Transcript Ancient Greek Civilization

Ancient Greek
Civilization
How did Greek civilization begin?
• Began with the Minoans.
• Peaceful people who flourished on the
island of Crete from 3000 to 1450 B.C.E.
• Advances with wove/dyed cloth,
constructed stone roads/bridges, built
highly advanced drainage systems and
aqueducts (royal family had showers and
toilets that could be flushed)
• The Minoans were either conquered by or
succeed by the Mycenaeans
Crete and the mainland of Greece
including the Aegean Sea and Troy
Mycenaeans flourished from 1650
to 1200 B.C.E.
• Crete was struck by a 200 foot tidal wave, which
weakened the Minoans. (volcanic eruption)
• The Mycenaeans lived on the mainland Greece
• They were skilled horsemen, charioteers, and
accomplished sailors who ruled the Aegean.
• Mycenaean culture revolved around their
fortified palaces, called acropolises (top cities)–
cities included Sparta, Corinth, Athens, Thebes
• 1200 B.C.E. the Mycenaean attacked the city of
Troy (key to the profitable Black Sea Trade) this
launched the Trojan War (10 years of war – led
to the writing by Homer in the Iliad) Mycenaeans
won!
The poet Homer
Pg 116
Iliad –
Odyssey –
What did Homer reveal about ancient
Greek?
Greek City-States
• Ancient Greece was made up of many
independent communities called “city-states”
who all shared the same language/culture
• Most successful city, Athens, established
many of the ideas that underlie Western
civilization!
• But although democratic government started
in Greece, only men could become citizens
and vote – women (and slaves) were
excluded.
Evaluate the Greek city-states (pgs 118-120)
1. Land boundaries?
2. How did they count on the sea?
3. How did the alphabet evolve?
4. Why and how did the citizens have some
power in the government?
5. Explain how Greece evolved into a
Democracy?
Geographic features shaped Greek
Civilization
1. The sea
united Greek people
travel/trade were vital
2. The land
3/4ths of Greece covered by
mountains – Difficult to unite.
People lived in the valleys and
established city-states
Compare/Contrast the Minoan, Mycenaean,
and Dorian civilizations
1. Location
2. Date civilization at height
3. Major trade partners
4. Reason for decline
5. Significant events, contributions
Explain how Sparta and Athens
differed
Athens
*Athens glorified the individual and extended
political rights to more citizens
*destined to be the greatest Greek city, had been a
monarchy in its early period.
*Then it became a plutocracy (a government in
which wealth was the criterion for holding office)
*Finally a bases for democracy was established
• Conflict between the rich and poor solved
with good reforms in government which
created a democracy!
1. Solon
Improved the economy (abolition of
all debts/mortgages of the oppressed farmer
class) Forbade enslavement for debt. He
increased trade and industry by offering
Athenian citizenship to skilled artisans who
would settle in Greece.
All citizens vote on issues
A New Legal System
2. Cleisthenes
Created Athenian Assembly and
Council of Five Hundred – members were
chosen by lot from among all citizens over the
age of 30. It was a legislature (lawmaking
body that debate laws). All male citizens were
members of the assembly.
Women in Athens
no share in political life
view that women must be guided by men
significant public role in religion
Sparta
Sparta stressed military virtue/stern discipline
*army-state
*Dorians conquered Peloponnesus and built
Sparta, a city-state
*Conquered people were slaves called helots
*Harsh laws – from childhood all prepared for a
military state, sickly newborns were left to die.
Children expected to be healthy and vigorous
1. Boys go to the army from age
7 - 30
2. Then in reserves for 30 more yrs
All Spartans had to be healthy and required to
exercise and strengthen their bodies.
Wars
1. Persian Wars pgs 124-128
2. Peloponnesian War pg 128
Answer for both:
a. who fought
b. why fought
c. who won and why
d. What was the outcome/gains?
Religion
Religion was an important part of Greek life. The
major buildings in each city were dedicated to
gods/goddesses. The Greeks believed that the
gods were responsible for the well being of their
cities. According to Homer, 12 main
gods/goddesses were thought to live on Mount
Olympus, the tallest mountain in Greece.
The Greeks held festivals to honor the
gods/goddesses. The Olympic festival was the
Olympic Games. It began in 776 B.C.E.
The games lasted for 5 days. Games went on year
after year for nearly 1200 years!
Comedy and Tragedy
Once a year, visitors streamed into the city of
Athens to join local people attending plays and
the outdoor theater. The theater, located on a
hillside, could hold a crowd of 20,000.
The plays lasted from dawn to dusk. Although
spectators sat on uncomfortable stone benches,
they stayed interested.
Comedy & Tragedies were about subjects like: the
lives of great leaders, warfare, education,
government officials, wives/daughters of great
men, outstanding generals/soldiers, nature,
good/evil