Download Focus Question: Based on the 2 readings which Greek City State

Focus Question: Based on the 2 readings which Greek City State (Athens or Sparta) had a more effective
philosophy of how to manage a society?
Conduct the Investigation- In groups each individual will read the excerpts, answer the questions, and
report to the group on it.
In order to answer the focus question you will first examine several documents independently. Analyze each
document and answer the following questions on your "Individual - Document Analysis" graphic organizer.
15 minutes
1.
2.
3.
4.
When was this document written? Who wrote it? What was its purpose?
What is the author's point of view?
How can this document help me answer the focus question?
Now that the documents have been analyzed you will have the opportunity to discuss the documents and
the focus question with other students in a group. As you discuss your interpretations of the documents cite
evidence for your views and opinions. Multiple interpretations can emerge and may or may not be accepted
by all. Each one of you should take notes on your discussions as you can use the information to answer the
final focus question.
Thucydides on Athens- About the Document
A common exercise when learning about ancient Greece is to compare the lives and cities of the
Athenians and Spartans. One of the most useful primary sources is a speech that the Athenian
leader Pericles gave to honor soldiers who died in a war with Sparta. Pericles, a well-respected
young noble, dominated Athenian politics and society during the 460s-420s B.C.E. and presided
over Athens when the city was at its height.
Under Pericles, Athens' developing democracy became even more fair and open to all. For the
first time, poor citizens could actively participate, and the city prospered as never before.
Pericles also served numerous times as a general in the early years of the Peloponnesian War
between Athens and Sparta. Another general, Thucydides, wrote an accurate first-hand account
of the first years of the war called the History of the Peloponnesian War. In the winter of 431430 B.C.E., Pericles delivered a funeral speech to commemorate soldiers killed in the fighting,
and he also praised his city.
The Document
"Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighboring states; we are rather a model for others
than imitators ourselves. Its administration favors the many instead of the few; this is why it is
called a democracy. If we look at the laws, they afford equal justice to all in settling private
differences. As for prestige, advancement in public life goes to men with reputations for ability:
class considerations are not allowed to interfere with merit, nor again does poverty bar the way.
If a man is able to serve the state, he is not hindered by obscure origins or poverty. The freedom
we enjoy in our government extends also to our private life. There . . . we do not feel called upon
to be angry with our neighbor for doing what he likes, or even to indulge in those injurious looks
which cannot fail to be offensive, although they inflict no actual harm.
"Further, we provide plenty of means for the mind to refresh itself from business. We celebrate
games and sacrifices all the year round, and the elegance of our private establishments forms a
daily source of pleasure and helps to banish our cares. Then, too, the magnitude of our city draws
the produce of the world into our harbor, so that to the Athenian the products of other countries
are as familiar a luxury as those of his own.
"If we turn to our military policy, there also we differ from our antagonists. We throw open our
city to the world, and never pass laws to exclude foreigners from any opportunity of learning or
observing, although the eyes of the enemy may occasionally profit from our liberality. . . . In
education, where our rivals from their very cradles seek after manliness through a very painful
discipline, at Athens we live as we please, and yet are just as ready to encounter every legitimate
danger.
Lycurgus on SPARTA-About the Document
The city of Sparta was Athens' great rival in Greece during the fifth century B.C.E. and after.
The early Spartans quickly outgrew their original city and then conquered the surrounding
peoples, forcing them into a serf-like position. Ruling over a much larger but subservient
population provided numerous challenges to the Spartan government, so changes were made to
Spartan politics. Between ca. 800-600 B.C.E., the Spartan "lawgiver," Lycurgus, is credited with
establishing what amounted to a military state in Sparta. (Historians are not sure there was an
actual Lycurgus, though the changes he is credited with are real.)
The Document
”a very bold political measure of Lycurgus, was his redistribution of the land. For there was a
dreadful inequality in this regard, the city was heavily burdened with indigent and helpless
people, and wealth was wholly concentrated in the hands of a few. He persuaded his fellowcitizens to make one parcel of all their territory and divide it up anew, and to live with one
another on a basis of entire uniformity and equality in the means of subsistence,
In the next place, he banished the unnecessary and superfluous arts
With a view to attack luxury still more and remove the thirst for wealth, he introduced his third
and most exquisite political device, namely, the institution of common messes, so that they
might eat with one another in companies, of common and specified foods.…
In the matter of education, which he regarded as the greatest and noblest task of the law-giver, he
began at the very source, by carefully regulating marriages and births.…
He made the maidens exercise their bodies in running, wrestling, casting the discus, and hurling
the javelin, in order that the fruit of their wombs might have vigorous root in vigorous bodies and
come to better maturity,…as soon as [the boys] were seven years old, Lycurgus ordered them all
to be taken by the state and enrolled in companies, where they were put under the same
discipline and nurture, and so became accustomed to share one another's sports and studies.…
Of reading and writing, they learned only enough to serve their turn; all the rest of their training
was calculated to make them obey commands well, endure hardships, and conquer in battle.
…The training of the Spartans lasted into the years of full maturity. No man was allowed to live
as he pleased, but in their city, as in a military encampment, they always had a prescribed
regimen and employment in public service, considering that they belonged entirely to their
country and not to themselves.
In a word, he trained his fellow-citizens to have neither the wish nor the ability to live for
themselves; but like bees they were to make themselves always integral parts of the whole
community, clustering together about their leader, almost beside themselves with enthusiasm and
noble ambition, and to belong wholly to their country.…
NAME
Period
Individual Analysis Form
Read through the articles and answer the following questions for both
articles.
When was this document written? Who wrote it? What was its purpose?
What is the author's point of view about the City?
How can this document help me answer the focus question?
Group Analysis Form
Group Members names
Now that the documents have been analyzed you will have the opportunity
to discuss the documents and the focus question with other students in a
group. As you discuss your interpretations of the documents cite evidence
for your views and opinions. Multiple interpretations can emerge and may or
may not be accepted by all. Write your group responses below.
According to the Documents what were the group members opinions
regarding Alexander and if he was Great?
Each group member should show the others what evidence was used to
come to that conclusion. Record that info below? Does each group member
agree with the others interpretation? Cite the authors name and the number
next to the quote.
Sparta had it right
Areas of disagreement/Discussion
Athens had it right
Final Evaluation 5 min- Answer the Focus Question- which Greek City
State (Athens or Sparta) had a more effective philosophy of how to
manage a society?
(5 minute well written paragraph. You must include your opinion (thesis)
backed by evidence.
ALEXANDER THE GREAT, or Not so GREAT! (5 min)
What makes a great leader? Throughout history, leaders around the world have been given the title of
"great." Alexander III of Macedonia was one such ruler. He lived from 356-323 BCE and ruled from the
age of twenty until his death at the age of thirty-three.
As a child, Alexander's father King Philip hired tutors to teach his son. Among these teachers was the
Greek philosopher Aristotle who taught Alexander much about Greek literature, philosophy and science.
His favorite Greek hero was Achilles, the warrior hero in the Iliad. Alexander vowed that one day he
would visit the site of Troy, in Asia Minor, and lay a wreath on the tomb of his hero.
During his rule as King of Macedonia, Alexander conquered much of what was then the civilized world.
He desired to create a world monarchy. First defeating the rebellious Greek city-states, Alexander then
went on to invade the Persian Empire in Asia Minor and Egypt. His desire was to have the local culture in
the regions he conquered co-exist with the Greek ideas and culture that he brought with him. In 323 BCE,
while in Babylon, Alexander died of a fever. With his death came the collapse of his empire. It was
divided into three kingdoms ruled by descendants of his commanders.
Based on his actions and his character, does Alexander III of Macedonia deserve the title of "the Great?"
In this activity, you are going to read primary and secondary source documents to gather evidence that
will help you answer this focus question. You will have a chance to work in a group to discuss your ideas.
Then you will use your prior knowledge and details from the primary and secondary sources to
summarize what you have learned from this historical investigation.
http://mdk12.org/instruction/curriculum/social_studies/alexander.html
Focus Question: Based on his actions and his character, does Alexander III of Macedonia deserve the
title of "the Great?"
Conduct the Investigation- In groups each individual will questions and report to the group on answers.
In order to answer the focus question you will first examine several documents independently. Analyze
each document and answer the following questions on your "Individual - Document Analysis" graphic
organizer.
When was this document written? Who wrote it? What was its purpose?
What is the author's point of view about Alexander III?
How can this document help me answer the focus question?
Discussion
Now that the documents have been analyzed you will have the opportunity to discuss the documents and
the focus question with other students in a group. As you discuss your interpretations of the documents
cite evidence for your views and opinions. Multiple interpretations can emerge and may or may not be
accepted by all.
NAME
Period
10 min
Individual Analysis Form
Pick one of the three Historical sources- read through it and answer the following questions individually.
When was this document written? Who wrote it? What was its purpose?
What is the author's point of view about Alexander III? (The author may take both sides)
How can this document help me answer the focus question?
Overall according to this document do you believe Alexander was Great? Give evidence to support your
claim.
Group Analysis Form (10 min)
Group Members names
Now that the documents have been analyzed you will have the opportunity to discuss the documents and
the focus question with other students in a group. As you discuss your interpretations of the documents
cite evidence for your views and opinions. Multiple interpretations can emerge and may or may not be
accepted by all. Write your group responses below.
According to the Documents what were the group members opinions regarding Alexander and if he was
Great?
Each group member should show the others what evidence was used to come to that conclusion. Record
that info below? Does each group member agree with the others interpretation. Cite the authors name and
the number next to the quote.
Alexander was Great
Areas of disagreement/Discussion
Alexander was not Great
Final Evaluation 5 min- Be prepared to share your responses- Answer the Focus Question based on your
group discussion and the evidence you have found. Your answer is based off your opinion, not the
group’s. Based on his actions and his character, does Alexander III of Macedonia deserve the title of "the
Great?"
What were your thoughts about this activity, what did you like, not like, how would you improve it?