Transcript Ancient Greece and Rome

Ancient Greece and Rome
Greece
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Developed democracy
Important discoveries in science
Wrote stories and plays that continue to
be performed today
Excellent sailors
Made up of over 100 city-states
Two important city-states were Athens
and Sparta
Athens
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Every citizen had the right to vote
Free-born males whose fathers held
Athenian citizenship were citizens
Developed the idea that people had a voice
in how they are ruled
Philosophy
Philosophy – “the love of wisdom”
 Philosophers were people who
discussed, debated, and studied
wisdom
 Three great philosophers were
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
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Socrates
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a philosopher who
taught by asking
questions
A well-known
teacher in Athens
Was charged with
impiety (not
respecting the
gods) and
corrupting youth
Plato
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A student of Socrates
Started the Academy in
Athens – a school that
operated for more than
900 years
Did not believe in
democracy – believed that
the best and the wisest
should rule
Believed that the
government should raise
all children
Aristotle
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Greatest scientist of the
Ancient world
Believed in using logic and
reason to explain events in
nature
Studies at Plato’s Academy
Was hired by King Philip to
teach 13 year old Alexander
(Alexander the Great)
Opened a school called
Lyceum – a center of
research on astronomy,
zoology, geography, geology,
physics, and anatomy
His ideas formed the basis
of modern science
Alexander the Great
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King of Macedonia
A military genius
Was crowned Pharaoh of
Egypt
Carried ideas of the
Greeks and their love for
learning throughout his
empire
Founded Alexandria – a
center of learning and
culture in Egypt
Rome
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Had a two house (bicameral) government – upper
house and lower house
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U.S. followed this example
Created many roads throughout the empire – still
used today
Created aqueducts to bring water to the city –
still used today
Built huge stadiums called amphitheaters – used
for entertainment
Greatest Roman Achievement – sewer system
Julius Caesar
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Powerful military
leader
Elected dictator of
Rome in 46BC
Killed by the
Senate in 44BC
Caesar Augustus
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Restored peace and order
to Rome
Built massive roads and
bridges, government
buildings, and huge public
baths
Began a 200 year period
known as Pax Romana
During Pax Romana Rome
was the most powerful
state in Europe
Middle Ages
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In AD476, warriors attacked the city of
Rome
The fall of Rome marks the end of ancient
history
Middle Ages began – Medieval Times
Often called the “Dark Ages” because life
was very hard
Christianity became people’s source of
hope during this time
Constantine
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First Christian
emperor
Moved his capital
from Rome to the
Greek city of
Byzantium
Renamed the
capital
Constantinople
Feudalism
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A way to organize society when there was
no central government
Lord – noble who owned land
Vassal - a person who was granted
possession of the land by the lord
Fief – the land
Serf – farmed the land