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ANCIENT GREECE
Ancient Greece History ID’s
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Polis – a city-state; a central city and
the surrounding area it rules
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Acropolis – a high hill where a fortress
was built.
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Democracy – a type of government in
which people rule themselves
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Citizens – people who had the right to
participate in government
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Mythology – stories about gods and
heroes that try to explain how the world
works
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Cavalry – a unit of soldiers who ride
horses
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Alliance – an agreement to work
together
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Strategy – plan for fighting a
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battle or war
Hellenistic – greek-like ideas; combined
with other cultures (Persian, Egyptian,
Syrian)
Philosopher – a person who studies the
meaning of life, problems of right and
wrong, or how we know things.
Mt. Olympus – home of the gods
Oracles – priests or priestesses acting
as a medium through whom advice or
prophecy was sought from the gods.
Socrates – taught by asking questions
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Plato – created the academy
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aristotle – taught that people should
live lives of moderation or balance
Geography of Ancient Greece
A.
Rocky, mountainous land
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provided for good fresh water running down the mountains in creeks
and streams
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natural defense barriers
B. Surrounded by mediterranean sea on three sides
(pennisula)
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many tales and legends grew up about the strange lands and
creatures that could be found across the sea
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Too difficult to go by land so they learned to be great sailors
C.
More than 1400 Islands
D.
Very few flat areas for Farmlands
E.
Climate has mild winters and long, hot and dry summers
Politics
I.
Oligarchy – 1st form of government for the Greeks
Benefits:
1. More than one person ruling
2. Free men were citizens
Drawbacks:
1. Only a few rich landowners (aristocrats) ran
the city’s economy – they became the generals
and judges.
2. Common people had little say
II. Tyranny – 2nd form of government for the Greeks
Benefits:
1. Overthrew the Oligarchy
2. Good leaders with strong armies that supported
the people
3. Tyrants seized power to reform laws, aid the poor
and cancel debts
Drawbacks:
1. Tyrant held power through use of force
2. Common people had little say
3. Some tyrants became harsh and greedy and were
overthrown
III. Democracy – Final form of government
Benefits:
1. All citizens have a say in government
2. All citizens have the right to express opinions
3. Power of nobles is limited
Drawbacks:
1. Women, slaves and foreigners have no say because
they weren’t citizens
2. Difficult to make decisions with so many people
3. Sometimes citizens were forced to attend assembly
Direct Democracy (Athens) – each and every citizen debated
each and every issue, created and enforced laws and
were judges.
Representative Democracy (U.S.) – citizens elect
representatives to debate and vote on issues, create and
enforce laws and be judges
IV. The Persian Wars
A. Series of wars between Persia and Greece
B. The Persian army was strong and well organized
C. Greeks won because they had better weapons and
clever leaders
V. The Peloponnesian War
A. Sparta declared war to stop Athens’ growth
B. Greek cities feared Athens would control Greece
C.Sparta defeats Athens and becomes the most powerful citystate
VI. Alexander the Great
A. He was a brilliant commander
B. The Egyptians surrendered without a fight and crowned
Alexander pharaoh
C. He became ruler of what had been the Persian Empire
D. After crossing the Indus River, his exhausted troops
refused to fight anymore
E. Alexander admired and enjoyed Greek culture and ideas
so much that he spread them throughout his Empire.
Religion in ancient greece
I.
Centered around the greek gods/goddesses
a. 12 major ones
B. lived on mount olympus
C. human shaped; got married, had children; made friends
and enemies; had human failings like jealousy and
bad-temper, which made them behave badly sometimes
d. center of greek myths
e. Each was responsible for some aspect of life and people
worshipped the ones they found relevant
II.
Greek myths
a. Illustrated the nature of the gods
B. Taught what teased or angered them
c. Did not set out rules or ideals like the bible or koran
III.
Religion and everyday life
a. temples built; priests looked after the temples
B. People had shrines in their homes
c. People believed the gods spoke to ordinary people through oracles
Hephaestus –
God of
blacksmiths