Download ANCIENT GREECE – THE GREEK WORLD

IES LAS MARINAS SECCIÓN BILINGÜE
UNIT 10 - ANCIENT GREECE
THE GREEK WORLD
GREEK HOPLITE
1. THE GREEK WORLD.
The land of Greece consists of MAINLAND GREECE and many ISLANDS in the
AEGEAN and ADRIATIC seas (see MAP on page 2).
It is a mountainous country with hot dry summers and rain only in the winter. The first
Greek SETTLEMENTS were independent communities and they were very isolated.
These settlements became CITY-STATES (“metropolis”**). These communities had a
strong individual identity and the CITIZENS were very loyal to their city and their
DEITY (god or goddess). Sometimes the city-states united for defence (for example,
against the Persians).
The Greeks produced a marvellous culture which has influenced WESTERN
CIVILIZATION – in literature, philosophy, politics, theatre, sport, etc.
**From the Greek meter, metros = “mother” + polis = “state”
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Greek civilization had its most
important expression in ATHENS in
the fifth century B.C. (= BEFORE
CHRIST). The city of Athens was the
most important city of ancient
Greece. It was the centre for all
forms of art and learning. Its
ACROPOLIS**
contained
the
temple of the PARTHENON,
dedicated to the goddess ATHENA.
**akron=“summit”+polis=”city”
2. MINOAN CIVILIZATION
The first great civilization of the Aegean Sea began on the island of CRETE. It
had its maximum power between 2200 B.C. and 1450 B.C. It was rich because of its
TRADE with other BRONZE AGE cities in Greece and the Mediterranean. There were
rich palaces in different parts of the island. This civilization is called MINOAN because
there was a legendary king called MINOS. Greek legend says that a young prince of
Athens, called Theseus went to Crete and killed a monster, half-man and half-bull,
called the MINOTAUR. Children from Athens were sacrificed to this monster, which
lived in the LABYRINTH, possibly at the famous palace at KNOSSOS.
THESEUS FIGHTS THE MINOTAUR
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3. THE MYCENAEAN CIVILIZATION
Greece in the BRONZE AGE had important centres, including MYCENAE – the
city of AGAMEMNON. The king lived in a palace which was the administrative and
military centre for the area. The Mycenaeans were WARRIORS, but they were also
great TRADERS.
The world of the Mycenaeans was
attacked by foreign invaders. In about 1200B.C.
they abandoned the cities and their civilization
began to end.
In the following centuries people told
stories about this civilization. Two stories have
survived – THE ILIAD and THE ODYSSEY. These
stories were written down by the famous
Greek poet, HOMER in the eighth century B.C.
THE MASK OF AGAMEMNON
The Iliad tells the story of the TROJAN WAR: the city of TROY was attacked by King
Agamemnon and a Greek army. The Greeks won – do you know how? (Look at the
picture below).
The Odyssey tells the story of the return home to Greece of the Greek hero Odysseus.
It took him ten years and he had many adventures.
HELEN OF TROY
THE TROJAN HORSE
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4. THE EXPANSION OF GREECE.
After the end of the Mycenaean period, life in Greece was very difficult. People
had to work hard to produce food and they forgot many arts and sciences. This
period is called the Greek DARK AGES.
In the eighth century B.C. the Greeks began to TRADE with other lands – when
the population increased and Greek agriculture did not produce sufficient food.
Greeks settled in southern Italy, Sicily and other parts of the western Mediterranean
(including the south of Spain). Some of these colonies were very rich.
Greek culture was influenced by other cultures, especially from the East.
GREEK TRADING SHIP
The new colonies were in places with good HARBOURS and good agricultural
land. The process of colonization continued to about 650 B.C. These new colonies
became independent of their mother cities in Greece.
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5. THE CITY OF ATHENS.
THE CITY OF ATHENS
Athens was the most important of the city-states. It was a centre of the
arts and sciences. The patron of the city was ATHENA, the goddess of WISDOM
and WAR.
In 480 B.C. the Persians attacked Athens and they destroyed the temples
on the Acropolis. Later, Athens helped in the wars against the Persians and
Perikles, the Athenian leader, began to rebuild the city. The people of Athens
lived on the land below the Acropolis. There were many beautiful buildings
around the AGORA (an open space for meeting and commercial activity). The
port of Athens, the Piraeus, was very near and access to the sea was important
for the military and economic success of the city.
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PARTHENON, ON THE AKROPOLIS
ACTIVITIES
120 Great History Projects; ed. Leon Gray; Lorenz Books:
P 66 Make a Greek chiton
P 158-159 Make a Greek sword and shield
P182-183 Make a Greek vase
P210-211 Greek Medusa’s costume
P 212-213 Greek bird mask
P 232-233 Greek knucklebones game
Horrible Histories: The Groovy Greeks Activity Book (many entertaining
activities)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
DK Eyewitness. Ancient Greece; Anne Pearson; Dorling Kindersley
The Usborne Internet-linked Ancient World; Fiona Chandler; Usborne
Horrible Histories. The Groovy Greeks Activity Book; Terry Deary and Martin
Brown; Scholastic
WEBSITES
http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/athens/home_set.html
(British Museum – very good – click on “Story” (everyday life in Athens) and
“Explore”)
http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/knowledge/explore/exp_set.html
(British Museum – very good – click on “Story” for “Plato’s Cave” and click on
“Explore” for biographies “Hall of Fame”)
http://www.stoa.org/athens/
(Ancient monuments of Athens)
www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Arts/Parthenon.htm
(The Parthenon)
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks
(Interactive – 3-D animation of the Parthenon; Pronunciation of Greek letters)
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FURTHER ACTIVITIES
Zeus, the Greek King of the Gods
FIND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT THE GREEK GODS AND GODDESSES (for
example, see website: www.athensinfoguide.com/historymythology.htm
and click on “The Olympians”)
Also look at these activities:
http://www.geocities.com/sseagraves/godsandgoddessesquiz.html
www.thepotters.com/puzzles/greek.html
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