Practice Questions

1. One characteristic that differentiated Classical Civilizations from the Early Civilizations was that A.they were agricultural rather than nomadicB.there was a higher rate of literacyC.they were more durableD.there was less warfare because of the introduction of organized religionsE.they created larger political structures capable of controlling more territory

• Which of the following was primarily a philosophical movement, rather than a religion focusing on the supernatural?

• a. Judaism• b. Zoroastrianism• c. Confucianism• d. Buddhism

• In which civilization was their belief system most interwoven with other aspects of their cultural system?

• a. Gupta/Maurya India.• b. Han China.• c. Classical Greece.• d. Persia.

CLASSICAL GREECE

Daily Objective/Essential Questions:

To Compare and Contrast the characteristics of the Classical Civilizations of China, India, Greece and Rome.

I. Geography• Unusual geography separated

Greeks from other civilizations• Mountainous• Few rivers; limited agriculture• Ever-present sea; many islands,

inlets, good harbors (excellent sailors)

• Land travel difficult=– Fueled the development of

independent city-states

II. Beginnings of Greek Culture• Minoan culture flourished from 2700 B.C.E. to 1500 B.C.E.

– Based on island of Crete

• Mycenaean Greeks • Emerged around 2000 B.C.E• First Greek-speaking people• Focused on dominating the

sea and trade routes • Grew rich on commerce; went to war

with Troy• Dorian Greeks

– Beginning of Greek “Dark Ages”• Illiteracy: no written record between 1150 and 750 B.C.E.• Trade came to a stand-still• Political authority thrown into chaos

III. Political Characteristics• 750 B.C.E - the “Dark Ages” come to an end with visit of Phoenicians• Greeks begin to organize into city-states (~200 total)

– Polis - a city and its surrounding countryside– Would sometimes unite into Leagues during wartime; but never

under 1 government• Various forms of government used throughout Greece

– Monarchy – – Aristocracy – nobles, or landowners, make decisions– Oligarchy - ruled by a few powerful people – Democracy- rule of the people; ***political achievement of

Greeks– Tyrants - (not the same as today’s definition): Powerful

individuals that seized control by appealing to the common people for support

IV. Athens• First city-state to rule through a democracy (by the people)• Examples:

– 621 B.C.E. - legal code that says all Athenians are equal under the law

– 594 B.C.E. • Debt slavery is outlawed - no citizen should own

another citizen – “Town Meeting”- all free males had a voice in political

actions– “Council of 500”- citizens chosen by lottery to serve for 1

year term; create town policies– Citizenship only for free males

• Women, slaves, and foreigners had no political power

V. Economy• Poor soil; limited crops

– Barley– Olives– Grapes

• Sheep, goats, cattle, horses raised

• Used the sea• Deposits of marble and clay but

few metals• Formed colonies to import

needed materials and for people to expand

• Rise of the coin facilitated trade

VI. Society and Culture• Social Distinctions

– Basic division between citizens and non-citizens– 30% population enslaved

• Often well-treated personal servants or craftsmen• No political rights; could not serve military

• Gender Relations– Confined to home (patriarchy)– No political rights although citizens– Could not own a business or

property

VI. continued• Religion

– Polytheistic– Gods not omnipotent and possessed humanlike

characteristics/flaws– No priestly class– Most did not believe gods controlled human destiny– Secularism: affairs of this world

• Philosophy “love of wisdom”– Socrates: studied human nature and relationships– Plato– Aristotle: studied natural and social sciences

VI. continued• Art

– Drama• Usually centered on stories of the gods and their dealings with humans• Comedy and Tragedy

– Epic Poetry• Iliad and Odyssey by Homer

– Lyric Poetry• Musical quality; expresses personal feelings• Different from Epics= purpose to tell a story

– Sculpture• Ceramics, realistic human-like sculptures

– “Classical” Architecture• Very large temples to gods with columns(Parthenon)

VII. The Persian Wars• Persian Empire

– Present day Iran– Peak of empire under Darius I– Superior military with political system that gave conquered

areas ability to keep laws/customs as long as they paid tribute to “King of Kings”

• Conflict with Greece (Battle of Marathon)– Both civilizations expanding in Anatolia (Turkey)– Greece had aided Ionians in revolt against Persia– Darius invaded Greek mainland but was defeated at Marathon

in 490 BCE• 25,000 Persians def. by 10,000 Athenians• Athens had superior training and weapons

VII. continued• Thermopylae

– 480 B.C.E. – Xerxes (Darius’ son) sent an invasion force to destroy Athens but again defeated

• Significance of Persian Wars– The Delian League forms out of necessity: Alliance of Greek city-

states with Athens as leader– Eventually drove the Persians back from areas around Greece,

preventing future attacks – Led to internal conflicts between Athens and Sparta

• Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE)• Weakened city-states, made them vulnerable to conquest

VIII. The Hellenistic Synthesis

• Macedonia– King Philip II conquered Greek city-states in South– About to invade Persia when he was poisoned

• Alexander the Great (his son)– In 13 years conquered much of the known world to the Greeks

• Anatolia, Egypt, Persia, and into Indus R. Valley

– Death at 33, empire slowly fell apart– Hellenistic Age (323-30 BCE)

• Spreading of Greek culture to NE Africa and W Asia• Greeks moved throughout empire and spread their culture• Hellenistic Synthesis is the blending of cultures

5-Minute Response

• What connections can you make between Classical Greece and today’s world?

Thesis Work!

• Analyze the similarities and difference in the social and gender structures of two of the following Classical Civilizations:

Han China (206 B.C.E.–220 C.E.)Mauryan/Gupta India (320 B.C.E.–550 C.E.)• Analyze similarities and differences in methods of

political control in TWO of the following empires in the Classical period.

Han China (206 B.C.E.–220 C.E.)Mauryan/Gupta India (320 B.C.E.–550 C.E.)

Assignments

• Pick a partner and trade your thesis statements on comparing India and China’s Political Systems

• Offer one another feedback:– Does it fully answer the question?– Does it show similarities (and WHY they arose)?– Does it show differences (and WHY they arose)?– Does it include vague statements/casual

vocabulary/ “I” or “we” statements?

Assignments

• With your partner, go over the Greece side of the Sprite Chart to make sure you have it filled in correctly

• You may work on Map Assignment #3 or the Timeline Assignment using your books

• Homework: Read pp. 98-103 and create a chart comparing the Causes of Collapse to the Classical Civilizations