Transcript Slide 1

■Essential Question:
–What role did geography play in the
development of classical Greece?
■Warm-Up Question:
–What do you think of when I say
“Greece”?
After the river valley era, a number
of classical civilizations developed
in the Mediterranean and in Asia
The first major
classical civilization
was ancient Greece
Classic cultures created high levels of achievement in
art, science, & technology that impacted future ages
Impact of Geography on Greece:
Identify 1 geographic feature & propose
how it might impact the culture of Greece
Impact of Geography on Greece:
Identify 1 geographic feature & propose
how it might impact the culture of Greece
Greece’s lack of natural resources & location
on the Mediterranean Sea encouraged
Greek trade with neighboring societies
Mountains covered about 75% of Greece
which divided the people & made unifying
the Greek people nearly impossible
The Greeks
developed
independent
city-states,
called polis,
within each
valley & its
surrounding
mountains
A city-state is when a city
acts like its own country
with its own government,
laws, military, customs, and
culture.
Greek Culture
■Despite their lack of unity,
the Greeks shared some
common characteristics:
–Greeks shared the same
language
–Greek writing was
influenced by the
Phoenician alphabet &
became the basis for Latin
Literature
Invincible except for
his left■Achilles
heal
The Trojan War forms the backdrop
of the blind poet Homer’s the
Iliad. An epic is a narrative poem
that celebrates heroic deeds. The
heroes in the Illiad are the fierce
Achilles of Greece and the noble
and courageous Hector of Troy.
Greeks were polytheistic & believed that the
gods were immortal but had human qualities;
Religion became the basis for Greek mythology
Zeus
King of the gods
Athena
Goddess of wisdom
Aphrodite
Goddess of love
Apollo
God of sun & music
Ares
God of war
Hades
God of underworld
Hera
Goddess of family
Poseidon
God of the seas
Most Greek city-states had an agora that was
the center for trade & government
City-states had an
acropolis, a temple on
a hill dedicated to a
sacred god
Differences Among Greek City-States
Despite similar
language &
religion, the
Greek polis were
very different
from each other,
especially
how they were
governed
Differences Among Greek City-States
Some polis had a
monarchy, a gov’t
ruled by a king
Differences Among Greek City-States
Some polis had an
aristocracy, a gov’t
ruled by elite nobles
Practiced in Corinth
Differences Among Greek City-States
Some polis like Sparta
had an oligarchy, a
gov’t ruled by a small
group of citizens
Differences Among Greek City-States
Some polis like Athens
had a direct democracy,
a gov’t ruled by citizens
who vote on decisions
The Greek city-states Athens & Sparta
represented the differences among polis
■Athenian society
focused on wealth
Under the leadership
& of
culture:
Pericles, Athens
–Athens
had
a
grew to be a
direct
democracy
powerful city-state
in which
bothboth
that
flourished
richculturally
& poorand
citizens
could
economically
vote & hold
public office
Athenian society focused on wealth & culture
Architects built the Parthenon
to honor the goddess Athena
Athenian society focused on wealth & culture
Artists created
realistic sculptures
Theater had both
comedies & tragedies
Olympic Games
Most events
tested the skills
Women were
thatevery
were four years at Olympia
■Held
allowed to to
necessary for
honor their Gods, began incompete
776BCE
battle
against
other women
■Events included long distance
running, wrestling, the long jump,
the javelin, and the discuss throw.
The Greek city-states Athens & Sparta
Kingdifferences
Leonidas:"Spartans!
Prepare
for
represented the
among
polis
Spartans
society
glory!"
did have slaves
■ Spartan society focused
Daxos:"Glory? Havecalled
you goneHelots.
mad?
on military strength,
There is no glory These
to be hadslaves
now! Only
were
not freedom & learning
retreat, or surrender or death."
responsible for
–Spartan men served
duties.
Leonidas:"It's farming
an easy choice
for
in the militaryKing
until
us, Arcadian!of
Spartans
never retreat!
Because
the presence
slaves,
60
yearsofold
Spartans never surrender! Go spread
women
weremilitary
also
givenLeta every
military
–Boys
began
the word.
Greek assembled
trainingat
soage
that
theofmen
training
7when
know
the truth
this. Let each
among
search the
his own soul. And
–Women
ran
family
were away,
they
couldthem
protect
while your at it, search your own."
estates while city.
men
trained or fought
Athenian society focused on wealth & culture
Later became
teacher to
Alexander the
Great
Philosophers Socrates, Plato, & Aristotle
questioned assumptions & the use of logic
to find answers to questions
Athens & Sparta competed for influence in
Greece & developed a strong rivalry that
eventually led to the Peloponnesian War
Sparta defeated
Athens, but the war
weakened the Greeks
Spartans showed their strength during
the Persian Wars
Closure Activity
■Where would you rather live:
Athens or Sparta? Why?