Download Unit 2: Classical Persia, Greece and Rome

STAAR Review Unit 3: Classical Persia, Greece and Rome
Persia
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
In what ways did river valley civilization influence the
development of classical civilizations?
Ancient Greece
(2000 B.C- 300 B.C)
Civilization gradually spread from Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Persia to
other places in the Mediterranean. Consisted of a large, mountainous
peninsula, islands of the Aegean Sea, and the coast of present day
Turkey,
The economic and political systems, writing, technology, language, etc.
of the classical civilizations were built upon the foundations laid down
earlier by the river valley civilizations.
Change from hunters/gatherers to sedentary civilizations allowed the
development of villages. These villages needed to trade with each other
for goods that might not be available and this led to the development of
cities. Advanced cities, along with systems of writing, complex
institutions, new technologies, and specialized workers.
What makes Persia a classical civilization?
Persia, like other classical civilizations, had highly developed institutions,
systems of thought & cultural styles that still influence the world today.
Art, music, and literature set standards against which later works would
be judged. “Classical:” of the highest class or rank. These include:
Advanced Cities; Complex systems of government (use of local rulers yet
highly structured with central control), advanced system of roads,
infrastructure, technology (many adopted from conquered territories);
system of writing; highly specialized workers, including areas of
government, religion, trade, artisans, farming, etc. Had unique styles of
art, architecture, religion, etc.
What were the origins and accomplishments of Persian civilization?
The Persian Empire (2000 B.C-100 B.C)
Essential Questions:
How did geography influence Greek culture?
Origins
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Medes and Persians resided in the Middle East on the Iranian
Plateau, between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf.
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Cyrus the Great unified the Medes and Persians
Darius unified the Persian Empire.
Built a network of public roads, introduced a uniform set of
weights and measures, and established several capital cities.
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Persian Empire
•Stretched more than 3,000 miles from the Nile to the Indus River.
•The Persians controlled the empire by dividing it into provinces and
collecting tribute.
•The provinces benefited from extensive trade throughout the Empire.
Accomplishments
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Persians built hundreds of miles of roads using gravel and stone.
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The Persian Royal Road was 1,500 miles long with more than 100
stations holding fresh horses.
Religion/Zoroastrianism
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They believed in two gods: The god of truth and goodness, and the
god of darkness and evil.
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Those who lived good lives would go to Heaven and those who did
not would go to a fiery Hell.
What similarities are there between the teachings of
Zoroaster and concepts found later in Christianity?
Belief in heaven and hell, belief in God and Satan, belief in angels and
demons are all ways in which Zoroastrianism seems to have influenced
Judaism and Christianity.
Geography
a land poor in natural resources
and surrounded by the Aegean
Sea:
Greece was made up of many
islands, had no major river
system, had poor soil, and was
divided by rocky, mountainous
terrain:
Greece had a mild climate.
Influence
Greeks became a seafaring
people and established
colonies throughout the Aegean
and Mediterranean seas to
obtain needed resources
(timber, metals, farmlands);
through trade the Greeks were
exposed to the alphabet and
writing.
the Greeks grew mostly vine
products (grapes and olives)
that made up an important part
of their diet; transportation and
communication difficult; unable
to unite under a single
government: Greek city-states
remained independent;
frequent fighting between citystates
Greeks spent much time
outdoors, meeting to discuss
public issues and took an active
part in civic and political life.
What influence did the Minoans have on the
development of Greek culture?
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Flourished on the island of Crete from 2000 B.C to 1400 B.C.
Developed their own form of writing, used copper and bronze and
were skilled shipbuilders.
Athleticism stressed in contests such as bull-leaping
How and why did Athens and Sparta arrive at different forms of
government?
What lasting scientific, mathematical, and technological innovations
originated in Greece?
City-States (Greek: Polis)

Due to geography much of the population was cut off from one
another, so politically independent city-states developed.
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Each city-state had its own form of government and system of laws.
Science and Mathematics

Archimedes: value of pi (π), contributions to geometry, law of the
lever, pulleys & other devices
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Eratosthenes: circumference of the earth; device for discovering
prime numbers
Military Sparta

Sparta was a city-state located in the southern part of Greece
called Peloponnesus.
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The Spartans conquered their neighbors the helots. They forced
them to farm for them.
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Sparta was organized around military needs.
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Individualism and new ideas were discouraged at Sparta.
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Strict obedience and self-discipline were highly valued.
Democratic Athens
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The main governing body of Athens was the Citizens Assembly.
It was open to all citizens but only the first 5,000 could attend the
meeting.
This assembly would direct foreign policy and made laws for
Athens.
Citizens who served on a council, jury, or as magistrates were paid
a reimbursement for lost earnings so even the poor population
could participate.
Athens was the first to introduce democracy.
Women, foreigners and slaves were not citizens and could not
participate in the government.
What was the unique perspective of Western philosophy as it
originated under Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle?
The Golden Age of Greek Culture
Greeks enjoyed great prosperity and made significant achievement s in
art, literature, and philosophy.
Philosophers

Athenians believed human reason was powerful enough to
understand the world and solve problems. Socrates, Plato, and
Aristotle were noted Greek philosophers who questioned nature
and life.
How did Greek art, sculpture and architecture, such as the Parthenon,
reflect Greek ideals?
Greek Art

Greek values of order, balance, and proportion became the
standard of what is called classical art.

Sculptors attempted to create figures that were graceful, strong
and perfectly formed, and to capture the grace of the idealized
human body in motion
Architecture
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Athens created statues and buildings of perfect, balanced
proportions.
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Parthenon - temple to goddess Athena.
Drama
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first comedies & dramas / Sophocles
Historical writings
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Herodotus & Thucydides
What were the causes and results of the Peloponnesian Wars?
Peloponnesian Wars (432 B.C-404 B.C)
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A rivalry between Athens and Sparta developed.
Athenians had used their power to force other city-states to pay
taxes.
Sparta declared war on Athens.
After 30 years of fighting Sparta was victorious.
Poverty became widespread and Athens was completely
devastated.
Sparta emerged as a leading city-state.
Alexander the Great
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Taught by Aristotle.
Conquered most of the Mediterranean world including Egypt and
Persia.
He went as far as the Indus Valley.
He died at a young age and his empire fell apart.
Hellenistic Culture
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Refers to the fusion of Greek culture with the cultures of the
Middle East and India.
Greatest achievements were math and science.
Alexander built a great library in Alexandria which encouraged
scholarship.
Statues of people with their imperfections became popular during
this period.
What were the opportunities and limitations for women in Greek
society?
Women
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Women were regarded as inferior and excluded them from public
life.
Women took care of the home and were subject to their husbands
will.
Spartan women enjoyed more freedoms than others. They were
given an education and endured physical training.
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Ancient Rome
PAX ROMANA
(500 B.C- A.D 500)
The “Roman Peace” (27 B.C-395 A.D)
One of the most influential civilizations to emerge in the ancient
world.
They were heirs to the Greek culture and believed in the same gods
and goddesses as the Greeks.
They also studied and imitated Greek achievements such as art,
history, and literature.
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Augustus brought a long period of peace to Europe and the
Mediterranean world.
They respected local customs, provided laws, promoted trade and
offered Roman citizenship throughout the empire.
What were the opportunities and limitations for women
in Roman society?
Women and Children in Rome
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Traditional (paternalistic) view of gender roles.
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Women were not allowed to hold office but it was acceptable for
men to seek their wife’s advice in private.
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More equality amongst genders than in Greece.
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Women could own property and make wills.
What privileges and power did the paterfamilias of the
Roman family exercise over other members of the family?
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Paterfamilias (“father of the family”): had complete power over the
household. Controlled all property and had authority over all family
members. He had the power to disown newborn children, banish
family members, or even sell them into slavery.
What lasting scientific, mathematical, and technological
innovations originated in Rome?
How did geographic factors influence the culture and
historical development of Rome?
Geography
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Other Roman Contributions
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It was located on a fertile plain in the center of Italy.
The Alps Mountains protected Rome from most invaders
To the west, the sea provided additional protection. It also served
as routes for trade and expansion.
What were the two main forms of government that the
Romans lived under and what were their characteristics?
How did Rome change as it changed from a republic to an
empire?
Roman Republic
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In early times, the Romans overthrew their king and made Rome
into a republic.
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A republic has a system of government by elected representatives.
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Roman concepts of justice and equality before the law, the right to a
trial in court and innocent until proven guilty helped shape later
European legal systems.
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Concept of a contract
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Roman society had two main social classes: patricians and
plebeians.
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How did the growth of Christianity affect Roman
Society?
Christianity
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Roman Empire
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After unifying Italy, Rome defeated Carthage and spread to Western
Europe; Augustus became the first emperor.
Began about 2,000 years ago.
Based on the teachings of Jesus, a Jew who preached forgiveness,
mercy, and sympathy for the poor and helpless.
The Romans crucified Jesus for claiming he was the Messiah
The later adoption of Christianity by the Romans was a major
turning point for the religion.
What was the Jewish Diaspora? How is it an example of similar events in
World History?
The Jewish Diaspora (Dispersion)
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Twelve Tables
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Roman code of laws that stated that citizens were “equal under the
law” and “innocent until proven guilty.”
Development of concrete
Latin was the language of Rome which helped shape many
European languages.
The Roman built thousands of miles of roads to connect distant
parts of the empire with Rome.
Rome became the center of communication, commerce, politics,
culture and military power in Western Europe and the
Mediterranean.
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Romans permitted the existence of different religions throughout
the empire but they expected people to worship the emperor as a
divine being.
Jews refused to do so and revolted against Roman rule in 66 A.D.
Romans crushed the rebellions and although they faced exile, the
Jews refused to abandon their religion.
This is just one example of campaigns against Jews and other
ethnic groups throughout history. Prelude to “genocide?”
What were the internal and external factors that led to
the fall of the Roman Empire?
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Beginning in the third century A.D the government in Rome began
to decline.
Political Weakness
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Emperors became corrupt and ineffective.
Economic Problems
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Increased taxes, inflation and unemployment led to economic
difficulties.
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Military Decline
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Roman armies began to rely on paid soldiers. They were
usually non-Roman peoples who were less loyal than actual
citizens.
Invasions
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Rome was under constant attack by the Goths and Huns.
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Romans considered them Barbarians.
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Eventually they did invade Rome.
The End of the Roman Empire
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In the late 300s, a nomadic group from Asia known as the
Huns pressured the Goths to join them and invade Rome.
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The Byzantine Empire survived another thousand years.
Key Terms and Concepts
democracy – a government controlled by its citizens either
directly or through representatives.
Christianity - a religion inspired from the teachings and
later crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Bible forms the basis
of its sacred scripture. It originated during the later part of
the Roman Empire. Today, the Catholic, Orthodox, and
various Protestant sects make up the majority of its
adherents; collectively they form the largest religious
group in the modern world.
Pax Romana – (“Roman Peace”) - a period of peace and
prosperity throughout the Roman Empire lasting from 27
B.C. to A.D. 180.
republic – a form of government in which power is in the
hands of representatives and leaders are elected by the
people.
“Rule of Law” – the Romans implanted several basic
principles that reflect a “rule of law,” including the idea
that no one is above the law, that there are limits to a
government’s power, and that there is a need for public
knowledge of law and judicial procedures.
Zoroastrianism – an ancient Persian religion introduced
by the religious leader, Zoroaster. It taught that there were
two gods; the god of truth, light, and goodness, and the
god of darkness and evil. Those who led good lives would
go to heaven, while those who were evil would be destined
to a fiery hell.
Places and Events
Athens – a Greek city-state noted for developing the first
democratic (though limited) government in world history.
Unlike Sparta’s focus on military preparedness, Athens
stressed the intellectual arts. Athens would face defeat at
the hands of Sparta in the Peloponnesian Wars.
Parthenon – a famous marble temple constructed on the
Acropolis of Athens that is considered to be a masterpiece
of Greek craftsmanship and design.
Persian Empire – an empire centered in modern-day Iran.
By around 500 B.C., it stretched from the Indus Valley in
the east, to the borders of Greece, making it the biggest
empire the world had yet seen.
Rome – originally a small village located on the Tiber
river, it eventually became the center of a powerful
classical civilization that would control vast expanses of
land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
Sparta – a Greek city-state noted for its militaristic
characteristics. It became the dominant military landpower in ancient Greece. It eventually defeated Athens in
the Peloponnesian Wars.
People
Alexander the Great - a king of Macedon who in his
youth was tutored by Aristotle. He conquered the
quarrelsome Greek city states and by the age of thirty had
created one of the largest empires of the ancient world,
stretching from Greece to the Himalayas. He was
undefeated in battle and is considered one of history's most
successful commanders. His conquests would help create
Hellenistic culture throughout much of the ancient world.
Archimedes – a ancient Greek mathematician from
Alexandria who revolutionized the subject of geometry; he
is considered to be one of the greatest mathematicians of
ancient times. In addition, he is noted for his studies on
levers and pulleys, his measurement of volume and
density, his design of catapults, and his invention of a
screw-like device inside a cylinder to pump water.
Aristotle – an anciet Greek philosopher who questioned
the nature of the world and of human belief, thought, and
knowledge. He collected and classified things, from
animals to city-state constitutions, and studied their
relationships. His work provides the basis for the scientific
method used today.
Darius – a Persian ruler noted for unifying the Persian
empire through military expansion and effective
administration. His most noted failure was his inability to
conquer the Greek civilization.
Eratosthenes – an ancient Greek scholar, astronomer,
poet, historian and mathematician who skillfully used
geometry to closely calculated the earth’s size (within 1%
of modern calculations). He was also the director of the
Alexandrian library.
patricians and plebeians – the two main social classes of
Rome. The patricians were members of the wealthy and
privileged upper class. The plebeians, the common people
of Rome, were primarily common farmers, artisans, and
merchants, and they collectively made up most of the
population.
Socrates – a classical Greek Athenian philosopher credited
for being one of the founders of Western philosophy. He
attempted to seek truth through his “Socratic Method” of
questioning. He was eventually sentenced to death by the
Athenian Council for corrupting the youth of Athens and
“neglecting the city’s gods.” He chose, instead, suicide.