GreeksGreeks

Period 2Period 2

I.I. Early Greek CivilizationsEarly Greek Civilizations

A.A. The mountains and the seas The mountains and the seas were important geographic were important geographic

influences on Greece.influences on Greece.

The many mountain ranges The many mountain ranges separated the small, separated the small,

independent Greek independent Greek communities, causing communities, causing

them to them to develop different develop different ways.ways.

B.B. The long seacoast encouraged The long seacoast encouraged sea trade.sea trade.

Mycenaean (my see knee an) Mycenaean (my see knee an) civilization was named for the civilization was named for the fortified site, Mycenae (my see fortified site, Mycenae (my see nay).nay).

The Mycenaean civilization The Mycenaean civilization flourished between 1600 and flourished between 1600 and 1100 B.C.1100 B.C.

C.C. Powerful monarchs lived in Powerful monarchs lived in fortified palaces built on hills fortified palaces built on hills and surrounded by stone and surrounded by stone walls.walls.

Homer recorded the military Homer recorded the military adventures of the adventures of the

Mycenaeans in his epic Mycenaeans in his epic poems, the poems, the IlliadIlliad and and Odyssey.Odyssey.

D.D. Mycenaean civilization Mycenaean civilization collapsed around 1100 B.C. collapsed around 1100 B.C.

Greece then entered a Dark Greece then entered a Dark Age when population declined Age when population declined and there was less food.and there was less food.

Few records remain from this Few records remain from this period, which lasted from period, which lasted from 1100 to 750 B.C.1100 to 750 B.C.

E.E. The works of Homer appeared The works of Homer appeared at the at the end of the Dark Age.end of the Dark Age.

The The Illiad Illiad and and OdysseyOdyssey are are epic poems.epic poems.

They tell the story of the They tell the story of the kings of Troy and Mycenae, kings of Troy and Mycenae, the Trojan War, and several the Trojan War, and several Greek heroes.Greek heroes.

F.F. The Greeks regarded the The Greeks regarded the IlliadIlliad and and OdysseyOdyssey as as

history.history.

Homer gave the Greeks an Homer gave the Greeks an ideal past full of heroes.ideal past full of heroes.

Generations of Greek males Generations of Greek males used these poems as used these poems as

models models of heroism and of heroism and honor.honor.

II.II. The Polis: Center of Greek LifeThe Polis: Center of Greek Life

A.A. By 750 B.C., the polis, or By 750 B.C., the polis, or

city-state, had become the city-state, had become the central focus of Greek life.central focus of Greek life.

People met for political, People met for political, religious, social, and religious, social, and

economic activities.economic activities.

B.B. The main gathering place was The main gathering place was usually on a hill, topped with a usually on a hill, topped with a

fortified area called the fortified area called the acropolis.acropolis.

This was a refuge and This was a refuge and sometimes a place for sometimes a place for religious or other publics religious or other publics buildings.buildings.

C.C. City-states varied in size.City-states varied in size.

Most were between a few Most were between a few hundred and several hundred and several

thousand thousand people.people.

Athens was one of the largest, Athens was one of the largest, with a population of more with a population of more

than 300,000 by 400 than 300,000 by 400 B.C.B.C.

D.D. The polis was a community of The polis was a community of people who shared a common people who shared a common identity and common goals.identity and common goals.

There were three classes:There were three classes:

citizens with political rightscitizens with political rights(adult males)(adult males)

Citizens without political rights Citizens without political rights (women and children)(women and children)

Non-citizens (slaves and foreigners)Non-citizens (slaves and foreigners)

E.E. Greek states developed Greek states developed different forms of different forms of

government.government.

Some city-states became Some city-states became democracies, ruled by many.democracies, ruled by many.

Others became oligarchies, Others became oligarchies, ruled by few.ruled by few.

Two of the most powerful Two of the most powerful city-states, Athens and city-states, Athens and

Sparta, illustrate the Sparta, illustrate the differences.differences.

III.III. SpartaSparta

A.A. Between 800 and 600 B.C., Between 800 and 600 B.C., the lives of the Spartans were the lives of the Spartans were

rigidly controlled and rigidly controlled and disciplined.disciplined.

Boys learned military discipline Boys learned military discipline (7), entered the military at age (7), entered the military at age 20, and lived in the barracks until 20, and lived in the barracks until they were 30.they were 30.

B.B. At 30, Spartan males were At 30, Spartan males were allowed to vote in the allowed to vote in the assembly and live at home, assembly and live at home, but remained in the army but remained in the army until the age of 60.until the age of 60.

Spartan women lived at home Spartan women lived at home while their husbands lived in while their husbands lived in the barracks.the barracks.

C.C. Spartan women had more Spartan women had more power than women in other power than women in other Greek city-states.Greek city-states.

Spartan women supported Spartan women supported Spartan values, expecting Spartan values, expecting their husbands and sons to be their husbands and sons to be brave in war.brave in war.

D.D. A council of elders, made up A council of elders, made up of two kings and 28 citizens of two kings and 28 citizens senior males, decided on senior males, decided on issues the assembly of male issues the assembly of male citizens would vote on.citizens would vote on.

The assembly did not debate, The assembly did not debate, but only voted.but only voted.

E.E. Sparta closed itself off from Sparta closed itself off from the outside world.the outside world.

Foreigners and travel were Foreigners and travel were discouraged.discouraged.

Spartans frowned upon new Spartans frowned upon new ideas and the arts. Only the ideas and the arts. Only the art of war mattered.art of war mattered.

IV.IV. AthensAthens

A.A. A king ruled early Athens.A king ruled early Athens.

By the seventh century B.C. By the seventh century B.C. it it was ruled by an was ruled by an oligarchy of oligarchy of aristocrats aristocrats who owned the who owned the best land best land and controlled politics.and controlled politics.

B.B. Near the end of the seventh Near the end of the seventh century, economic problems century, economic problems led to political turmoil.led to political turmoil.

Many Athenian farmers were Many Athenian farmers were sold into slavery for sold into slavery for nonpayment of their debts to nonpayment of their debts to aristocrats.aristocrats.

Protest resulted to cancel the Protest resulted to cancel the debts and give land to the debts and give land to the

poor.poor.

C.C. The aristocrats gave power to The aristocrats gave power to Solon in 594 B.C., Solon (So Solon in 594 B.C., Solon (So

Lon)Lon) favored reform.favored reform.

He canceled the debts but did He canceled the debts but did not give land to the poor.not give land to the poor.

This left the aristocrats in This left the aristocrats in power and the poor unable to power and the poor unable to obtain land.obtain land.

D.D. In 508 B.C., Cleisthenes In 508 B.C., Cleisthenes

(cli sten knees), another (cli sten knees), another reformer, reformer, gained the upper hand.gained the upper hand.

He gave the Athenian He gave the Athenian assembly the authority to assembly the authority to pass laws after debate.pass laws after debate.

Cleisthenes reforms laid the Cleisthenes reforms laid the foundation for Athenian foundation for Athenian

democracy.democracy.

V.V. Classical GreeceClassical Greece

A.A. Classical Greece is the name Classical Greece is the name given to the period from given to the period from 500-338 B.C.500-338 B.C.

During this time, the During this time, the Greeks Greeks fought two wars.fought two wars.

The first war was The first war was against the against the Persians, who Persians, who were defeated were defeated by the by the unified Greeks.unified Greeks.

B.B. Pericles created a direct Pericles created a direct democracy.democracy.

Every male citizen could Every male citizen could participate participate in the general assembly in the general assembly and vote on and vote on major issues.major issues.

This period was called the This period was called the

Age of Pericles.Age of Pericles.

C.C. The Greek world was divided The Greek world was divided between the Athenian Empire between the Athenian Empire and Sparta.and Sparta.

Athens and Sparta had built Athens and Sparta had built very different societies and very different societies and they distrusted each other.they distrusted each other.

After a series of disputes, the After a series of disputes, the second war of the Classical second war of the Classical

Greece period, the Great Greece period, the Great Peloponnesian War broke out Peloponnesian War broke out in 431 B.C.in 431 B.C.

D.D. The Great Peloponnesian War The Great Peloponnesian War weakened the Greek city-states weakened the Greek city-states

and and ruined any hope of unity ruined any hope of unity among them.among them.

For the next 70 years, Sparta For the next 70 years, Sparta and Athens struggled for and Athens struggled for

domination.domination.

These internal struggles These internal struggles caused the Greeks to ignore caused the Greeks to ignore the growing power of the growing power of

Macedonia.Macedonia.

VI.VI. The Culture of Classical GreeceThe Culture of Classical Greece

A.A. Classical Greek art was Classical Greek art was concerned with expressing concerned with expressing eternal ideals.eternal ideals.

Art was meant to civilize Art was meant to civilize emotions.emotions.

B.B. The most important The most important architectural form was the architectural form was the

temple.temple.

The greatest example is the The greatest example is the Parthenon, dedicated the Parthenon, dedicated the goddess Athena.goddess Athena.

The classical style of Greek The classical style of Greek sculpture depicted nudes.sculpture depicted nudes.

C.C. Greek dramas were presented Greek dramas were presented as part of religious festivals.as part of religious festivals.

The original Greek dramas The original Greek dramas were tragedies, used to were tragedies, used to examine the theme of good vs. evil.examine the theme of good vs. evil.

D.D. Philosophy Philosophy ““love of wisdomlove of wisdom”” refers to an organized system refers to an organized system

of of rational thought.rational thought.

Early Greek philosophers Early Greek philosophers were concerned with the were concerned with the nature of the universe.nature of the universe.

E.E. Socrates developed the Socrates developed the Socratic method.Socratic method.

This was a question-and-This was a question-and-answer answer format to lead pupils to format to lead pupils to understand understand things for things for themselves.themselves.

Plato was one of SocratesPlato was one of Socrates’’ students and considered the students and considered the

greatest Western greatest Western philosopher.philosopher.

F.F. Plato explained his views of Plato explained his views of government in government in The Republic.The Republic.

Plato established a school in Plato established a school in Athens called the Academy.Athens called the Academy.

His most important pupil was His most important pupil was Aristotle, who studied at the Aristotle, who studied at the Academy for 20 years.Academy for 20 years.