Download B 2 Social Studies Gateway Greece

GREECE:
THE BIRTHPLACE OF
DEMOCRACY AND MUCH,
MUCH MORE!!!
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– ¾ of land is mountains
– Mt. Olympus is the highest (home of the gods)
– Made transportation difficult (took Sparta nearly a
week to travel 60 miles to Olympics)
– Affected political life with a collection of small
independent city-states, not one large government
No navigable rivers—the people could not trade
over land
Great weather
The men stayed mostly outdoors in the market
(agora), gymnasium, political meetings, civic and
religious meetings, theatre
Easy to take part in civic life
MINOANS
• The Minoans were a seafaring civilization that
thrived on trade. The isolation of the island
created safety.
• Women enjoyed more equality than in other
civilizations.
• Had a very advanced society
– Flushing Toilets
– Used Bronze
– Festivals and Sporting Events
WHO WERE THE MYCENAEANS?
• Migrants from India and Mesopotomia
• The Kings had advanced weapons and tools of
bronze, but ordinary people still used wood
and stone tools.
• The villages of the Myceneans were ruled by
warrior kings who built stone fortresses and
lived within them.
THE MYCENEANS WERE CONSTANTLY
AT WAR THE MOST FAMOUS OF WHICH
WAS THE TROJAN WAR.
GREEK RELIGION
• The Olympics were held in honor of the gods
• The Greeks imagined their gods to be a lot like
humans
• They had their passions/weaknesses (love,
hate, fear, jealousy)
• They were quarrelsome, but they were
immortal.
• Greeks developed myths about their gods and
goddesses and used these myths to understand
the mysteries of nature/life.
GREEK CITY-STATES
• After the Dark Ages, the “polis” developed that is a city-state (a city and its surrounding
land).
• All citizens (free adult males) were expected
to serve the polis
– Meetings were held in the agora (market
place) or the Acropolis (the fortified hilltop).
– Armies of citizens formed and made iron
weapons.
– Every citizen was expected to be a soldier
for his polis.
– Hoplites (foot soldiers with armor, spear,
and shield) developed.
– The phalanax developed - the most powerful
fighting machine of its day.
Sparta
• Spartans worked to create a strong city-state:
– only healthy children were allowed to live
– boys were trained for the army at 7
– life in army training was harsh to toughen the
soldiers up
– men remained in the army until the age of 30;
then in reserves
– women were healthy and vigorous; exercised and
played sports; could not vote
– created such a strong army, left little time to be
creative in the arts
Athens
Athens created a democracy through the reforms
of two men.
• Solon 594 BC
– all male citizens were allowed to attend assembly
– all citizens were responsible for justice
• Cleisthenes 508 BC
– increased the power of the assembly
– created the Council of Five Hundred to
propose new laws and advise the assembly;
every citizen could serve
Results of the Persian War
• Persian invaded Athens and the Athenians
won.
• Athens emerged as the most powerful citystate.
• Athens became the leader of the Delian
League with the purpose of preventing future
Persian attacks.
Golden Age of Greece
Around 461 BC, Pericles (a hero from the
Persian wars) became the leader of Athens.
– He strengthened democracy
• increased the number of paid government positions
– Increased the wealth and power of Athens
• used the Delian League’s dues to build up the navy
– Beautified Athens
• built the Parthenon (built in classical architecture and
filled with classical art)
• drama is invented to show civic pride and to pay
tribute to the gods
Peloponesian War
City-states began to resent Athens. In 431 BC
Sparta invaded Athens. In 404 BC, Athens
was defeated by the Spartans. This brought an
end to the Golden Age of Greece.
Socrates believed you could find truth by
asking questions - Socratic method.
Philosophers
Plato: one of Socrates pupils; searched for
answers to questions like, “What is love? What
is ethical behavior? and What is the best kind of
government?” Writings are in the form of
dialogues; a famous dialogue is The Republic.
Aristotle: one of Plato’s students; tried to find
truth by studying the natural world around him;
used scientific method.
Alexander the Great
• Influenced by Greek culture.
• Invaded Persia and defeated them in Asia
Minor, Egypt, and Mesopotamia.
• By 331 BC, Alexander had become King of
Persia, Pharoah of Egypt, King of Babylon
and King of Macedonia.
• Spread Greek culture on his conquests.