philosopher- Socrates • Wanted people to consider true meaning of justice and courage • Asked questions to make people question their own values • Most famous statement: “Know Thyself” • Imprisoned for “dishonoring the gods” died by drinking poison

21. Greek Drama • Tragedy- Plays that put characters in impossible situations • Comedy- Humor, jokes, even political jokes

22. Daily Life of Ancient Greece • In the Marketplace • Acropolis- center of religious life • Agora- center of public life, served as a public market and meeting place • Busiest agora found in Athens.

23. Life at Home • Greek homes were typically plain, made out of mud brick • Homes would include a courtyard, kitchen, storerooms, dining room. • The courtyard was the center of the home. • Water had to be carried from public fountains. • Food would be simple as well. A typical meal would be as follows: Breakfast: bread Midday: Cheese or olives added to the bread Dinner: Fish, vegetables, cheese, fruit, sweet cakes with honey

24. Slavery in Ancient Greece • Slaves cleaned and cooked, worked in the fields, factories, shops, in the mines, and on ships. • They could not go to school, or enter politics, or use their own name. They were given a name by the citizen who owned them. They were the property of their owner, not citizens of ancient Greece. • It is estimated that over 100,000 slaves lived in Athens. • Free men became slaves by becoming prisoners of war or by pirate attacks. • Many slaves were foreigners

25. Men in Athens • Men ran the government. • When not involved in politics, the men spent time in the fields, overseeing or working the crops, sailing, hunting, in manufacturing or in trade.  • For fun, the men enjoyed wrestling, horseback riding, and the famous Olympic Games.

26. Women in Athens • Women could not vote or own property • Women’s jobs included running the house, raising children, making clothes and being in charge of the slaves.

27. Where We’ve Been: • Elements of Social Studies • Minoans • Mycenaeans (Trojan War) • Greece overview- location, geographic features, city-states • Daily Life- Men, Women, Slaves, Children • Forms of government- Athens Democracy • Athenian Golden Age

28. Where We’re Going: • What was Sparta like? • Athens and Sparta unite in war • Athens vs. Sparta: Battle for the ultimate city-state… • Ancient Greece’s demise • Ancient Greece’s legacy • Alexander the Great- Why was he so great?

30. Spartans Known as disciplined, war-oriented soldiers. Main rule: put the city’s needs above your own Owned slaves called helots, treated them harshly City felt more like an armed camp Perioikos- middle class, could own property, but had no political power http://www.history.com/videos/spartans-deconstructed#spartans

31. Growing up in Sparta • Only the strongest children were allowed to live • At age 7- boys left their mothers and went to live in the barracks • They would continue to train for the next 13 years • Girls also trained so that they could produce strong children • Women were allowed to own land and take part in business

32. Athens and Sparta unite in War!!! • The Greek city-states were not the only people around during 500 B.C. • Persia, Greece’s neighbor to the East controlled much of the ancient world

33. Athens and Sparta unite in war cont’d • Persia thought that because the Greek city-states were so small, they could easily be conquered. • The Persians attacked in 3 major battles, the battle of Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis • Each time the Greek city-states won out Click here for Battle of Marathon video clip

34. How did the Greeks do it? • Home-court advantage • Each city-state played to their strengths: -Athenians had a strong navy- attacked by sea -Spartans- vicious army- attacked by land

35. Ancient Myth- Battle of the Marathon Nike!!!

36. Ancient Myth #2- 300 • One of the most famous battles of the Persian War was the Battle of Thermopylae. • During this battle 300 Spartans were able to hold off the Persian army long enough for the rest of the Greek troops to evacuate. • Because of this, the Greek troops were able to finish off the Persians at the battle of Salamis.

37. Affects of the Persian War • Delian League- A union of city-states that help prepare for battle if necessary • Established Sparta and Athens as the most powerful city-states • Destroyed the city of Athens- forced them to rebuild-> Pushed Athens into the “Golden Ages”

38. Sparta vs. Athens • After forming the Delian League, Athens was responsible for the treasury. Soon they started using the money to their own benefit. • This angered other city-states, and they turned to Sparta for support

39. Sparta vs. Athens continued • 431B.C- Athens and Sparta go to war called the Peloponnesian War • In 405B.C- Spartans staged a blockade • Athenians ran inside the city walls to protect themselves. Since there was little food, and little room to dispose of waste, Athenians easily got sick. • Soon a plague wiped out most of Athenians, killing the city-state from within

40. Athens- After the War • Because 1/3 of the population was killed by the plague, Athenians soon surrendered to Sparta • The “Golden Age” of Athens had ended. Athens would never again dominate the Greek world. • Once Athens lost power other city-states lost power as well

41. Where We’ve Been: • Persian War (Athens goes to war) • Athenian Golden Age • Sparta/Peloponnesian War Where We’re Going: • Macedonians and Alexander the Great • Hellenistic Cities • Greek legacies

42. Macedonians Neighbors to the north The Greeks thought that the Macedonians were barbarians Under King Philip (359B.C.) the Macedonians went from poor and divided to having an army stronger than Sparta’s King Philip was then able to wage war against the Greek city-states, and conquer them one after another (338 B.C.)

43. Alexander the Great • King Philip’s son • Tutored by the philosopher Aristotle • Grew up appreciating and idolizing Greek culture

44. Alexander the Great- cont’d • King Philip was assassinated in 336 B.C • At the age of 20, Alexander took over the throne after his father’s death • Within his 13 years he conquered much of the known world • He is considered to be one of the greatest military geniuses of all time • In 323 B.C at the age of 33, Alexander was came down with a fever and died.

47. Hellenistic Cities • Alexander’s death marked the end of the Macedonian empire, however his rule had a cultural and scientific affect on the people that he conquered • Cities influenced by Alexander the Great were known as Hellenistic cities (Hellas- the name the Greeks gave to their land)

48. Hellenistic Cities • Modeled after Greek cities • Created Greek temples and agoras • Spread Greek plays and performances • Spoke Greek

49. Alexandria- Egypt • Founded by Alexander the Great in 332BC • Grew as a center for business and trade • Contained the largest library in the world- so many scholars and writers came to Alexandria

50. Famous Alexandrians • Euclid- developed geometry • Eratosthenes- calculated the distance around the earth • Archimedes- pulleys and levers