Chapter 6 The Rise of Ancient Greece
Section 1 - The Rise of Greek Civilization
What is the geography of Greece like? Peninsula made up of peninsulas An area of land surrounded by water on three sides Mountains Small patches of farmland (1/5 good to farm) Became traders and sailors
What is the geography of Greece like? Geography made communication between communities hard Communities thought of themselves as separated countries Had own customs, beliefs Thought they were the best and willing to go to war to protect themselves
Trojan War War between Greece & Troy (west coast of Asia Minor-Present day Turkey) Prince of Troy named Paris was a guest of the Greek chieftain - Menelaus Paris kidnapped Menelaus wife Helen and took her back to Troy This broke the laws of the gods
What did Menelaus do? Sent huge army to get her back Took 10 years Greece won by a trick - the Trojan Horse They looted and burned Troy and returned home What was the Trojan Horse? Large wooden horse given to Troy as a gift Inside were Greek soldiers During the night the soldiers climbed out and let the rest of the army into Troy and took the city
How do we know what happened? 2 epics - long poems, survived The Iliad - about a fight between Greek leaders in the last year of the war The Odyssey - about the adventures of Odysseus as he attempts to get home from Troy The poet Homer created them The epics were important to the Greeks - taught them what their gods were like and how heroes behaved
Did Homer exaggerate? Historians feel the Trojan War did not happen like Homer said Troy destroyed by fire in mid 1200s B.C. Some historians believe it was started by invaders form Greece
Life after the war Civilization collapsed - reason unknown Poverty everywhere Trade stopped for food and goods beyond Greece Lived on what they could grow Writing disappeared People used oral traditions to keep history and traditions
Life after the war 1100s B.C. - 750 B.C. - called Greece s Dark Ages People settled near rocky protected hills safe from attacks called - acropolis After 800B.C. people began to write again
Greek Government 750 B.C. small cities developed and created their own government Cities became separate independent states called citystates
Greek Rulers In beginning military leaders were kings or chieftains After Dark Ages ruled by aristocrats - members of rich and powerful families Could buy the best land and weapons to make them stronger
What about everyone else? As trade grew middle class developed - artisans and merchants They wanted a say in government Could not buy the best materials (still afforded swords, armor and spears) but in numbers, they outnumbered aristocrats Military power switched to middle class
What about everyone else? Aristocrats overthrown and replaced by tyrants - ruler who seized power by force Supported by middle class Some cruel and violent, others were wise
What happened to tyrants? Too harsh and were overthrown Some cities moved to a democracy - citizens govern themselves It was fully expressed in Athens 594 B.C. Solon ruler of Athens won power Changed laws, the government and economy Cancelled all debts for people Freed all citizen who were enslaved by debt All male citizen over 18 could debate important laws Changes made Athens become a leading democracy in ancient world
Still problems Women and foreigners could not participate 1 in 5 people in Athens were citizens Some people were still slaves
Section 2 - Religion, Philosophy, & the Arts
What was the Golden Age of Athens? 479B.C. 43B.C. Athens grew rich from: Trade & Silver Mines Tribute payments, by allies Great achievements in art, philosophy, and literature For 30 years Pericles was the most powerful man in politics Had best interest for the people of the city Most important change have city pay salary to its officials, now poor citizens could afford to hold public office
What achievements occurred in the arts? Pericles rebuilt the Acropolis of Athens hired the best architects Best work done on the Parthenon temple to the goddess Athena Took 15 years to build Made of marble Rows of columns on all sides Inside was a statute of Athena - Made of ivory, wood, gold - 40 feet tall
What happened to the Athena statue? Disappeared long ago Many other sculptures still exist and all have three characteristics: Full of action Figures show balance and perfect order Sculptures are lifelike and accurate Perfect or ideal views of humans and animals These show the goals of Greek Art create images of human perfection Real people would not look like the sculptures
What happened to the Parthenon? 1687 it was used as a place to keep gun powder and ammunition during a war with the Venetians A shell hit the building Roof was destroyed, everything inside and the pillars on the south side
What kind of religion did the Greeks have? Believed in a family of gods and goddesses - the 12 Olympians Each city-state worshipped one of the 12 Each ruled a different area of human life (pg.162-163) Gods were different from humans: Gods were perfect in form Had awesome powers Immortal lived forever
Who was the leader of the gods? Zeus lived on Mt. Olympus- Greece s highest mountain Some thought the gods were the source of everything He was honored every 4 years Olympian festival and games Modern Olympic Games
What about worshipping them? People visited oracles sacred sites where it was believed the gods spoke People ask for advise or reveal the future Government leaders would visit oracles advise on governing and wars
Who were some of the philosophers? Thales One of the first Thought water was the basic material everything was made of Democritus Thought everything was made of tiny particles called atoms Socrates A teacher Wanted people to consider the true meaning of qualities of justice and courage
Other thinkers Others thought they could use the power of their mind and reason to understand natural events these people were called philosophers
Other thinkers Plato one of Socrates student Said society was made up of 3 groups: Workers Soldiers Philosopher-rulers Founded a school Academy Taught Aristotle
Other thinkers Aristotle Believed reason should guild the pursuit of knowledge Founded his own school Lyceum
Why did people not like Socrates? Asked people questions that made people question their beliefs Made people angry he showed they didn t know what they were talking about In 399B.C. he was brought to trial and sentenced to death Accused of dishonoring the gods and misleading young people Drank poison and died
What were Greeks plays like? Athenians were the first to write dramas Some were tragedies serious stories that usually end in disaster for the main character During religious festivals contests were held and had tragedies and comedies performed Some plays were comedies made fun of wellknown citizens, politicians, and everyday customs
Greek city-states Strong patriotic feelings Involved in government Developed new ideas on religion, philosophy & government There were many city-states Had same: Language and some customs Called themselves Hellenes
Olympics Strong patriotic feelings Involved in government Developed new ideas on religion, philosophy & government There were many city-states Had same: Language and some customs Called themselves Hellenes
Chapter 7 The Glory of Ancient Greece
Section 1 - Daily Life in Athens
What was life like in Athens? Religious center Acropolis Public life agora public market & meeting place Busiest & most interesting in all of Greece Page 204-205
What was life like in Athens? At the agora Men talked: philosophy politics events in the community Vendors sellers of goods People bargained for best price Various foods Sheep s wool Pottery Hardware
What was life like in Athens? Agora lined with government buildings & temples
Private homes Homes made of mud bricks Set up around an open courtyard It was center of household Other rooms: Kitchen Storerooms Dinning room Bedrooms Some - bathrooms
Private homes Water was brought from public fountains Ate: Breakfast - bread Midday meals -cheese or olives with bread Dinner - hot meal - fish, vegetables with cheese, fruit, cakes sweetened with honey Ate little meat except during religious festivals
What about women? Take care of home For protection keep them out of public eye Thought women needed to be guided by men No freedom like men: Participate in politics or vote Own property
What about women? Could participate in priestesses in religious groups Care for children Look after food and wine supplies Keep track of family finances Responsible for slaves Trained them and cared for them when sick
What about women? Poor women worked outside house Jobs in: Pottery Sheep Making clothes
Slaves in Greece Slaves allowed men free time Slavery condition of being owned by someone else
Slaves in Greece Wealthy women had slaves There were 100,000 = 1/3 Athens population They were captured by armies during war By pirates while traveling on ships Children born into slavery automatic slaves Many were foreigners because Greeks did not own Greeks (felt uncomfortable) Worked on: Farms, Silver & other metal mines, Helped artisans
No political rights No personal freedom Life of slaves Only free if masters freed them Most houses could not run without slaves Household slaves treated like family Mine slaves - physical and dangerous - did not live long
Section 2 - Athens & Sparta
Life in Sparta Sparta city-state in southern Greece
Life in Sparta Harsh and cruel Early on like other Greek cities 600 s B.C. changed how people lived Became a war machine - one rule in city: Put city s needs above your own Conquered all the land around them Turned people they conquered into helots - slaves Worked on land owned by Spartan citizens Outnumbered citizens - city turned into armed camp
Life in Sparta Only healthiest children grew up 7 year old boys left home and lived in barracks with other boys - trained for 13 years Poor living conditions - boys stole - taught them how to live off land during war If caught punished - stay quiet during punishment At 20 officially a soldier At 30 take part in the assembly council of all male citizens born in Sparta Solider until they were 60
Life in Sparta Girls trained an competed in: Spear throwing and wrestling Thought if a girl grew up strong and healthy they would have same kind of children Women could own land and take part in business Must obey males, fathers, husbands, brothers
Life in Sparta Spartans did not mingle with other Greeks Not allowed to travel Looked down on wealth Brave Played key role in war with Greece and Persia
Persians Empire Founder Cyrus the Great mid 500s B.C. Those after him expanded
Persian Battle 520 B.C. Persia (lived east of Greece) gained control of Greek colonies on west coast of Asia Minor 490 B.C. thousands of Persians landed in Greece Gathered at Marathon Greece put together a small army - outnumbered 2 to 1 Athenians attacked 6,400 Persians killed 192 Athenians killed After several more battles Persians defeated
Growing Problems After war Athens most powerful city-state Other city-states joined formed Delian League Named after Delos where treasury was kept
What was the result of this? Athens influence spread across Eastern Greece They joined other city-states Cities became allies Athens treated city-states harshly Took tributes meant for protection and used for: Parthenon and other projects City-states resented and feared Athens City-states wanted to join Sparta in alliance for protection
Did Athens go to war with Sparta? 431 B.C. Athens and Sparta went to war 27 years - called the Peloponnesian War Sparta located in Peloponnesus - southern part of Greece The result: Early in the war - Athens was struck by a plague - widespread disease 5 years later over 1/3 of Athens population including Pericles died 405B.C. Spartans created blockade - surrounded and closed harbor where Athens received food shipments 404 B.C. - Athens surrenders never again dominate Greek world
Section 3 - The Spread of Greek Culture
King Philp 359 B.C. Macedonia - poor and divided King Philip united it and strong army Threatened & bribed many city-states Built stronger army than Sparta 338 B.C. - Philip controlled all of Greece, first outsider to rule Greece
How did Alexander come to power? While planning to attack Persia - Philip was assassinated - murdered, by a rival 20 year old Alexander became king
How did he rule? Invaded Persian Empire In next 11 years - conquered Persia, Egypt, and lands extending beyond the Indus river in the east Called Alexander the Great because of his success Named many of the cities he conquered after himself Alexandria or Alexandropolis
What was his rule like? He never lost a battle When his troops reached Indus River - refused to go further Alexander angry - they turned around Traveled back to Babylon - Alexander caught a fever and died in 323 B.C. Ruled for only 13
After his death Greek Culture had spread Empire broke into 3 kingdoms Each ruled by a former commander Greece & Macedonia Egypt Persia
Hellenistic Kingdoms Alexander had wanted Greek culture to mix with local cultures Did not Greek culture dominate Kingdoms modeled after Greece
Greece in Egypt Greatest city Alexandria founded 332B.C. Became capital of Egypt Famous for business and trade
What else was in Alexandria? Double harbor - had a huge lighthouse 400 feet tall At top was a flame that guided ships safely into the port Had the largest library in the world Half a million book rolls Became learning capital of the world Math & science grew: Euclid created geometry and principles used today Scientists knew the Earth was round Eratosthenes calculated distance around the Earth Archimedes discovered people can use pulleys and levers to lift heavy objects
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