Download Ch. 6, Section 1 (second 1/2) Guided Notes

Chapter 6 section 1:_________________________
Name:_______________________
The Dark Ages of Greece
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Civilization in Greece collapsed after the Trojan War
Poverty
Trade didn’t go beyond Greece
depended on what they could raise themselves
concerned with survival=forgot the art of writing
early 1100s to about 750 B.C.
No writing=depending on word of mouth to keep traditions and history alive
resettling=settling in places where families could grow crops and raise animals
Some family farms may have developed into villages
They would build near rocky and protected hills to protect them from attacks
After 800 B.C., people began to writing again, during which Homer is believed to have
written his Epic about the Trojan War
City-States Develop
• around 750 B.C., villages may have joined to form a city in the shadow of an acropolis
• formed their own traditions and form of government and laws
• includes city and surrounding villages and fields.
Aristocracy: Nobels Rule
• early rulers of city-states were probably chieftains or kings
• were military leaders
• end of Dark Ages = city states being ruled by aristocrats
• controlled most of good land
• could afford horses, chariots, and best weapons= being stronger
A New Type of Ruler
• As Greeks sailed to foreign posts, the city-states became richer
• a middle class developed
• merchants and artisans
• wanted say in government of their cities
Chapter 6 section 1:_________________________
Name:_______________________
• could not afford horses and chariots, but could afford some weapons = moving
effectively on foot
• military strength in cities shifted from aristocrats to merchants and artisans
• result of changes = gov. being overthrown and replaced by rulers called tyrants
• usually supported by middle and working class
• Some cruel and violent, and some ruled wisely and well
Democracy in Greece
•
•
•
•
eventually, people of many city-states overthrew tyrants
Some adopted a form of gov. called democracy
city-state that fully expressed democracy: Athens
around 594 B.C., Athenian leader called Solon won power to reform laws
• Known for fairness
• Reformed economy and government
• laws forgave debts and gave males age 18 and older a say in gov.
• made Athens the leading democracy in the world
• Not everyone in in ancient Athens benefited from democracy
• Only one in five Athenians were a citizen
• had to have an Athenian father and mother
• Some were enslaved
• these people, as well as women and foreigners did not participate in democracy
• Men who were citizens of Athens were free and self-governing