HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY 603 THE CIVILIZATIONS OF GREECE AND ROME CONTENTS I. THE CIVILIZATION OF GREECE...

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2 HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY 603 THE CIVILIZATIONS OF GREECE AND ROME CONTENTS I. THE CIVILIZATION OF GREECE Geography Beginning City-States Wars Contributions II. THE CIVILIZATION OF ROME Geography Beginning Struggle for Power Way of Life Christianity Contributions Decline Author: Editor-in-Chief: Editor: Consulting Editor: Revision Editor: Ethel Hofflund, M.A. Richard W. Wheeler, M.A.Ed. Elizabeth Loeks Bouman Howard Stitt, Th.M., Ed.D. Alan Christopherson, M.S. 804 N. 2nd Ave. E., Rock Rapids, IA MCMXCVI by Alpha Omega Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. LIFEPAC is a registered trademark of Alpha Omega Publications, Inc. All trademarks and/or service marks referenced in this material are the property of their respective owners. Alpha Omega Publications, Inc. makes no claim of ownership to any trademarks and/or service marks other than their own and their affiliates, and makes no claim of affiliation to any companies whose trademarks may be listed in this material, other than their own.

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4 THE CIVILIZATIONS OF GREECE AND ROME After 200 years of being an important power in the Middle-East, the Persian Empire was conquered by Alexander the Great of Macedonia, a country near Greece. After that time, the Fertile Crescent, Egypt, and the known lands around the Mediterranean were ruled by the Greeks, from whom we have inherited much of what we value in Western civilization. The Greek reign gave way to the Roman civilization. During the time of the Romans, the manner of recording years was changed to correspond with the birth of Jesus. Christianity became the most powerful influence on earth. In this LIFEPAC we shall study the exciting ages of the Greek and Roman civilizations. OBJECTIVES Read these objectives. The objectives will tell you what you should be able to do when you have successfully completed this LIFEPAC. When you have finished this LIFEPAC, you should be able to: 1. Describe the geography of Greece and how it affected the development of Greece. 2. Name influences that affected the Grecian culture. 3. List the contributions of the Greeks. 4. Describe the geography of the Roman Empire. 5. State some facts of Roman life and history. 6. List the contributions of Rome. 7. Relate the reasons for the decline of the Roman Empire. VOCABULARY Study these new words. Learning the meanings of these words is a good study habit and will improve your understanding of this LIFEPAC. administrative (ad min u strā tiv). Having to do with managing. aristocrat (u ris tu krat). Person who has a high position in society because of birth. complexity (kum plek su tē). Made up of a number of parts. corbel (kôr bul). A bracket of stone, wood, or other material on the side of a wall. It helps to support a projecting ledge above. crucify (kru su fī). To put to death by nailing to a cross. dictatorship (dik tā tur ship). Rule of a person with absolute authority. 1

5 Epicurean (ep u kyu rē un). A person fond of luxury and pleasure. equestrian (i kwes trē un). One who rides horseback; a knight. fortification (for tu fu kā shun). A wall or fort built to make a place strong. Something such as a wall used against an attack. frieze (frēz). A decorated band around a room. gladiator (glad ē ā tur). A slave, captive, or paid fighter who fought at the public shows in the arenas in ancient Rome. helot (hel ut). A member of the class of slaves or serfs in ancient Sparta. hoplite (hop lī t). A heavily armed Greek foot soldier who fought in close formation with other hoplites. inflation (in flā shun). A sharp rise in prices. labyrinth (lab u rinth). A maze; a number of connecting passages so arranged that it is hard to find one s way from point to point. nomad (nō mad). A member of a tribe who moves his cattle from place to place for pasture; a wanderer. patrician (pu trish un). An aristocrat. A member of the nobility of ancient Rome. Perioeci (per ē ē sī ). People in ancient Greece. Class of persons in ancient Sparta who had no political rights, but enjoyed personal freedom and were protected by law. philosopher (fu los u fur). Person who studies truth and principles of knowledge. philosophy (fu los u fē ). The study of truth and principles underlying all real knowledge. plebeian (pli bē un). A common person. One of the common people (or) belonging to or having to do with the lower class of citizens in ancient Rome. protectorate (pru tek tur it). A weak country under the protection of a stronger country. pumice (pum is). A light, spongy stone thrown out from volcanoes. saffron (saf run). An orange-yellow coloring matter obtained from the crocus flower. sewer (su ur). A pipe or channel for carrying away water and refuse, usually underground. topography (tu pog ru fē). Surface features of a place or region. trance (trans). State or condition somewhat like sleep. tribune (trib yün). An official of ancient Rome chosen by the plebeians to protect their rights and interests. trireme (trī rēm). A Greek ship with three rows of oars, one above the other, on each side. triumvirate (trī um vur it). A group of three. Government by three persons together. veto (vē tō). The right to reject bills passed by a lawmaking body. Note: All vocabulary words in this LIFEPAC appear in boldface print the first time they are used. If you are unsure of the meaning when you are reading, study the definitions given. Pronunciation Key: hat, āge, cãre, fär; let, ēqual, tėrm; it, īce; hot, ōpen, ôrder; oil; out; cup, pu. t, rüle; child; long; thin; /T-H/ for then; /zh/ for measure; /u/ represents /a/ in about, /e/ in taken, /i/ in pencil, /o/ in lemon, and /u/ in circus. 2

6 3 Map 1 Ionian Sea Adriatic Sea LIS LACONIA Sparta ARGO Corinth ATTICA Thebes Mediterranean Sea MESSENIA ELLIS Delphi Pass of Thermopylae THESSALY Mt. Olympus MACEDONIA Athens Pl Ma ain o rat f ho n CRETE Aegean Sea CITY-STATES OF GREECE CE Byzantium Black Sea ASIA MINOR Greek Occupied Sea of Marmara RHODES t on p s lle He Troy A THR

7 I. THE CIVILIZATION OF GREECE While the Sumerians were learning to write and the Egyptians were building their pyramids, another group of people were sailing the seas and living pleasant lives in the eastern end of the Mediterranean region. These people were the Cretans, whose ideas spread to other Aegean islands and to Greece proper. Greece rose to a position of leadership and influence and then fell under the weight of her own carelessness and luxury. Review the objectives. When you have finished this LIFEPAC, you should be able to: 1. Describe the geography of Greece and how it affected the development of Greece. 2. Name the influences which affected the Grecian culture. 3. List the contributions of the Greeks. Restudy these words. complexity helot philosophy corbel hoplite pumice dictatorship labyrinth saffron fortification Perioeci topography frieze philosopher trance nomad trireme GEOGRAPHY Greece is made up of the lower part of the Balkan peninsula, which is in the northeastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. It has numerous islands off the coast. Greece is bounded on the east by the Aegean Sea, and on the west by the Adriatic Sea. On the north are other Balkan countries. Greece has many fine harbors and much natural beauty. However, the mountain ranges and the deep valleys cut Greece into isolated sections. Generally, the soil is stony and dry, although there are some valleys that have rich, red earth. Usually, little rain falls except along the eastern border. Complete each statement. 1.1 Greece lies on the peninsula. 1.2 Greece has many isolated sections because. 4