Unit 3: Ancient

Greece

Geography•Geography shaped Greek traditions and customs

• It also kept the Greeks isolated from one another

•The SEA provides–Travel to other places–Trade with others (Greece has poor resources)–Food

• The LAND creates–Division from mountains

–Differences because of division

–Disunity because of differences

•The CLIMATE allows–Outdoor public meetings

Trojan War

Early Greeks• Mycenaeans took power around

2000 B.C.• Trojan War – a war around 1200

BC in which an army led by Mycenaean kings attacked the independent trading city of Troy –Troy is a Greek legend – is it true or false?

• Mycenaean power declines after this

Greek Culture Declines

• Mycenaeans lose power• Dorians take control

–Dorians are stupid•Economy collapses•Trade declines•People even forget how to write!

• It’s the Dark Ages for Greece

Key Terms• Polis – Greek City-State• Acropolis – Fortified hilltop in Greek City-states where people met

• Monarchy - Government in the hands of a single ruler, usually a king

• Aristocracy – Government in the hands of a hereditary ruling class or nobility

• Oligarchy – Government in the hands of a few wealthy people

• Phalanx- A military formation of foot soldiers armed with spears and shields

• Peloponnesian War – a war between 431 and 404 B.C. in which Athens and its allies were defeated by Sparta and its allies

Sparta• Government

–Assembly of all free adult males

–Council of Elders–Ephors (judges)–Kings (Military)

Sparta• Social Structures

–Citizens–Free Non-citizens (Foreigners and women)

–Helots (indentured Servants)–Slaves–Women had many rights, but could not vote

Sparta• Education

–Hard military training from age 7 for boys

–Girls and boys learned to read and write

–Little further academic training

Sparta• Arts

–None!–Duty, Strength and discipline over individuality, beauty and freedom

Athens• Government

–Democracy – Rule by people

–Council of Five Hundred (proposed laws)

–Free adult males are citizens and participate in government

Athens• Social Structures

–Citizens–Foreigners and Women–Slaves (1/3 of all population)–Women, foreigners and slaves had few rights

Athens• Education

–None for girls–Boys highly educated–Higher education available for wealthy

Athens• Arts

–Philosophy–Literature–Poetry–Sculpture–Theater–Arts were very important and taught to all boys

Persian Wars480 B.C.

• Greece vs. Persia–Marathon–Thermopylae (“300”)–Salamis–Plataea

• Greeks win

Peloponnesian War431 B.C. – 404 B.C.

• Athens (navy) Vs. Sparta (Army)

• Sparta Wins

Spartans vs. Athenians!• The PELOPONNESIAN WAR – a

war between Athens and Sparta from 431 B.C.E. to 404 B.C.E. in which Sparta won had many effects on the city-states.

• Sparta had land advantage/Athens naval

• Plague hurts Athens – Pericles dies

• Athens loses; democracy weakens

The Golden Age• Athens went through a G.A.

after the Persian Wars (480 – 430 B.C.E.)

• During Athens’ G.A., drama, architecture, sculpture, poetry, philosophy, and science reached new heights.

Pericles (494-429 B.C.E.)• PERICLES – A wise and

able Athenian politician – led Athens for 32 years during its G.A.

• He had 3 goals:–To strengthen Athenian democracy

–To hold and strengthen the empire

–To glorify Athens

Pericles’ Goal #1 - Democracy

• Pericles increased # of paid public officials

• Introduced DIRECT DEMOCRACY – a form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives.

Pericles’ Goal #2 - Empire• Pericles strengthened the

navy• Made it the most powerful in

the Mediterranean

Pericles’ Goal #3 - Glorify• He made Athens pretty!

• Parthenon• Arts

–Sculpture–Drama

Philosophers• Philosophers searched

for truth during these uncertain times

• Socrates – philosopher (469-399 B.C.E.)

• Plato – philosopher (427-347 B.C.E.)

• Aristotle – philosopher (384-322 B.C.E.)

Homer• Blind Greek author/storyteller

• Composed epics – narrative poems celebrating heroic deeds–The Iliad–The Odyssey

Philip Builds Macedonia’s Power•The Peloponnesian War weakened Greek city-states

• In the north, Philip prepared Macedonia to invade

• Philip transformed peasants into a professional army

• Used a heavy 16x16 phalanx formation

• Greek city states could not unite against Philip until it was too late…

• The Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC) ended Greek freedom and independence

• Philip was murdered (336 BC)

• Never got to invade Persia

Alexander Defeats Persia• 20-year-old Alexander takes

Macedonia over after his father dies

• Alexander was already a great leader–Education (Aristotle)–Inspiration (Illiad)–Military (Chaeronea, Thebes)

• With Greece under his control, he turns to Persia

• Alexander wins two important battles against Darius III

• Darius offers Alexander 1/3 the Persian Empire, but Alexander refuses

• The final victory comes at Gaugamela

• Alexander’s phalanx vs. Persian chariots with scythes

• Alexander’s victory ends Persian control

• His army takes advantage of the empire’s massive wealth

Alexander’s Other Conquests

• Alexander continued conquests in India and SW Asia over the next years

• His soldiers marched >11,000 miles in 11 years

• Finally head back in 323 BC

Alexander’s Legacy• Alexander died of fever when he returned

• Who would control the huge empire?

• 3 general divided it and ruled with absolute power

• Alexander’s rule ended the freedom of Greek city-states and created a new culture

Hellenistic Culture• After Alexander’s death, a

blended culture called HELLENISTIC – A MIX OF GREEK, EGYPTIAN, AND EASTERN CULTURES – started.

• Alexandria in Egypt became the center of the Hellenistic world

• It was an international port city full of trade and commerce

• Alexandria was magnificent–Palaces–Statues–Lighthouse–Museum–Library

Hellenistic Science & Technology

• Scientists in Alexandria studied Astronomy–Earth center of universe–Earth’s size (accurate)

• Euclid creates a geometry text used the next 2000 years

• Archimedes establishes pi (3.14)

Hellenistic Philosophy & Art

• Stoicism and Epicureanism• Sculpture flourishes• Hellenistic sculpture focuses

on more natural forms than the Greeks