Transcript Alexander the Great - Lee County Schools

6th Grade UBD - Unit 6 - Greek Cultural Achievements

Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle- Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle each
developed distinctive philosophies. They were similar to and
different from other philosophies.

Achievements of the Ancient Greeks- The ancient Greeks were
responsible for many cultural achievements. These influenced
societies around them as well as future civilizations.

Alexander the Great- Alexander the Great conquered the Persian
Empire. He spread Greek ideas and culture.

Plays were an important part
of Greek culture. A play is a
form of literature written by a
playwright, usually consisting
of scripted dialogue between
characters that is intended for
performance. What are the
names of some plays you
know about? ( 5 minutes)

Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
answer with theirs.
What things are
the same and what
things are
different? (3
minutes)
Key Term
Amphitheater- A
round or oval
building, typically
unroofed, with a
central space for
the presentation
of dramatic
events.

The philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and
Aristotle greatly influenced political and
cultural life in ancient Greece. These
philosophies were passed on through the
ages. They influenced leaders throughout
Western history.

During the classical period
of ancient Greece (about
479–323 BCE), philosophy,
literature, architecture,
and sculpture flourished.

As a result, this period
came to be known as the
Golden Age of Greece.

Philosophy, the search for
wisdom became an
important part of life in
Athens.

Greeks built palaces and
temples that still stand. The
influence of their architecture
and sculpture can be seen in
many modern buildings and
works of art.
Video- Socrates
Key Term
Socrates- A
ancient Greek
philosopher who
lived in Athens
during its Golden
Age teacher of
Plato.
Key Term
Socratic MethodA method of
teaching by
question and
answer; used by
Socrates.

Socrates, the famous Greek
philosopher and teacher,
developed a method of
teaching that involved
asking questions and
engaging people in debate.

This approach came to be
called the Socratic method.

Over the years, Socrates
attracted many followers.

However, his teaching
often opposed commonly
held beliefs of Greek
society and offended
powerful Athenians.

Eventually, Socrates was tried
in court, convicted of treason,
and executed.

Socrates did not write down his
own ideas, but many of his
followers wrote about him and
his teachings.

These writings influenced many
thinkers throughout the ages.
Video- Plato
Key Term
Plato- Ancient
Athenian
philosopher; pupil
of Socrates;
teacher of
Aristotle.

Plato was Socrates’s
most important student.

He established a school
called the Academy that
provided instruction in
mathematics, science,
and philosophy.

He also wrote a series of
dialogues, which often
depicted Socrates debating
moral and ethical issues.

These works criticized
popular views on concepts
like justice, courage, and
moderation.

One of Plato’s most
famous dialogues is
a work called
the Republic, which
describes an ideal
state.
Key Term
Aristotle- One of
the greatest of the
ancient Athenian
philosophers;
pupil of Plato;
teacher of
Alexander the
Great.

Plato also had a famous
student, Aristotle, who
analyzed the process of
logical thinking and
wrote books on many
topics, including forms
of government.

Aristotle thought that monarchies, aristocracies,
and democracies all had serious flaws.

Because of this, he reasoned that a constitutional
monarchy would work best.

With this type of government, a constitution limits
the power of the monarch.

The ancient Greeks developed the first version of
democracy.

The ancient Greeks developed a complex mythology. It
shaped Roman mythology.

The Olympic Games began in ancient Greece.

The Greek language forms the basis of many English
words.

Homer wrote the epic poems the Iliad and Odyssey.

Greek drama included comedy and tragedy.
Video- Science and City Planning

Ancient Greek thinkers were not just philosophers. For
generations, Greeks had traded with many civilizations. They
traded with Egyptians, Phoenicians, Mesopotamians, and others.

From these groups, the Greeks adopted an alphabet. They made
coins. They learned innovations. As Greek influence grew, Greek
ideas led to innovations in other societies. These ideas spread
throughout the region.

Pythagoras, a
mathematician and
philosopher, developed
what has come to be
called the Pythagorean
Theorem, an important
and well-known
mathematical equation.

This famous equation, a2 + b2 =
c2, shows the relationship
between the sides of a right
triangle.

It is still used in geometry today.

People use it to calculate
everything from the heights of
tall buildings to the diagonal on
a TV screen.
Key Term
HippocratesMedical
practitioner who
is regarded as the
father of
medicine; author
of the Hippocratic
oath.

Hippocrates was a doctor
who lived during the
Classical period.

He studied the causes of
diseases and their possible
cures.

He also wrote about the
roles and responsibilities of
doctors to their patients.

In one work,
Hippocrates wrote an
oath. Those who took
the oath swore to
protect patients from
harm. They swore to
live an ethical life.

Today, doctors still make
a similar pledge. It is
called the Hippocratic
Oath.

They make this pledge
before they are licensed
to practice medicine.

One of the best examples of
Greek architecture is the
Parthenon, a temple
dedicated to the goddess
Athena.

Ancient Greek architecture
has had a significant impact
on Western architecture.

During the classical
period, the ancient
Greeks also
developed
sculptures that were
natural and lifelike.
Video- Greek Mythology
Key Term
Mythology- The
study of myths,
legends, or folk
tales.
Video- Mount Olympus

The ancient Greeks
practiced polytheism, or
the belief in many gods.

They believed in 12
major gods and
goddesses, known as
the Olympians.

The Greeks also
believed that their
gods and goddesses
could speak through
certain human priests
and priestesses known
as oracles.

The Greeks consulted
these oracles for advice in
making decisions.

The Greeks thought that
their gods and goddesses
were involved in their
daily lives and sometimes
controlled events.

Ancient Greek religious
beliefs also informed
their myths, or stories
about heroes and gods
that explained the
world around them
and human behavior.

The mythology of
ancient Greece
impacted other
societies in its own
time, and still
influences world
literature today.

The ancient Greeks created the Olympics, an
athletic competition that was part of a religious
festival honoring the god Zeus.

At first, the games only involved running a
race. Later, other events were added, including
longer races, javelin throwing, and jumping.

After Rome conquered Greece, the
Romans banned the games in 393
CE.

However, they were revived in
1896 with the first modern
Olympic games in Athens.

Since then, the Games have
become one of the most
important international athletic
events in the world.

Literature was an
important element of
Greek culture.

The ancient Greeks
wrote many types of
literature but were most
well known for their
poetry and drama.

The poet Homer is
believed to have written
the Iliad and
the Odyssey, two epic
poems. The ancient
Greeks also wrote plays,
including tragedies and
comedies.
Key Term
Epic- A long
narrative poem
that describes
heroic deeds. It
can be either
written or oral.

The Greek language
has had a significant
impact on English.

Many English words
are derived from
Greek words.

English also uses Greek
word parts to create
words that did not exist in
ancient Greek, such
as telephone and telescope
(using the Greek
prefix tele-, which means
farseeing).

Alexander the Great won a series of victories over the Persian
army. He gained control of the Persian Empire.

Alexander helped the cultural exchange between the
Macedonians and the Persians.

Alexander conquered lands in Asia. The conquests of Alexander
spread Greek ideas and culture throughout these lands.

The conquests of Alexander caused Greek and Asian cultures to
mix.
Video- Alexander the Great
Key Term
Alexander the Greatwas a king of
Macedonia, an area
just north of Greece,
in the 300s BCE. He is
known as one of the
greatest military
leaders and
conquerors the world
has ever known.

In 336 BCE, Alexander
the Great became
king of Macedonia, a
northern Greek state.
Alexander had been a
student of Aristotle’s.

From his base in Greece, he
conquered many lands and
defeated the Persian
Empire, creating a great
empire.

By 331 BCE, Alexander had
conquered present-day
Turkey, the east coast of the
Mediterranean, and Egypt.

Alexander went on to
conquer Babylon, Susa, and
Persepolis.

During the fighting, Darius III
of Persia was killed and
Alexander became the
undisputed king of Asia.

However, Alexander failed to
set up a stable government.

After his sudden death in 323 BCE, at age 32, his empire
broke apart into several states. But Alexander’s
conquests had a lasting effect on the world, as Greek
ideas, architecture, and culture spread throughout the
Asian lands he conquered.

In return, Asian ideas and culture influenced Greece.
This intermingling of Greek and Asian cultures produced
a unique civilization called the Hellenistic Civilization.
Video- Hellenistic Civilization

What has been the
“muddiest” point so far in
this lesson? That is, what
topic remains the least
clear to you? (4 minutes)

Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
muddiest point with
theirs. Compare
what things are the
same and what
things are different?
(3 minutes)