Download Chapter 5 - HERE in Barrington

Unit 5:The Growth of Empires
and Governments
Chapter 5: Early Civilizations of Greece
Section I: Early Civilizations of Greece
(Pages 100-104)



This section is about:
How the geography of
Greece affected the
development of two
ancient civilizations of
traders and palace
builders.
The economic and cultural
life of the Minoans and
Mycenaean's.
How historical events of
these cultures have been
preserved in legends and
epics.





Like everywhere else:
geography matters in
Greece.
The Pindus Mountains
isolated the Greek people
from one another.
It’s on the Balkan
peninsula.
The southernmost part:
Peloponnesus.
Has many islands.
Greece is different from some of
our other places so far







Not very good farmland.
No great big rivers.
Unpredictable rains.
The were able to grow
barley, grapes and olives
(they grow okay in rocky
soil).
They also raised pigs,
sheep, goats, and chickens
(smaller animals).
That kind of food was
scarce.
But… they did have lots of…
Water





Most people lived near the sea.
Good harbors for trading.
Good sailors, fishermen, and traders.
Main exports: olive oil, wine, wool,
and marble.
People who lived inland were
separated from each other (has many
mountains), so different communities
ended being quite different from each
other.

The Greeks have always believed they
had the most beautiful land on Earth.

Their location helped them develop
the foundations for western civilization.
(the way Europe and the America’s lived)
The first great Aegean civilization
was: the Minoans




Named after Minos (the
legendary king of Greece)
He had a monarchy
(government with a
single ruler).
They had fine crafts, built
great palaces, and played
sports.
Their most important
palace was at Knossos.
The Palace of Knossos




The largest palace on Crete.
The royal family, it’s
advisors, craft-workers, and
servants all lived there.
It had store rooms,
workshops, large
bathrooms, complex
plumbing.
Art was an important part of
their lives with decorative
vases, ivory figurines,
jewelry, and colorful
frescoes on the walls (of
bulls, dolphins, people,
sporting events, and nature
scenes).
The Minoans were peaceful sea traders




It seems they lived in
peace for a long time.
They traded with the
Greek islands, the Greek
mainland, and even the
Egyptians.
But- they weren’t Greek
– they were Aegean.
No-one really knows why
they disappeared (maybe
a volcanic eruption – the
island of Thera).
Just after the time of the Minoans, the
Mycenaean's began a culture in Greece.




Lived on the mainland
of Greece.
The first Greek people
to leave a written
record.
Ruled by kings from big
palaces.
Traded with the
Minoans some – so
they had a “cultural
exchange” with them.
The Mycenaean's lived…




In great palaces.
But, there’s were
surrounded by thick
walls.
The lived about the
same way as the
Minoans
Mycenaean’s also had
colonies around the
Mediterranean, and
traded with many
other cultures.
By 1100 BC, the Mycenaean’s were gone




Palaces were
destroyed/abandoned.
Why gone? Civil Wars?
Natural Disasters?
Invaders? We’re not
sure.
People started settling in
smaller villages.
Some started moving
other places – like Sicily
and Italy.
One of the biggest things the Mycenaean’s are known for is:
The Trojan War




The Mycenaean’s and other Greeks attacked Troy (a rich
trading city).
The War started when a Trojan prince named Paris kidnapped
Helen (the wife of the brother of the Mycenaean king).
To try and rescue her, the Greeks battled the Trojans, seized
Troy, and burned it to the ground.
Is this story a myth or true?
Some of the best stories from this time
come from the Iliad and the Odyssey



These were two long
poems – probably by
Homer.
The Iliad describes the
last days of the Trojan
War.
The Odyssey tells a
story of the long trip
home – by Odysseus
(a hero of the Trojan
War).
Of course, religion was important
to the people of Greece



They believed there
were Gods around in
everyday life.
They had human
feelings and human
form.
They believed they
needed to please their
gods, so they built
great temples to honor
them.
The Parthenon (on the Acropolis)
Parthenon Design
Who are these people?
Some of the main Greek Gods:
(The 12 Olympians)
1. Zeus
2. Athena

3. Hera

4. Hades
5. Poseidon

6. Dionysus
7. Ares

8. Aphrodite
9. Apollo

10. Artemis
11. Demeter

12. Hermes
13. Hestia
14. Hephaestus
The goddess of love, beauty and desire.
The goddess of wisdom, warfare, battle
strategy, heroic endeavor, handicrafts and
reason.
King of the Underworld and god of the dead
and the hidden wealth of the Earth.
Queen of marriage, women, childbirth,
heirs, kings and empires.
The god of the sea, rivers, floods, droughts,
earthquakes, and the creator of horses.
The king of the gods, the ruler of Mount
Olympus and the god of the sky, weather,
thunder, lightning, law, order, and fate.
Greek Gods and Goddesses
This is a picture of what’s on page B of your packets
Section II: Greek City-States Rise to Power
(Pages 106-111)





This section is about:
How Greek towns organized
into city-states with different
forms of government.
How Sparta was governed by
military leaders.
How Spartan society
emphasized military discipline.
How Athens developed a
limited democracy in which
only free men could
participate.
How Sparta, Athens, and many
other city-states united to
defeat Persian invaders in the
Persian Wars.


Before we start, we
should look at the “Main
Ideas” on page 106
Lets also look at
“Compare and Contrast”
on the same page – but
let’s change the last two
words (ancient Greece)
to “the United States.”
Greek City-States





Greek towns organized
themselves into “city-states”
– which they called a “polis.”
Each had between a few
hundred and a few thousand
people.
It was usually as big as a city
and the area around it (about
like our towns/cities and their
suburbs now).
They usually had a fortress
on the top – called an
acropolis (highest point).
It was for protection from
attacks, but was also the
center of their government
and their religion.




Below the acropolis: the
main part of the city – with
a public square and a
marketplace for farmers,
shopkeepers and
politicians.
There were several citystates in Greece.
Being a citizen of a citystates was important –
along with the
responsibilities and duties
of being a citizen.
Greeks adopted the
Phoenician alphabet – and
later their language (they
thought if you didn’t
speak Greek, you were a
“barbarian).”
City-State Government




Each polis tried to set up
it’s own government.
Citizen-soldiers would
defend their city-states
if the needed to.
They fought in a
“phalanx” with helmets,
body armor, spears, and
swords (bronze).
It was expensive for all
their equipment, so only
wealthy people (or their
slaves) could be
soldiers.
Wealthy landowners began to
demand some form of power



Some city-states became
aristocracies – run by a small,
wealthy group.
Wealthy nobles and businessmen
also wanted some power and
formed oligarchies (small
powerful group in control – “the
rule of a few”)
Athens and Sparta end up
becoming two of Greece’s most
powerful and most famous citystates
Sparta





By 700 BC, Sparta had
conquered many of it’s
neighbors.
There were even more
conquered people in Sparta
than there were Spartans.
To control them, they
developed a very military
lifestyle.
Very little individual freedoms,
family life, the arts, luxuries.
Today – if you live a “Spartan
life” – you live with very few
(or no) luxuries.
Sparta






Governed by 2 military
leaders/kings.
Had a 28 member council of
elders (men over 60).
The chose issues to be
presented to “the assembly.”
The Assembly was made up of
any free male over 30.
The Assembly had 5 overseers
(ephors) who gave advice to the
kings (who had to “consider” the
advice).
Ephors were also responsible for
the education of Sparta youth.
Sparta was all
about military







They were all about producing soldiers
and keeping them in shape.
When boys were 7 they were sent to live
in “barracks” to start to train to be
soldiers.
They were under-fed and only given 1
pair of light clothes (to toughen them
up).
They lived there until they were 30.
Then, they could live at home (even
though they ate each day with all the
other soldiers).
When they were 30, they could vote.
They were available to fight until they
were 60.
Boys were told: “come home with your
shield or on it.”
Spartan Women






Had more rights than other Greek
women.
They could inherit land.
Women often controlled property
after their husbands were killed
while fighting).
They were encouraged to exercise
and keep physically fit (so they
could have strong, healthy
babies).
Girls were taught to run, wrestle,
and throw a spear.
They also got to go to school a
little.
Sparta (History Channel)
Athens




Athens grew quickly
(around 750 BC).
They had some tyrants
(unfair rulers) who tried to
gain power, but Draco was
appointed to establish new
rules and laws (even though
he came up with unpopular
and harsh laws).
Death was a penalty for
most crimes (even smaller
ones).
It was pretty much a military
state (government where the
police/military are in
charge).
Reforms and a Limited Democracy






When they almost had a civil war,
Solon was given authority to write new
laws.
He tried to balance power between
rich and poor (it used to be if you
couldn’t re-pay someone, you became
their slave).
He gave citizenship to some foreigners
– to attract more business to Athens.
He came up with an idea to have a
council of 500 citizens to propose laws
to the assembly (free male citizens).
This is probably the first legislature
(law making group) and created some
of the ideas for democracy later used
by…
Um…
But – only free adult men were
considered citizens.
The School of Athens / By Raphael (some of the world’s greatest thinkers)
Education in Athens
(yes – school even then)







Boys were expected to become wellrounded individuals.
It was important to be able to read,
write, and do arithmetic.
Also: play musical instruments, sing,
and exercise their body.
Learned public speaking, debating,
and other political skills.
Recited memory passages (like
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey).
The wealthier learned all this better
than the poor.
Girls – stayed at home and maybe
learned a little on their own.
By 499 BC. the Greeks had to unite.





To fight against the Persians
(in many battles).
Sparta and Athens even
fought together against the
Persians (in the Persian War).
At one time Athens and
Sparta weren’t doing to well.
But they re-grouped and in
the battle of Salamis (first
naval battle ever recorded)
beat the Persians (300 sunk
ships to 40).
There were more battles, but
the Persians finally ended up
going home.
After these wars…





The Spartans went back to
Sparta to do their thing.
Athens wanted to make
sure they would be okay if
the Persians attacked again.
They organized an alliance
(including 140 city-states
that fought in the Persian
Wars) which promised to
help defend each other.
The center of this alliance
(friendship) was in Athens –
which ended up giving
Athens enormous power.
This ends up being “the
Golden Age of Athens.”
Herodotus:
the
“Father of History”



We get a lot of these stories
from him. He traveled around
the Mediterranean to study
places he wrote about and to
learn stories of historic events
which took place there.
He did present many facts, but
also included many “legends”
that may or may not have
been true.
What do you think about that?
Horrible Histories: Groovy Greeks (Athens School/Spartan Musical)
Horrible Histories: Spartan Parent Teacher Conference
Horrible Histories: Spartan/Athens Wife Swap
Section III: The Golden Age of Athens
(Pages 117-121)


This section is about:
How Athens, under
Pericles expanded its
democratic government,
prospered economically,
and experienced a golden
age in which architecture,
literature, and philosophy
flourished.
How the Peloponnesian
War brought an end to
Greek unity.






When the Persian Wars were over,
Athens was messed up.
But in a short time they were the
richest, most powerful city-state in
Greece.
One way that got rich was by
demanding tribute from the other
members of the Delian League.
This led to the birth of the Athenian
Empire (their “classical age”).
Politics, Art, and Literature flourished,
there was order, balance, and
harmony in Athens.
It’s also called the Age of Pericles
(Athens ruler at the time).
Pericles believed in a direct democracy






With many people active in
government.
They served in the assembly – or
on a jury – a group of people who
make a decision (they even got
paid for it).
This was done “by lot” – picked at
random.
They used a lot of juries (20025000 per day).
Even though anyone could
become a public official, you had a
better chance if you were rich
(they had better knowledge,
experience, and time).
The assembly also had the power
to hold an “unpopularity contest”
to get rid of people.
As he was a great speaker, Pericles…


Convinced Athenians to rebuild Athens (from tribute
money and Athenian silver
mines)
Other city-states didn’t like
their money going to that, but
Pericles said Athens could use
it’s money any way it wanted
to (since he was protecting
them with part of it).
Money (a tax? paid for “protection”)
Athens’ Golden Age culture



Greek citizens developed
their own styles of
architecture, art, and
literature.
Athens experienced a
“Golden Age.”
Athens was a place for
artists, writers, and
thinkers to dare to ask
questions. They weren't
depending on the gods
for their answers – they
wanted to find out why
for themselves.
Architecture and Art



A time when they built
magnificent temples for
their gods and for public /
commercial uses (Homes
were pretty basic though).
A lot of great paintings,
sculpture, and ceramics
comes from this time (with
heroic acts of the gods,
historical events, and daily
life).
Humans in art at this time
were not shown as they
really were, but in nearly
ideal and perfect form.
Earliest Greek writing was done in poetry,
but one of their great innovations was drama
(usually in open air theaters – done by men)




Plays could be tragedies or
comedies. Tragedies
explored deep ideas and
conflicts (with lots of
suffering and misery).
Comedies often poked fun
at leaders and their
policies.
They even had drama
contests – with rules to
make them fair.
The Father of History
(Herodotus) would even
research the past to make
sure he had good plays.
The Three Great Thinkers were Philosophers
who asked: Where did the world come from?”
and What is the world made of?”
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Believed that goodness is
knowledge and that doing
evil is worse than suffering
from evil. Young people
loved him, but others said
he was corrupting the
youth. A jury sentenced
him to death and he killed
himself by drinking hemlock
(a powerful poison).
Was a student of Socrates.
Most of what we know
about Socrates is because
Plato “took notes.” Plato
wrote about “the ideal
society,” the nature of
goodness and friendship,
and the idea of truth. He
started a school called “the
Academy.”
Was a student of Plato. He
was a teacher of a guy
named Alexander the Great
(will come along a little
later). He set up a school
that taught his students to
learn by observation. He
considered what makes a
good life and studied which
governments were the best.
He favored moderation –
and avoiding extremes
(liked the middle class).
Plato
Aristotle
Socrates
The Peloponnesian War






Many of the great men of Athens fought in the Peloponnesian War.
Athens vs. Sparta
Sparta led an army into Attica (an area near Athens).
The Athenians didn’t fight – they retreated back to their walled city
(bad idea).
A plague broke out in Athens and many died (while the Spartans
were destroying the surrounding countryside).
Even Pericles died from the plague during this time.
Fighting continued for 8 more years




There was peace for a while –
until the Athenians invaded
Sicily (where they were
defeated).
Athens was having struggles
back home for power (an
oligarchy even took over for a
while).
Finally, the Spartans surprised
and destroyed the Athenian
Navy and Athens was starved
into surrender by a Spartan
blockade.
Even though the war was over,
there would not be Greek unity
(not 1 big empire).
Horrible Histories: Socrates Death
Section IV: Alexander Builds a Great Empire
(Pages 118-121)



This section is about:
How Phillip II of
Macedonia gained control
over his own country and
then over all of Greece.
How his son Alexander
built a great empire that
stretched from Egypt to
India.
How Alexander’s empire
spread Greek culture
throughout much of the
ancient world.





By about 400 BC, the Athenians,
the Spartans, and Thebes had all
tried to control Greece.
At the same time, Macedonia was
becoming stronger.
King Philip made friends with
many of the Greek city-states by
threatening, bribing, and
charming Greek leaders into
coming to his side.
People in Athens warned others
about Philip and Macedonia, but
by the time they listened, it was
too late.
Phillip’s 18 year old son
(Alexander) defeated Athens and
the southern Greek city-states in
battle.
Before Phillip could united Greece and
Macedonia (and Persia), he was assassinated.



Alexander became
king of Macedonia
and ruler of Greece
(at 20).
He had the most
powerful army in
Europe
It was going to be
his “job” to conquer
the Persian Empire.
Alexander had great courage and leadership
abilities and was an inspiring commander





Don’t forget - he was trained
under Aristotle.
He believed he would be equal
to Achilles (hero in the Trojan
War).
Alexander is thought of as one
of the greatest military leaders
of ancient times.
His army never lost a battle.
He not only captured existing
cities – he built new ones (like
Alexandria, Egypt).
Alexander continued on…







He marched for 70 days into
India (during monsoon season).
They defeated an army of
soldiers mounted on elephants.
He wanted to keep going, but his
soldiers had enough (they had
marched about 11,000 miles).
He was disappointed, but was
forced to start back home.
Back in Babylon, Alexander got
sick, and died.
None of his men were powerful
enough to take over what
Alexander had built.
A Macedonian general named
Ptolemy I ended up being the
next ruler.
Because a lot of Greeks settled
in Alexander’s new cities



They brought Greek
language, customs, and
culture with them.
This mixing of cultures is
called assimilation.
The mixing of Greek,
Egyptian, Persian, and
Indian civilizations culture
is called the Hellenistic
Period.
During the Hellenistic period





Use of money increased.
For the first time – there were
real banks.
Cities like Rhodes became rich:
through trade.
Alexandria replaced Athens as
a center of learning and
education (had the largest
library, second tallest building,
and a giant statue (the
colossus).
Hellenistic writers even made a
list of… (in a couple of
slides)…
The Royal Library of Alexandria, was the largest and
most significant library of the ancient world
The Lighthouse at Alexandria
was said to have measured between
115 and 135 m (380 and 440 ft) in
height. It may have been the
world's third tallest building after
the two Great Pyramids. It Lasted
until 1303 (earthquake)
The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek
Titan Helios, built on the Greek island of Rhodes
between 292 and 280 BC. It was constructed to
celebrate Rhodes' victory over the ruler of Cyprus
The Seven “Wonders” of the World
(the ancient world)
(from left to right, top to bottom): Great Pyramid
of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temple of
Artemis at Ephesus, Statue of Zeus at Olympia,
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Colossus of Rhodes,
and the Lighthouse of Alexandria
7 Wonders of the Ancient World
Great Pyramid of Giza
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Colossus of Rhodes
Lighthouse of Alexandria
Many inventions and discoveries
from this time are still useful today
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Hippocrates
Pythagoras
Eratosthenes
Euclid
Archimedes
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Geometry theorems,
invented the catapult, a
pulley and developed new
weapons.
Figured the Earth’s
circumference, made a
calendar with leap years,
worked with prime numbers.
Wrote a Geometry book that
was used for about 2000
years.
“The Father of Medicine”
Created a geometry formula
for figuring out the size of a
right triangle.
Horrible Histories: Alexander the Great
Horrible Histories: Alexander the Great Song