Download ANCIENT GREECE 5 th Class 2014

ANCIENT GREECE
5th Class
2014
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Ancient Greece is called 'the birthplace of Western civilisation'.
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The Greeks created a way of life that other people admired and copied about 2,500
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years ago.
The Ancient Greeks lived in mainland Greece and the Greek islands, but also in what is
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now Turkey, and in colonies scattered around the Mediterranean sea coast.
Ancient Greece was divided into city-states which sometimes fought with each other
and sometimes joined together against a bigger enemy. Athens, Sparta, Corinth and
Olympia were four of these city-states.
Sparta and Athens fought a long war but their main enemy was Persia.
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In the 300s BC Alexander the Great managed to conquer all of Greece and beyond
(and defeat Persia).
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Many Greek parents wanted sons who could look after them. Daughters had to be given
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a dowry (wedding gift) when they married (13-16) which could be expensive.
Boys went to school at 7. Some girls were taught at home but many were not.
Girls learned housework, cooking and skills such as weaving at home. Boys at school
learned reading, writing, arithmetic, music and poetry. Boys also did athletics to keep
fit and prepare them for war as soldiers.
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Most boys worked hard as farmers, sailors, fishermen and craftworkers - such as
potters, builders, metalworkers and stone-carvers. Some clever boys went on studying,
such as Aristotle. He became a great scientist and thinker.
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The Greek Olympics, thought to have begun in 776 BC, inspired the modern Olympic
Games. The Games were held in honour of Zeus, king of the gods, and were staged
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every four years at Olympia.
Events in the Olympics included wrestling, boxing, long jump, throwing
the javelin and discus, and chariot racing. In the pentathlon, there were five events:
running, wrestling, javelin, discus and long jump. One of the toughest events was the
race for hoplites, men wearing armour and carrying shields. Winners were given a
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wreath of leaves, and a hero's welcome back home.
The pankration or all-in wrestling was the nastiest event at the Olympics.
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The Greeks believed that gods and goddesses watched over them. A family of gods
and goddesses lived in above Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece.
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Zeus was king of the gods. He threw thunderbolts to punish anyone who disobeyed him.
His brother Poseidon was god of the sea. Another brother, Pluto (also called Hades),
ruled the underworld.
Zeus had many children, among them Apollo, Artemis, Athena and Ares.
The most famous Greek hero was Hercules, son of Zeus.
The Greeks put statues of the gods inside temples (Parthenon is the most famous
temple). People prayed for help at temples and gave gifts as sacrifices to please the
gods.