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Ancient Greece
World History I
Historical Background
BLACK
SEA
The island of Crete was
home to an early civilization
now called the Minoans.
Asia
Minor
These people were traders, who
set up posts throughout the
Aegean world.
MED. SEA
The Minoan civilization vanished by 1400 B.C.
• A sudden volcanic
eruption
• An earthquake and huge
wave
• Invaders called the
Mycenaeans, who were the first
Greek-speaking people
The Mycenaean civilization dominated the
Aegean region from 1400 B.C. to 1200 B.C.
Sea traders who lived
in separate city-states.
The Mycenaeans
fought in the
Trojan War against
Troy, a trading city
that controlled vital
straits connecting the
Mediterranean &
Black seas.
The Region
enters a
“DARK AGE”
Two epic poems of this era, attributed to
Homer, enhance our understanding of this era.
The Iliad tells about the Trojan War and the
adventures of Achilles, the mightiest Greek warrior.
The Odyssey tells about the struggle
of the Greek hero Odysseus as he tries
to return home after the war.
Geography
The physical geography of the Aegean basin
shaped the economic, social, and political
development of Greek civilization.
The expansion of Greek civilization,
through trade and colonization, led to
the spread of Hellenic culture across the
Mediterranean and Black seas.
Questions
• How did the mountains, seas, islands, harbors,
peninsulas, and straits of the Aegean Basin
shape Greek economic, social and political
development of patterns of trade and
colonization?
WHI.5a
Location and place
•
•
•
•
•
•
Aegean Sea
Greek peninsula, Europe, and Asia Minor
Mediterranean Sea
Black Sea, Strait of Dardanelles
Athens, Sparta, Troy
Macedonia
Word Bank
(some words will NOT be used)
Mediterranean Caspian
Yellow Red Aegean
Black Italy Greece
Russia Asia Minor
Macedonia Egypt
D
G
A F
C
E
B
H
WHI.5a
Economic and social development
• Agriculture (limited arable land)
• Commerce and the spread of Hellenic culture
• Shift from barter to money economy (coins)
Coins
WHI.5a
Political development
• Mountainous terrain helped and hindered the
development of city-states
• Greek cities were designed to promote civic and
commercial life
• Colonization related to overpopulation and the
search for arable land
• What sea was most important to the
Ancient Greeks?
• What were the political units of Ancient
Greece called? Name 2 of them.
• How did the physical landscape of Greece
affect its economic development?
• Why did the Greeks establish colonies?
Greek Mythology
Greek mythology was based on a polytheistic
religion that was integral to the culture, politics,
and art in ancient Greece.
Many of Western civilization’s symbols, metaphors,
words, and idealized images come from ancient
Greek mythology.
Questions
• How did mythology help the early Greek
civilization explain the natural world and the
human condition?
• What impact did Greek mythology have on later
civilizations and the contemporary world?
Mythology
• Based on polytheistic religion
• Explanations of natural phenomena, human
qualities, and life events
Greek gods and goddesses
• Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Aphrodite
• Symbols and images in Western literature, art,
monumental architecture, and politics
This is a
“PG” rated
class 
1.
Greek god of light and healing
A. Zeus
2.
Greek goddess of love and
beauty
B. Athena
3.
Supreme god of all Greek gods
4.
Greek goddess of chastity;
Apollo’s twin
5.
Greek goddess of wisdom
6.
Jealous wife of Zeus;
protectress of childbirth and
marriage
C. Aphrodite
D. Hera
E. Artemis
F. Apollo
RAP:
Please respond to the following prompt using
no less than 3 sentences:
Democracy means rule by the people…
What are some problems/limitations of this
style of govt?
Classical Athens
Classical Athens developed the most democratic
system of government the world had ever seen,
although not everyone could participate in decisionmaking. It became the foundation of modern
democracies.
Contrasting philosophies divided the Greek citystates of Athens (democracy) and Sparta (oligarchy).
Questions
• How did democracy develop in Athens?
• How did Sparta differ from Athens?
WHI.5c
Evolution of the Greek Polis
• Polis (city-state) included a city and the surrounding
countryside
• City usually had two parts
– The Acropolis or highest part of the city with temples
– Walled main city with markets, theaters, public
buildings, and homes
• Small populations led to a shared sense of
responsibility
WHI.5c
Social structure & citizenship in the Greek Polis
• Citizens (free adult males) had political rights & the
responsibility of civic participation in government
• Women, foreigners, and slaves had no political
rights
ATHENS
WHI.5c
Athens (typical of many city-states between 750 & 500 BC)
• Stages in evolution of Athenian government:
– Monarchy (rule by a king)
– Aristocracy (rule by nobles who owned/defended land)
– Tyranny (a tyrant gains power and works for reform)
– Democracy (rule by the people…this was limited)
Phalanx: massive tactical formation of well armed
and well trained foot soldiers; created unity
Athens
• Tyrants who worked for reform:
– Draco: (621 BC) wrote the first legal code; much unfair
– Solon: (594 BC) wise and trusted leader; outlawed debt
slavery; gave citizens more say in govt; encouraged trade
• Origin of democratic principles:
– Direct democracy:
• citizens vote directly on issues
– Public debate:
• discussions regarding important matters
– Duties of the citizen:
• participate in government & military
Stages of Political Development in Athens
Aristocracy
?
Tyranny
Democracy
Sparta
• Oligarchy (rule by small group)
–
–
–
–
Assembly (voted on laws)
Council of Elders (proposed laws)
Five Ephors (carried out laws)
2 Kings ruled over the military
• Rigid social structure
– Spartan landowners
– Middle class of artisans and merchants
– State slaves called helots
• Militaristic and aggressive society
Persian & Peloponnesian Wars
The Greeks defeated the Persian empire & preserved
their political independence.
Why were wars with Persia important to the development of Greek culture?
Competition b/t Sparta and Athens for control of
Greece helped cause the Peloponnesian War.
Why was the Peloponnesian War important to the spread of Greek culture?
Persian War
• Begins when Ionians revolt against the Persians in 520 B.C.
(Athens comes to their aid but Persians regain control)
• 490 B.C. Darius sends 25,000 Persians to Marathon to fight
10,000 Athenians (casualties: 6,400 Persians ; 192 Athenians)
• Pheidippides—the “Marathon” runner
• 480 B.C. Xerxes marches army to Thermopylae (“300”)
Persian War
• Athens evacuates the city and fights at sea (Battle of Salamis; 1/3 of
Xerxes’ fleet is destroyed)
• Final battle is at Plataea in 479; Persians are defeated
WHI.5d,e
Importance of Persian Wars (499-449 B.C.)
– Persian wars united Athens and Sparta against the
Persian Empire
– Athenian victories over the Persians at Marathon
and Salamis left Greeks in control of the Aegean Sea
– Athens preserved its independence and continued
innovations in government and culture
Alliances Form
WHI.5d,e
Importance of Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.)
• Caused in part by competition for control of the
Greek world—Athens and the Delian League versus
Sparta and the Peloponnesian League
• Resulted in the slowing of cultural advance and the
weakening of political power
WHI.5d,e
Athenian culture, during the Classic Era, became one
of the foundation stones of Western civilization.
Why was the leadership of Pericles important to the
development of Athenian life and Greek culture?
WHI.5d,e
Golden Age of Pericles
(mostly occurring between the Persian & Peloponnesian wars)
***461—429 B.C.***
• Pericles extended democracy;
most adult males had equal voice
(“demos”)
• Pericles had Athens rebuilt after
destruction in Persian Wars; the
Parthenon is an example of
this reconstruction
Parthenon
Contributions to Western Civilization
• Drama: Aeschylus, Sophocles
(wrote tragedies)
• Poetry: Homer (Iliad & Odyssey)
• History: Herodotus, Thucydides
Contributions to Western Civilization
• Sculpture:
• Phidias—carved statue of Athena for the Parthenon
• Architecture:
• Types of Columns include Doric (Parthenon), Ionic, and
Corinthian
Contributions to Western Civilization
Science:
– Archimedes
• inventor, discovered principle
of buoyancy
– Hippocrates
• Medicine, Hippocratic Oath
Contributions to Western Civilization
Mathematics:
– Euclid
– Pythagoras
• Pythagorean Theorem (a² + b² = c²)
Contributions to Western Civilization
Philosophy:
• Socrates—discussed nature of
goodness/justice; Socratic method
of questioning; drank hemlock poison
• Plato—started Academy; taught science,
law, math, & philosophy
• Aristotle—student of Plato;
taught at the Academy;
later taught Alexander the Great