Download File - Mrs. VanValin`s World History

ANCIENT &
CLASSICAL
GREECE
MINOANS AND MYCENAEANS
• Minoan civilization
began on Crete around
3000 BC
– Sailed ships all over the
Aegean Sea
• Created colonies
– Life revolved around the
sea
• Food, culture, trade
– Conquered by the
warlike Mycenaeans
from the Greek
mainland
• Mycenaeans are considered the first Greeks.
– They spoke a form of the Greek language
• They built small kingdoms that fought often with
each other
• Learned from Minoans and became great traders
– Trade increased after they conquered Crete
• Mycenaean society was dominated by frequent
warfare and powerful kings
– Many legends exist about their power and glory
– Most famous is the story of the Trojan War
– War played a part in the end of Mycenaean civilization
and Greek civilization almost disappeared
For more then 300 years Greece was
awash in confusion by 800 BC life in Greece
became more stable for a new type of
society
CITY-STATES
• Polis- a city-state became the
basic political unit in Greece
– Each polis developed
independently of its neighbors
with their own government,
laws and customs
– The Polis was the center of daily
life and culture
– Each Polis had a high area
(acropolis) for a temples and
public ceremonies and a lower
area (agora) for everyday life
Greek Religion
• Polytheistic = more than one god
• Tried to ensure gods would protect them by
performing rituals and sacrifices
• Humanized the Gods, lived on Mt. Olympus
• Festivals to honor gods (Olympic Games)
• Gods and Goddesses (over 50 total gods)
• Athena-goddess of Wisdom
• Ares-god of War
Polis
• Sparta- one of the
mightiest city-states in
Greece.
– Had slaves so they did not
have to do manual labor
– Spartan citizens spent their
time training for war
– Seen as the only way to
keep order in society
– Run by two kings who were
also military commanders
• Athens- world’s first
democracy: a form of
government run by the
people
ATHEN’S DEMOCRACY
• Ruled by the people. . . But not all people
– Only free male Athenians over the age of 20
• Those allowed to take part were expected to do
so fully
– Vote in all elections
– Serve in office and on juries
– Serve in military
• Consisted of three main bodies
– Assembly; all people eligible to take part. They would
hold direct votes (direct democracy)
– Council of 500; write laws that were voted on
– Court system; heard trials and sentenced criminals
GOLDEN AGE
• Athens became the center of Greek culture and
politics
– Trade brought great wealth
– Large cosmopolitian with grand festivals and public
events
• The Peloponnesian War was between Athens
(and their allies) and Sparta (and allies)
– War waged on for many years until Athens was
destroyed and Sparta was out of money and resources
• Macedonia a kingdom from the north swept in
and took control of all of Greece
GREEK PHILOSOPHY
• Philosophy comes from the Greek word philosophia which
means “the love of wisdom”
• Socrates; first great Greek philosopher. We know very little
about him mostly from the writings of his students
– Studied broad concepts of human life such as truth, justice, and
virtue
– Believed people learn by asking questions (Socratic method)
– Believed that studying human behavior could improve society
• Plato; Socrates students left behind multiple writings:
Republic
– Ideal form of government
– Truth and goodness
• Aristotle; studied mostly human behavior and nature of the
world around him
– Emphasis on reason and logic