Download Europe - Mediapolis Community School

Europe
Ancient Governments and Empires
Ancient Government/Society
• Greeks
– Society
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Originated from the Minoans and Mycenaean's
City states called Polis
Homer: Famous storyteller (Iliad and Odyssey)
Olympic Games: Athletic Events to please Gods
Athens (Thinkers) vs. Sparta (Warriors)
Greeks vs. Persians
Peloponnesian War: Athens vs. Sparta (winner)
Ancient Government/Society
• Greeks
– Government
• Began as Aristocracy (city states controlled by nobles)
• Hoplite: New soldier that helped decrease noble power
• Tyrants: Transition leaders that brought change (over
time they grew brutal)
• Popular Government: Idea that people should and could
rule themselves (began in some parts of Greece)
• Democracy: Govt. in which the citizens take part
– Athens became one; not all places followed suit
– It was only to those that were male full citizens
Ancient Government/Society
• Greeks
– Philosophers
• Philosophy: Study of reality and human existence
• Socrates: One of the first, people should think for
themselves, executed for his beliefs
• Plato: Socrates student, founded a school called the
Academy that taught the works of Socrates. Taught in
dialogues.
• Aristotle: Plato’s student, things should be studied
logically . A lot of his works are used in modern science
and medicine.
Ancient Government and Society
• Greeks
– Philosophers
• Pythagoras: World could be explained by math
• Hippocrates: Founder of medical science
• Herodotus: First western historian
– Theater
• Drama: Plays containing action, dialogue, emotion
– Tragedies: Main character struggles against fate
– Comedies: Made fun of people or ideas
Ancient Governments/Society
• Greek Empire
– Alexander the Great
• Son of Phillip II of Macedon
• Conquered most of middle east, parts of Asia and Africa
• Hellenistic Culture: Combination of Greek, Mediterranean,
and Asian ways of life.
• Greeks ruled this area for around 200 years.
Ancient Government and Society
• Romans
– Society
• Originated with Latin's and Etruscans
– Government
• Republic: Government where voters elect officials to
run the state.
• 3 Parts of Roman Republic
– Senate: Most influential and powerful, $ and War
– Magistrates: Elected officials (Controlled day to day)
– Assemblies: Voted on Laws, watched over other 2 branches
Ancient Governments and Society
• Romans
– Government terms used today
• Veto: Refuse to Approve
• Checks and Balances: Prevents one part of the
government from becoming too powerful
– Republic Growth
• Rome won 3 Wars with rival Carthage (Punic Wars)
• Rome began to get too big, republic was not working
• Transitioned into the Roman Empire
Ancient Governments and Society
• Romans
– Empire
• Many different groups fighting each other for control
• Julius Caesar: very popular, named dictator for life.
Killed by people close to him (jealous senators)
• Octavian: “Augustus” was a relative of Caesar, called
himself the first citizen. Greatly expanded the size of
Rome’s Empire.
• Eventually the Roman Empire fell apart
– Invaders (Goths, Vandals, Franks, Huns)
– Political/Military Weakness, Economic Decline, Social Change
Ancient Governments and Society
• Franks
– Empire
• Next Empire after the Romans
• Middle Ages/Medieval Period (400-1500)
• Clovis: First King of the Franks, invaded into present
day France
• Charlemagne: Ruled from 768-814; built a huge empire
that spread Christianity. Advanced the way of life
throughout Europe. (Education, government, etc)
• Fell apart due to his son (Louis) and invasions (Vikings)