Transcript Ancient Greece

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What did the Minoans and Mycenaean’s gain
from trade with older civilizations?
How did the Persian War influence democracy
in Athens?
How does the growth of democracy in Athens
relate to me? Why does it matter?
How can I best show that Greek philosophers
tried to seek order in the universe?
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Compared with Mesopotamia and Egypt,
Greece occupies a small area
Contains many mountains which isolate the
country
Great trade routes because of the
Mediterranean, Black and Aegean Seas
Minoan Civilization (2000-1450)
Located on the island of Crete
Suffered a sudden and catastrophic collapse
A tidal wave triggered by a powerful
volcanic eruption
Invaded by mainland Greeks
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Mycenaean Civilization (1600-1100)
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Known as a warrior people.
Prided themselves on heroic deeds
Most famous of their supposed adventures are
recorded by Homer.
 These stories are known as epic poems, long poem that
tells the deeds of a great hero.
 Two famous epic poems are The Iliad and the Odyssey.
 Famous characters:
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Agamemnon
Achilles
Odysseus
Priam
Hector
Paris
Menelaus
Helen
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Structure
Called polis. Athens was the largest polis
 Within the polis was an acropolis, fortified area
usually on the top of a hill
 Change the style of fighting from cavalry soldiers to
heavily armed infantry soldiers
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 Each soldier carried a round shield, sword and a
thrusting spear
 Went to battle units marching shoulder to shoulder in
rectangular formations
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Sparta
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Type of government was an oligarchy, government
is ruled by a small group.
Males spent their childhood learning military
discipline
 Men a enrolled in the army at the age of 20. Lived in the
barracks until 30. Were allowed to move back home,
but stayed in the military until the age of 60.
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Women were expected to stay fit and raise healthy
children
Babies who were considered unfit were either killed
Turned their backs on the outside world.
 Discouraged foreigners from visiting and were not
allowed to travel abroad
 Only Spartan ideal was war
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Athens
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Known for being the first democracy, government by the
people, rule by many
Known for being thinkers and intellects. Not known for
war
People were expected to go to school and be educated
Known for its great architecture and philosophy.
Famous people:
 Herodotus- Credited with being the father of history
 Pythagoras- Math formula
 Archimedes- value of Pi, gravity, worked with pulleys and
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levers
Ptolemy- Said the Earth was the center of the universe and
was flat.
Hippocrates- Hippocratic Oath.
Oedipus Rex- Book
Olympics
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Most dominate civilization in Asia Minor
2 significant battles
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Marathon
 Athenian runner ran 26 miles from Marathon to Athens
to tell people of the victory. He died upon arrival
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Thermopylae
 Estimated 7,000 Greeks battled a Persian force of over 1
million at this pass between two mountains.
 300 Spartans were especially brave, but were all killed
 Persia won the battle, but was later defeated by a
combined Greek effort. This ended conflict between the
two civilizations until Alexander the Great
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Idealism- Art work that depicted humans in a
perfect state with no blemishes. Everybody was
depicted as beautiful
Humanism- Emphasizing the value of human
achievement and the worth of being human