ANCIENT GREECE by Cindy Barden illustrated by Corbin Hillam Author Cindy Barden Illustrator Corbin Hillam Book Design and Production Good Neighbor Press, Inc. Copyright 2002 Milliken Publishing Co. All rights reserved. The purchase of this book entitles the individual teacher/purchaser to reproduce copies by any reproduction process for single classroom use. The reproduction of any part of this book for use by an entire school or school system or for any commercial use is strictly prohibited.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Activities marked with an * can be used with one of the transparencies on the enclos ed CD-ROM. Activities Timeline of Ancient Greece..................................1 * The Glory That Was Greece................................. 2 * Where in Ancient Greece?.................................. 3 Learning About the Ancient Greeks........................... 4 * Literature and Drama...................................... 5 At Home in Ancient Greece................................. 6 The First Olympics........................................ 7 Who Were the Greek Philosophers?........................... 8 Slavery in Ancient Greece.................................. 9 Women in Ancient Greece................................. 10 What Did They Learn in School?............................ 11 Getting Dressed in Athens................................. 12 The Beginning of Democracy............................... 13 The Foundations of Modern Medicine......................... 14 * The Parthenon.......................................... 15 * Sparta................................................ 16 * Athens, City of Athena................................... 17 A Visit to the Agora...................................... 18 * Who Am I?............................................ 19 * Ancient Greek Myths and Legends........................... 20 Greek Myth Story Frame.................................. 21 Think About It.......................................... 22 Ancient Greek Times..................................... 23 Ancient Greece Trivia..................................... 24 Then and Now.......................................... 25 Ancient Greek Projects.................................... 26 Learn More About Ancient Greece........................... 27 Answer Key........................................... 28 Transparencies Use with activities on... Ancient Greek Influences page 2 Map of Ancient Greece page 3 Attending Plays in Ancient Greece page 5 The Influence of Ancient Greek Architecture page 15 The Spartan Army page 16 The Athenian Navy page 17 Characters in Greek Myths and Legends pages 19 and 20 The Influence of Greek on English ii
TEACHING GUIDE FOR TRANSPARENCY PAGES Ancient Greek Influences Help students realize how much the culture of ancient Greece has influenced us today by discussing how each item depicted on this transparency has had a direct affect on their lives. The material on this transparency is related to the activity, The Glory That Was Greece. Map of Ancient Greece Students will need this transparency to complete the activity, Where in Ancient Greece? It can also be a handy reference for places mentioned in the text of other activities in this book. Ask students to compare the map of ancient Greece to a modern map, looking for similarities and differences. Attending Plays in Ancient Greece Students may find this transparency interesting as they complete the activity, Literature and Drama. The ancient Greeks watched plays in large open-air amphitheaters like the one built at Epidaurus about 350 B.C.E. which could seat 14,000 people on stone benches. Because the theaters were so large, it was difficult for people to see and hear clearly. To solve this problem, actors wore huge masks sad faces for tragic characters and happy faces for comic characters. To amplify their voices, small megaphones were inserted behind the masks. The masks of comedy and tragedy used by the ancient Greeks remain a symbol of the theater even today. Many communities have open band stands in parks. Ask students if there are any amphitheater-type structures in your community. What are they used for? What do people use today to amplify their voices? The Influence of Greek Architecture A magnificent example of Greek architecture, the Acropolis was built on a hillside near Athens during the Golden Age of Greece. It included a temple to Athena, the Parthenon, the Erectheion, and other buildings. The Greeks were the first to use massive stone columns to support the roofs of temples and other important buildings. The beauty and majesty of ancient Greek architecture has inspired architects for thousands of years. It is easy to see the Greek influence in the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. Ask students to find photos of other Greek-style buildings, particularly ones in your city or state. Look for similarities in pictures of Southern plantation homes built before the Civil War. Talk about buildings in your community that have Greek-style columns. The Spartan Army Wars between the city-states of ancient Greece were common. Although Athens and Sparta fought together against the Persians, their alliance did not last long. Sparta feared Athens would use its powerful navy to take over their territory. They declared war against Athens and her allies. Victory went to the Spartans in 404 B.C.E. after a 27-year war. In battle, the heavily armed Spartan foot soldiers formed a phalanx. The shield of one soldier partially protected the man next to him. The long spears of the soldiers in the first five rows allowed them to strike the enemy without getting too close. They marched together like a battering ram. If the enemy soldiers did not run away, the Spartans fought hand-to-hand with swords. iii
TEACHING GUIDE FOR TRANSPARENCY PAGES They also used archers for long range fighting and cavalry to force the enemy to flee or surrender. Sparta was the only city-state to maintain a professionally trained army. The other city-states relied on volunteers. Students can learn about life in Sparta by completing the activity, Sparta. The Athenian Navy Athens developed the best navy in Greece. To protect the coastal cities or fight battles, they used huge warships called triremes. At the height of its power in the fifth century B.C.E., Athens had a fleet of 300 triremes, each with a crew of 200 rowers who sat in tiers at the oars. After completing the activity, Athens, City of Athena, encourage students to learn more about both Athens and Sparta and compare the two city-states. Characters from Greek Myths and Legends In addition to the many gods and goddesses portrayed as human in appearance in Greek myths and legends, there were many nonhuman characters. Many of these creatures are familiar to us from modern stories, movies, and cartoons. Ask students to match the names of these mythological characters to the illustrations: minotaur, pegasus, centaur, medusa, cerebus, cyclops, and hydra. This transparency can be used with the activities, Ancient Greek Myths and Legends and Greek Myth Story Frame. The Influence of Greek on English This stand-alone transparency can be used in conjunction with the activities in this book or as part of a language arts unit. Discuss how knowing the meaning of a Greek root word can help us understand the meaning of an unfamiliar English word. Students can work together to make lists of other English words that use Greek root words. iv
Name TIMELINE OF ANCIENT GREECE about 3000 1450 B.C.E. about 1600 1200 B.C.E. about 1200 B.C.E. about 1200 800 B.C.E. about 800 500 B.C.E. about 800 700 B.C.E. about 776 B.C.E. about 610 B.C.E. about 600 B.C.E. about 534 B.C.E. about 490 479 B.C.E. about 479 431 B.C.E. Minoan Period began on the island of Crete Mycenean Civilization began on Greek mainland Trojan War A period of wars known as the Dark Ages Archaic Period Greek city-states emerged Athens and Sparta become the two most important city-states Homer composed the Illiad and the Odyssey First documented Olympic Games held at Olympia Greeks begin using coins Temple of Apollo built at Delphi First drama competitions held in Athens City-states join to defeat Persian armies Golden Age Advances in government, mathematics, science, philosophy, and the arts 461 429 B.C.E. Pericles is a leading statesman in Athens 460 B.C.E. Hippocrates born: Father of Medicine 447 432 B.C.E. Parthenon built in Athens 431 404 B.C.E. Sparta defeated Athens in Peloponnesian War 338 B.C.E. Philip II of Macedonia conquered Greece 336 323 B.C.E. Reign of Alexander the Great 323 146 B.C.E. Hellenistic Age Greek ideas and learning spread to other countries 146 B.C.E. Rome conquered Greece 1
Name THE GLORY THAT WAS GREECE The civilization of ancient Greece has played a larger part in shaping our modern society than any other ancient civilization. The poetry, literature, myths, sculpture, architecture, science, and philosophy of ancient Greece influence our lives even today. Who were these ancient people who have reached from the past to touch our lives? The earliest people known to live in Greece were herdsmen and their families. Their sheep and goats grazed on rocky hillsides and they raised donkeys, oxen, and pigs. Greece is a land of hundreds of small islands, mountains, hills, and valleys. The soil is thin and farmland scarce. The ancient Greeks planted grape vines and olive trees on the hillsides. They grew vegetables, fruit, wheat, and barley. The people of Greece were cut off from each other except by sea. They did not have one king who ruled the country. The ancient Greeks depended on trade for food and other goods. Cities grew in valleys and along the coast where the land was most fertile and trading easier. The Minoan civilization, named after King Minos, flourished on the island of Crete about 3,000 years ago. Around 2000 B.C.E. people from the north and east moved into the mainland of Greece. Known as the Mycenaeans, their civilization lasted about 400 years until wars with invaders brought the end of this civilization and a time known as the Dark Ages. Eventually peace returned. Many of the larger cities like Sparta and Athens became independent citystates. Each was like a small country. Although the cities were widely scattered and isolated, the people shared the same language and traditions. Greek learning reached its peak during the Golden Age, beginning about 479 B.C.E. This was followed by the Hellenistic Period during which the Greeks spread their learning and ideas to other countries around the Mediterranean Sea. 1. Number these periods in Greek history in order. Golden Age Hellenistic Minoan Mycenean 2. In what areas have the ancient Greeks influenced our lives? 2