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Ancient Greece
Chapter 5
Life in Ancient Greece
• Terrain is
mountainous,
coastal, many
islands
• Sailing and fishing
• Many city-states
formed with their
own gov’ts and
customs
Early Greeks
• The Minoans
– Lived on the island of
Crete
– Major polis: Knossos
– Sailors and traders
– Advanced civilization
• Plumbing
• arts
Early Greeks
• Minoan civilization declined. Why?
– Natural disasters
• Earthquakes, tidal waves
• Volcanic eruption on Thera- changed weather and
destroyed crops
– Conquered by the Mycenaeans
Early Greeks
• Mycenaeans
– Warlike
– Built a fortress at Mycenae (my-see-nee)
– Constant warfare destroyed Mycenaean
civilization
Other Polises
• Sparta
– Warlike
– Conquered nearby peoples; these became
slaves called helots
• Helots were farmers and servants
• Gave Spartans time to devote to military training
– Spartans emphasized physical fitness and
good health
Sparta
• Boys trained for warfare; girls trained to
be strong mothers
• At age 20 young men became Spartan
hoplites, or foot soldiers
Athens
• Center of culture and
•
•
learning
Birthplace of
democracy
Rival of Sparta
Life in Ancient Greece
• Religion- polytheistic
– Believed in 12 gods
and goddesses who
lived on Mt. Olympus
– The Greeks had to
keep the gods happy
• Temples
• Sacrifices
• Festivals
The Greek Gods
• Zeus
– King of the gods
– Sky, Thunder
– Symbol: Thunderbolt
• Hera
– Queen of the gods
– Women, Marriage
– Symbols: peacock,
cow
The Greek Gods
• Poseidon
– The sea, horses,
earthquakes
– Symbol: trident
• Hades
– Death, the
underworld, mines
– Symbol: Cerberus, the
3-headed dog
Greek Gods
• Ares
– God of war
– Symbol: Vulture, dogs
• Athena
– Goddess of war,
wisdom, weaving,
crafts
– Symbols: Owl
Greek Gods
• Apollo
– God of light, the sun,
healing, prophecy, truth,
music, poetry, archery
– Symbols: Lyre, bow and
arrow
• Artemis
– Goddess of the moon,
hunting, virgins, forests,
hills
– Symbols: bow and arrow,
deer, cypress tree
Greek Gods
• Demeter
– Goddess of agriculture
– Symbols: Sheaf of grain, torch
• Dionysus
– Wine, grapes, fertility, drama
• Hephaestus
– God of craftsmen, metals,
volcanoes
– Symbols: hammer and anvil
Greek Gods
• Hermes
– Messenger god; god of
thieves, travelers,
shepherds, athletes,
commerce, inventions
– Symbols: winged
sandals, caduceus
• Hestia
– Goddess of the hearth,
domestic life, cooking
Greek Gods
• Aphrodite
– Goddess of love and beauty
– Symbols: dove, scallop shell,
mirror
Festivals
• Festivals to the gods
– Olympic Games- held every 4 years to honor
Zeus
• Athletic competition- men only
• Held at Olympia
• Winners got olive wreaths, ribbons
• Events were foot and chariot races, boxing,
wrestling, pentathlon
• Olympic Truce- no fighting or wars during the
competition
Festivals
• Other athletic festivals honored different
gods and goddesses
• Other festivals were for drama, poetry, the
arts
Theater and Drama
• Theater competitions were popular
– Festivals lasted 3 days or more
– Honored Dionysus
– Comedies and tragedies
Greek city-states
• City-state called Polis
– Acropolis- hill at the center of the polis for temples
and important buildings
– Agora- marketplace and public meeting area
Major City-States
• Athens
– Center of culture and arts
• Sparta
•
•
•
•
•
– Warlike and militaristic
Corinth
Thebes
Mycenae
Knossos
Thessaly