Download General info about Greece (WP)

Greek People - General Information
* Greek city-states emerge around 750 BCE
-polis was built usually on 2 levels
-acropolis was the high part
-down below were the people, markets, city buildings
* introduction of iron weapons changed warfare (about 650 BCE)
-cheaper & more effective = better armed soldiers
* phalanx formation called for intense training = sense of unity
-effective military strategy
* polytheistic: large pantheon of gods
* view of non-Greeks = negative
-word “barbarian” comes from their work barbaroi which
was how they thought non-Greek language sounds (bar bar)
* they felt they were unique in all the world
Spartans and Athenians
Athenians
Spartans
located on Attica
located on the Peloponnesus
limited democracy-power of people
2 kings + a council of elders
(oligarchy)
women have no political power/rights
women-no political power/rights
women educated but only in the
“womanly arts”
women could own businesses, had
some basic education
focus: knowledge & athleticism
focus: military skill
Great Battles of Greece - The Persian Wars
Athens had become very successful
-when you’re successful, people want your stuff!
Persian Empire stretched from Asia Minor to India
Around 499 BCE Athens comes to aid of some Greeks living in Asia Minor
-this brings out the anger of the Persians for interfering
He hears that the Olympic games are going on & uses the opportunity
-he’s shocked to find out they only win a wreath of olives if they win, no $
Persian Emperor Darius sends forces to Marathon 490 BCE (sail across
Aegean)
-even though the Persians have 2X as many men, the Athenians
come out in a wild attack w/no archers or horsemen
-the Persians are shocked and run back to their ships
-Pheidippides is sent back the news that they won
-he runs 26.2 miles (length of a marathon)
Athenian leader Themistocles knew the Persians would be back
-he urged his people to build war ships
-they also convince other city-states to join together to fight the enemy
Xerxes (son of Darius) 480 BCE brings a much larger force to Greece
Spartan forces meet them at a mountain pass at Thermopylae
-hold them off as long as they can, til they are overwhelmed
Persians march in and burn Athens
-but Athenians had all escaped to safety
Themistocles sends a slave disguised as a traitor to Darius
-he tells him that the Greeks are sailing away in retreat
-it’s a trap
-Persian ships follow, & are trapped & rammed by Athenian navy
at Strait of Salamis
-Greeks believe that the gods were on their side-they are chosen