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Ancient
Greece
2000- 500 BC
Geography
Greece is a
peninsula about
the size of
Louisiana in the
Mediterranean
Sea.
 It’s very close to
Egypt, the Persian
empire (includes
Turkey) and Rome.

Greek geography



Greece is mountainous
Greek communities
often times developed
independently because
of the mountains, thus
they were diverse
As a result, they fought
each other a lot.
Terracing saves water and soil in
mountainous environments
Technology results from necessity


Since Greek coastal cities were
sandwiched between the ocean
and the sea, they developed an
awesome navy for trading and
fighting.
They also used the sea as a source
of food and as a way of trading
with other communities.
Technology results from scarcity

All cities need fresh
water. This is a
Greek aqueduct,
basically a brick
water pipe.
 The first aqueduct
was Assyrian, but
most ancient
societies had them.
•Direct participation was the key to Athenian democracy. In the
Assembly, every male citizen was not only entitled to attend as
often as he pleased but also had the right to debate, offer
amendments, and vote on proposals. Every man had a say in
whether to declare war or stay in peace. Basically any thing
that required a government decision, all male citizens were
allowed to participate in.
Political: Athens was the first
democracy
Democracy: type of government where
people rule themselves.
 Athens was a direct democracy where
all decisions made by people directly
affect the outcome of the vote (every
vote counts).
 The U.S. today is a representative
democracy, where we vote for people to
make decisions for us.

Political Terms

Elected leaderPericles encouraged
people to take part in
government and to
introduce democracy
to other parts of
Greece.
Democracy Then and Now

In Athenian Direct
Democracy…
– All citizens met as a
group to debate and
vote directly on every
issue.
– There was no
separation of powers.
Citizens created laws,
enforced laws, and
acted as judges.
– Only free male
citizens could vote.
Women and slaves
could not vote.

In American
Representative
Democracy…
– Citizens elect
representatives to debate
and vote on issues for them.
– There is a separation of
powers. Citizens elect
some people to create laws,
others to enforce laws, and
others to be judges.
– Men and women who are
citizens have the right to
vote.
Greek religion was polytheistic.
Olympian Gods


Today, people have
scientific explanations
for events like thunder,
earthquakes, and
volcanic eruptions.
The ancient Greeks
believed their gods
caused these events
(as well as daily events)
to happen and created
myths to explain the
gods’ actions.
•The Greeks were the original
Olympiads.
•Their scientists studied the
best way to perform sports.
Ancient Greek Literature

A poet by the name of Homer wrote two great
epic poems: the Iliad and the Odyssey.
– Iliad: tells the story of the last years of the Trojan
wars. It focuses on the deeds of the Greeks,
especially Achilles. (*Troy- Brad Pitt)
– Odyssey: tells the story of a soldier, ten years after
the Trojan war, who is trying to find his way home
and the people/ adventures he encounters along
the way.

Fables:
– Aesop told stories to teach lessons about life or
give advice on how to live
– Example: “The Ants and the Grasshopper” (p.
247)
Greek Influence on Language

In Greek literature and mythology…
– Achilles was a great warrior
who was killed when an arrow
struck his heel.
– Hercules was the strongest man
on earth who completed 12
almost impossible tasks.
– A fox wanted to eat some
grapes but he couldn’t reach
the branch they were on, so he
said, “Those grapes are
probably sour anyway.”
– King Midas was granted one
wish by the god Dionysus, so
he wished that everything he
touched turned to gold.
– Tantalus was punished for
offending the gods. He had to
stand up to his chin in water
and he was always thirsty, but if
he tried to drink the water it
went away.

Today…
– An “Achilles heel” is a
person’s weak spot.
– When a person has a
really hard job to do it is
called a “Herculean”
task.
– When people pretend
they don’t want
something after they find
out they cant have it,
they are said to have
“sour grapes”.
– A person who seems to
get rich easily is said to
have a “Midas touch.”
– Something is tantalizing
if you want it but it’s just
out of your reach.
Additional information
is available on the
following slides!
Greek Invention

The Greeks
invented the crane.
Greek Architecture

Greeks invented
arches and
columns.
 This obviously took
advanced
mathematics.
More Greek Architecture
Greek Military

This is a catapult, a
Greek invention.
 It could throw 300
pound stones at
walls and buildings
Greek Military

This is a hoplite, a
Greek infantry
soldier.
 Hoplites were
middle-class
freemen who had to
pay for their own
weapon and shield.
Greek Military

This is a phalanx.
 Soldiers get in a
tight box. They
each have a large
shield and a 9 foot
long spear.
Flamethrower
Remember! If you think the U.S.
is so much better. . .
Some southern states did not let African
Americans vote until the 1960s (Voting
Rights Act 1965)
 Women could not vote in the U.S. until
1920 (19th Amendment)
 Eighteen year olds could not vote until
the late 1970s.

Sparta

Sparta was an isolated
city-state that was
culturally and politically
different from Athens.
 Sparta was an
oligarchy, government
ruled by a few. They
had 2 kings.
 During the
Peloponnesian Sparta
sacked Athens.
Sparta

Spartan society was
obsessed with war.
 Boys were sent to
military school at a
young age.
 Boys who are born
deformed are left to
die on
mountainsides
Athens

Athenians were
tough but were
encouraged to
engage in
activities like art,
philosophy,
music.
Alexander the Great

Alexander was not
from Athens, but
Macedonia.
 Alexander was a
brilliant military
strategist.
 His favorite book
was Homer’s Iliad
Alexander conquered the Persian
empire and controlled the largest
empire the world has ever seen.
What happens when
cultures collide?
Alexander spread Hellenistic
culture throughout Asia.

Hellenistic is a fancy
word for Greek.
 Alexander spread
Greek technology
and ideas
throughout his
empire
The Roman Coliseum has a
strong Hellenistic influence.
What buildings in the USA have
a Hellenistic influence?
Lincoln Memorial
Any questions
before the quiz?
Greece Quiz

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1.What is Greece’s political contribution to
the political world (especially the United
States)?
2. How did geography influence Greece’s
economy and military technology?
3. How did Hellenistic ideas spread
throughout Asia?
4. Describe an example of how necessity
brings about technological change.
5. Define monarchy
6. Define oligarchy
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