The Geography of Greece

The Geography of Greece -the development of Greece was heavily influenced by its geography -Greece is a peninsula that extends out into the Mediterranean Sea -there are also many islands surrounding the peninsula that are part of Greece as well -the terrain throughout Greece (both on the peninsula and on islands) is very mountainous and rocky -the mountains and sea made Greece a very difficult area to travel through in ancient times -the cities that developed in ancient Greece were separated by the mountains and by the sea -because it was so difficult to travel from one city to another, communities and cities in ancient Greece were isolated from one another -Greece was not unified under one central ruler or government -instead, Greece was made up of many independent city-states -a city-state is a city that has its own government and is not politically connected to any other city or government around it -each city-state has its own leaders, government, laws, army and customs -because of the rough terrain, Greece was not great for farming -therefore, most of these city-states popped up along the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea coast -the ancient Greeks used their location on the Mediterranean Sea to trade with other people to obtain grains and other food supplies -the ancient Greeks were great traders along the Mediterranean Sea

The City-States of Ancient Greece -as we have already discussed, the geography prevented the people of ancient Greece from being unified under one ruler or government -instead, independent city-states developed, each with their own government and culture -these city-states began forming around 750 BC -the two largest and most significant city-states in ancient Greece were Athens and Sparta GOVERNMENT: THE CITY-STATE OF SPARTA -the government of Sparta was an oligarchy -an oligarchy is a government in which a small group of people make all decisions for the people -in an oligarchy, all power is in the hands of a small, elite group of people -this power includes making laws, raising an army, collecting taxes, etc. -there were two kings and a council of elders in Sparta s oligarchy -the oligarchy had ultimate say over anyone and everything in Sparta LIFESTYLE: -ancient Sparta was a society based on fighting and warfare -they had a highly trained and disciplined army -nothing was more important than being of service to the city-state by being a soldier -young boys were raised from birth to be the perfect Spartan soldier ***See back of this sheet for primary source information on military training in Sparta*** -ROLE OF WOMEN IN SPARTA: -the greatest thing a woman could do in her life was give birth to a son who would serve in the Spartan military -women were also expected to be physically fit in order to help protect the city-state in case of invasion -Spartan women were able to own property and managed large estates while their husbands were off at war -women in Sparta enjoyed a great deal of rights in comparison to women in Athens, the other major city-state in ancient Greece.

The Ancient City-State of Athens -When we think of ancient Greece, it is Athens that we often picture in our minds -Athens grew to be one of the most powerful city-states in ancient Greece -one of the reasons why Athens grew to such power in Greece is because of their government -Government of Athens: -Athens developed the world s first democracy -democracy: government by the people meaning that citizens have the ability to vote and make decisions that impact the laws and policies of a city-state/nation -in Athens, a person had to meet the following criteria in order to be considered a citizen able to participate in the government: 1. had to be a man 2. had to be free (not a slave) 3. had to be born in Athens 4. had to be 20 years and older 5. had to have military training -any man (rich or poor) who met these requirements could participate in the government -women, children, immigrants and slaves could NOT participate -those who were allowed to participate were EXPECTED to be active in the government and attend all Assembly meetings -the Assembly was the government body that passed all of the laws for Athens -during Assembly meetings, laws were presented to the citizens -the citizens would each cast a ballot to approve the laws or not -this style of democracy is called a Direct Democracy -a direct democracy is a system in which all citizens vote to pass laws -this differs from our style of democracy in the United States we vote for representatives to make the laws for us (ex: House of Representative and the Senate) -Children in Athens: -boys began their education at an early age in Athens -they learned grammar, geometry, astronomy, geography, public speaking techniques, music, poetry -they also participated in sports such as wrestling, running and gymnastics -education for boys was intended to make them ideal democratic citizens who would one day serve in the democracy -girls education was limited to the home -Women in Athens: -women were limited to the home -they were not able to participate in government -men in Athens thought that women needed men to take care of them -women did not go out to the marketplace they had slaves or children run errands for them -women generally did not work outside of the home -they were shielded from public life

The Age of Pericles -from 460BC- 429BC, a very influential man named Pericles became a strong leader within the democracy of Athens -Pericles was a skilled politician and an amazing public speaker -he had charisma, which made people listen to him and believe in him -he was elected as a general many times by the people -he was well liked and had the power to influence people -Pericles was a great promoter of democracy in Athens -he encouraged all men, rich and poor, to participate in the democracy -He would often give speeches to encourage people to attend and votes in the Assembly -The following quotes are from a famous speech that Pericles gave in 429BC: Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. We do not copy our neighbors, but are an example to them. Our constitution is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority, but of the whole people. When it is a question of settling private disputes, everyone is equal before the laws. When it is a question of putting one person before another in positions of public responsibility, what counts is not membership of a particular class, but the ability the man possesses Our city is thrown open to the world and we never expel a foreigner or prevent him from seeing or learning... We rely not upon management or trickery, but upon our own hearts and hands. And in the matter of education, whereas they (Sparta) from early youth are always undergoing laborious exercises which are to make them brave, we live at ease and yet are equally ready to face the perils which they face when the hour comes, we can be as brave as those who never allow themselves to rest We are lovers of the beautiful, yet with economy, and we cultivate the mind without loss of manliness to avow (admit) poverty among us is no disgrace; the true disgrace is in doing nothing to stop it. An Athenian citizen does not neglect the state because he takes care of his own household we alone regard a man who takes no interest in public affairs, not as a harmless, but as a useless character 1. According to Pericles, how should other city-states view the Athenians? 2. Why does Pericles call Athens government a democracy? 3. According to Pericles, who should serve in public office? 4. According to Pericles, how does Athens compare to Sparta? 5. What does Pericles think about poverty in Athens? What should a good Athenian citizen do for others? 6. How does Pericles view those who do not take part in the democracy? 7. What are four characteristics of a good Athenian citizen? -In addition to promoting democracy in Athens, Pericles also supported the development of culture -During his period of influence, the city-state of Athens experienced a Golden Age -a Golden Age is a time of great cultural and scientific achievements

Achievements of the Athenian Golden Age, Part 1 -Under the influence of Pericles, Athens had a Golden Age -Pericles was a huge supporter of not only democracy, but also of the arts -Pericles believed that Athens should have the best government AND the most beautiful city in Greece -therefore, Pericles set out to build beautiful structures on the Athenian acropolis -the city-state of Athens had two levels: the main public area and the acropolis -the public area included areas for homes, businesses, government buildings and markets -the acropolis was a raised area overlooking the city where temples to the Greek gods were located 1. Architecture -Pericles had many significant works of architecture built in Athens -this included the Parthenon, which is the most well-known temple on the Athenian acropolis -Greek architecture was designed to have perfect proportion and perfect balance -the Parthenon was built in honor of the goddess Athena 2. Sculpture -The Athenians were very interested in sculpture and their temples were decorated with sculptures and carvings -In particular, the Greeks were interested in sculpting the human form -the human form was idealized in Greek Sculpture, meaning that the form was created to look absolutely perfect

The Golden Age of Athens Binder Page 67 The Golden Age of Athens began during the time of a leader named Pericles. Pericles was an influential man within the Athenian democracy. He not only encouraged people to participate in the democracy, but he also wanted to beautify the city-state. Pericles wanted Athens to be the most beautiful city-state in all of Greece. He supported the construction of many buildings in Athens to enhance the grandeur of the city. In particular, Pericles was responsible for the construction of the Parthenon. The Parthenon sits atop the acropolis of Athens. The acropolis is a raised area in the center of the city. On the acropolis, temples dedicated to the Greek gods and goddesses were built. The Parthenon was dedicated to the goddess Athena, who was the goddess of wisdom. Athena was the most important Greek god to the Athenians. The Parthenon is known for its beauty and exact proportions. It remains one of the most well-known ancient architectural structures in the world today. Another important aspect of the Athenian Golden Age was sculpture. Many Athenian temples and buildings were full of sculptures and artwork. Athenians were particularly interested in sculpting the human form. Sculptors carefully studied what people looked like, not only while they were still, but also while they were moving. The sculptors then tried to recreate what they had observed, paying particular attention to how the subject s muscles looked. In most cases, the result was a statue that looks as if it could come to life. While the Greeks wanted statues to look lifelike and active, they were also interested in portraying their subjects as physically perfect specimens. The figures have no flaws or imperfections. Instead, sculptures depict what Athenians saw as the ideal body type. Other advances were made during the Athenian Golden Age, particularly in the theatrical arts. The Greeks were the first playwrights in history. The earliest plays were created as part of religious festivals honoring the Greek gods. Two types of plays developed for entertainment: tragedies and comedies. Tragedies usually focused on hardships faced by the characters. In tragedies, characters suffer greatly and end in disaster. Comedies were satires, or plays written to expose the flaws of Athenian society in humorous way. One of the greatest Athenian playwrights was Sophocles. He wrote many plays that were performed throughout Greece in large theaters. The construction of theaters was very important in ancient Greece. Athenian architects built acoustically perfect theaters. Theaters were so precisely built that even people in the furthest rows could hear the dialogue clearly. Even whispers on stage could be heard by people in the last rows without the use of modern amplification devices!

While the Athenians were great playwrights, other important forms of writing were created during the Golden Age of Athens. The act of writing about and analyzing the past began in ancient Greece. The Greeks were one of the first groups of people to write at length about their own history. Greek history writing went beyond a simple retelling of facts; it included detail, opinions, and interpretation of events. The first man to write such histories was Herodotus, the father of history. Herodotus wrote on a variety of topics and events. He wrote about Greek dealings with the Persian Empire, including battles and wars. He also traveled to places such as Egypt and wrote down what he saw and felt. Herodotus also interviewed people to hear their descriptions of an event, which he would include in his writings and interpretations. Though some of his writings have proved to be not fully accurate, Herodotus paved the way for the writing of history. There were several important philosophers who lived during the Golden Age of Athens. In particular, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle became some of the world s most significant and studied thinkers. Socrates wanted people to seek the truth and have self-knowledge. Using a process we now refer to as the Socratic Method, he would pose a series of questions to his students and challenge them to examine their own feelings and beliefs. To Socrates, this patient examination was a way to help others understand themselves and seek the truth; to help them see the contradictions in their own minds. By learning about yourself and stating your true beliefs, Socrates believed a person could become stronger and better. To most Athenians during the time, Socrates was annoying and disruptive. Socrates made people question Greek traditions and religion. As a result, he was put to death by an Athenian court for corrupting the youth. His method of questioning, however, continued to live on well past his death. Socrates influenced another Athenian philosopher, Plato. Plato was a student of Socrates and focused his philosophy on the role of government in society. Aristotle, another Athenian philosopher, followed. Aristotle focused much of his studies on the natural world. He, essentially, was the father of the scientific method that you use in science classes. He solved problems and proved hypotheses by using ordered and logical thinking, and by finding concrete evidence. The Golden Age of Athens was characterized by an importance of art, architecture, education and learning. During the Golden Age, Athenian boys and young men attended school to learn a variety of subjects, including math, geography, public speaking, music, astronomy and writing. Young men read and memorized great literary works, including the writings of Homer. Homer was a writer from the around 850BC; several hundred years before the Golden Age. Homer wrote The Iliad and The Odyssey, two important works of Greek literature. These works are a fictional account of the Trojan War. While school consisted of many academic subjects, boys also took part in athletic activities, such as wrestling, running and gymnastics. Some of the most talented athletes took part in the Olympics. The Olympics started in the Greek city-state of Olympus in 776 BC. During the Golden Age of Athens, the Olympics continued and athletes from all city-states in Greece, including Athens, traveled to Olympia to compete. Events included running races, the discus throw, wrestling, boxing, jumping and equestrian events.

Name: Questions to Binder Page 67 Instructions: Answer the following questions in COMPLETE sentences AND in your OWN words. Do not simply copy from the text. This is INDIVIDUAL work NOT group work! 1. Based on what you know about the culture of Athens, why is Athena, the goddess of wisdom, a fitting goddess to honor in the ancient city-state of Athens? (This is NOT directly in the text think about it) _ 2. What did Athenians try to achieve in their sculptures? 3. How is the sculpture of the discus thrower on the reading page and on binder page 63 idealistic? 4. What types of plays did Athenians write? Define each type of play. 5. Who was Sophocles? 6. What was so unique and amazing about Greek theaters? 7. Who was Herodotus? 8. How does Greek history writing go beyond simple statements of fact? Explain in your OWN words. 9. Who were the three major Athenian philosophers?

10. Describe the methods of Socrates. What was he trying to accomplish? Explain. 11. What did Aristotle stress in his philosophy? 12. Who was Homer and what did he write? 13. Where were the Olympics created and what events were held? 14. EXPLAIN four achievements that we still use today from the Athenian Golden Age. Give detail in your answer. Explain how we use some of these achievements in our everyday lives in 2011.

Alexander the Great -the city-states of ancient Greece were never unified under one ruler each city-state had its own government, lifestyle and culture -city-states would often fight each other for power and influence -the fact that the city-states were never unified left them open to invasion from outside groups -a power to the north of Greece, the Macedonians, began to grow -in 359BC the king of Macedonia, Philip II, began conquering the city-states of Greece -his large armies easily defeated the unprepared Greeks -the Macedonians took over all of the city-states -for the first time in its history, all of the city-states in Greece were unified under one rule -Philip II wanted to continue expanding his empire, but was assassinated in 336BC -Philip II s son, Alexander, took the throne -Alexander grew up learning about not only warfare, but also about Greek culture -as a child, Alexander s father hired Greek philosopher Aristotle as a tutor -Aristotle taught Alexander about Greek culture and history, giving him a love of all things Greek -at age 20, Alexander became king of Macedonia and Greece -Alexander continued in his father s footsteps and began conquering areas beyond Greece and Macedonia -Alexander expanded the empire to great lengths -he took over Asia Minor, Egypt and parts of northern India -his biggest conquest was taking over the largest enemy of Greece/Macedonia: the Persian Empire to the east Label: Greece Macedonia Egypt Africa Asia Minor Mesopotamia Persia India Arabian Peninsula Mediterranean Sea Red Sea Black Sea Persian Gulf Nile River Tigris River Euphrates River Indus River Color in Alexander the Great s Empire

-Alexander was able to conquer so much territory because he was a skilled military strategist -he made use of new military technology to defeat armies twice the size of his -ex: catapults and cross bows (gastraphetes) -he also invented the siege tower in order to get over city walls and attack -Alexander the Great built the largest empire the world had ever seen at that point -an empire is an extensive territory under the rule of a single authority -Alexander the Great s empire included people from many different cultures and areas of the world -As Alexander conquered new territory, he made sure that Greek culture and ideas were spread -he encouraged Greek people to move to other areas in the empire and interact with people of different cultures -he had new cities built throughout the empire many of them named after him -he had Greek style buildings and structures built throughout the empire -new people were introduced to Greek language, philosophies, architecture, sculpture, etc. -in turn, the Greek people were also introduced to new cultures and ideas -this is cultural diffusion on a massive scale! -due to the extent of cultures intermingling and mixing, a new culture was developed: Hellenistic Culture -this is the combination of Greek, Persian, Indian and Egyptian cultures -Alexander the Great only ruled the empire he created for 12 years -He brought his troops to the border of India with the intention of invading -however, his army refused to go on they wanted to return to their homes -in a mutiny, or rebellion, they demanded that Alexander turn back -Alexander gave in and led his troops back to Macedonia -during their march back, Alexander died -cause of death: undetermined -perhaps it was typhoid fever (bacteria), malaria, liver disease, or poisoning