Download Living in Ancient Greece

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Living in
Ancient Greece
Teacher’s Guide
AGC/United Learning 1560 Sherman Ave., Suite 100 Evanston, IL60201 800-323-9084
Living in
Ancient Greece
Produced by
Ancient Lights Educational Media
Published and Distributed by
AGC/United Learning
1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 100
Evanston, IL 60201
800-323-9084
FAX 847-328-6706
www.agcunitedlearning.com
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All material in this program is the exclusive property of the copyright holder. Copying, transmitting, or reproducing in any form,
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and 506)
©2000 Ancient Lights Educational Media
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Contents
Introduction and Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Links to Curriculum Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Instructional Notes/Teacher Preparation . . . . . . . .1
Student Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Student Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Introducing the Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Follow-Up Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Description of Blackline Masters . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Extended Learning Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Script of Video Narration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
This video is closed captioned
The purchase of this video program entitles the user to the right to
reproduce or duplicate, in whole or in part, this teacher’s guide and
the blackline master handouts that accompany it for the purpose of
teaching in conjunction with this video, LIVING IN ANCIENT
GREECE. This right is restricted only for use with this video program. Any reproduction or duplication in whole or in part of this
guide and the blackline master handouts for any purpose other than
for use with this video program is prohibited.
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LIVING IN ANCIENT GREECE
Grades 4-8
Viewing Time: 20 minutes
with an optional two-minute Video Quiz
INTRODUCTION AND SUMMAR Y
This video explores various aspects of life in ancient Greece
including medical treatment, religious practice and beliefs,
athletics, drama, and government.
LINKS TO CURRICULUM STANDARDS
The design for this program was guided by the curriculum
standards of the states of Texas, California, and Illinois, as
well as the National Center for History in Schools
(U.C.L.A). In accordance with these guidelines, we have
attempted to help students:
1. Describe how religion and myth affected the lives of the
ancient Greeks.
2. Explain the meaning of time and chronology specifically
as it relates to the civilization of ancient Greece.
3. Explain cause and effect as it pertains to the activities of
the ancient Greeks.
INSTRUCTIONAL NOTES/TEACHER PREP ARATION
• Before presenting this lesson to your students, we suggest
that you review history textbooks on the subject of ancient
Greece. We also advise you to preview the video and review
the guide and accompanying blackline masters in order to
familiarize yourself with their content.
As you review the materials presented in this guide, you may
find it necessary to make some changes, additions, or dele1
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tions to meet the specific needs of your class. We encourage
you to do so, for only by tailoring this program to your class
will they obtain the maximum instructional benefits afforded by the materials.
It is also suggested that the video presentation take place
before the entire group under your supervision. The lesson
activities grow out of the context of the video; therefore, the
presentation should be a common experience for all students.
You should also duplicate selected hand-out materials from
the blackline masters included with this guide. An optional
pre-test is provided on Blackline Master 1. This test will
help you determine the level of student comprehension
prior to participating in this lesson. An Answer Key begins
on page 5 of this Teachers Guide.
• Set up a "Learning Center" with maps, pictures or other
materials relevant to the civilization of ancient Greece.
STUDENT PREPARATION
Before viewing Living in Ancient Greece:
1. Have students explore the "Learning Center."
2. Distribute Blackline Masters 3 and 4, Vocabulary List .
Introduce or review with your students the meaning of any
words that may need clarification.
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STUDENT OBJECTIVES
After viewing this video and participating in the lesson activities, students should be able to …
• Explain the role of the Greek religion in:
1. The Olympic Games
2. Theatrical performances
3. Medical treatment
• Name some of the main Greek gods and goddesses and
describe the realms that they were believed to control.
• Explain why Greece is known as the "Birthplace of
Western Civilization."
• Describe how Greek ideas were transmitted across western
Europe.
•Name some important ancient Greek contributions to
western civilization.
INTRODUCING THE VIDEO
This program could be introduced by showing the geographical areas where the civilization of ancient Greece took
root and by discussing:
1. Greek art and architecture.
2. Greek contributions to literature, theater, science, and
mathematics.
3. How the civilization of ancient Greece interacted with the
great civilizations of Rome, Egypt, and Persia.
4. The differences between Sparta and Athens as examples
of powerful Greek city-states.
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• Present the video . The viewing time is 20 minutes, followed by an optional two-minute, ten-question Video Quiz.
FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION
• After viewing the video, ask for questions and/or comments.
• Lead a class discussion asking the students to compare and
contrast the religious practices of the ancient Greeks to
present-day religious practices.
DESCRIPTION OF BLACKLINE MASTERS
• Blackline Master 1, is a Pre-Test,
that, when compared
to the Post-Test results, will help you gauge student
progress.
• Blackline Master 2, Video Quiz , will determine how
much information students have retained from the program.
It is also a tool to encourage attentiveness.
• Blackline Masters 3 and 4, Vocabulary List and
Vocabulary Activity , will help students with unfamiliar
words used in the program or pertaining to this lesson.
• Blackline Master 5, Timeline and Timeline Activity
,
is intended to improve the student's concepts of time and
chronology.
• Blackline Master 6, Crossword Puzzle , challenges students to use new ideas and vocabulary from this lesson.
• Blackline Master 7, Facts About Ancient Greece
, contains interesting information about this ancient civilization.
• Blackline Masters 8 and 9, Map Exercise , are intended
to improve knowledge of the eastern region of the
Mediterranean Sea.
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• Blackline Master 10, Post-Test , is a tool to measure student comprehension of the material presented in this lesson.
EXTENDED LEARNING ACTIVITY
Research papers and/or oral reports could be prepared on
the following subjects:
1. Slavery in ancient Greece.
2. The role of women in ancient Greece.
3. The Golden Age of Athens.
4. Science and mathematics in ancient Greece.
ANSWER KEY
Blackline Master 1, Pre-Test
1. False; it was at its high point well over 2000 years ago.
2. False; the ancient Greeks wrote many books.
3. True
4. True
5. False; they believed that their lives were controlled by
many different gods and goddesses.
Blackine Master 2, Video Quiz
1. False; Poseidon was the god of the sea.
2. False; theaters were temples to the god Dionysus.
3. True; this is what the ancient Greeks believed.
4. True
5. True; this is what the ancient Greeks believed.
6. True
7. True
8. False. Democracy began in Athens
9. True; this is what the ancient Greeks believed.
10. True
Blackline Master 4, Vocabulary List Activity
1. chiton, himation, peplos
2. Aristotle, Homer, Plato, Socrates
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3. Artemis, Athena, Apollo, Poseidon, Hera, Hephaestus,
Zeus, Asclepius, Dionysus
Blackline Master 5, Timeline Activity
1. May 28, 585 B.C.
2. 776 B.C.
3. 534 B.C.
Blackline Master 6, Crossword Puzzle
Blackline Master 9, Map Exercise
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Blackline Master 10, Post-Test
1. Zeus
2. Parthenon, Athena
3. Poseidon
4. oracle
5. theaters
6. medicine
7. four
8. Dionysus
9. wreaths made from olive branches
10. democractic
Script of Video Narration
Living in Ancient Greece
Two thousand, five-hundred years ago, a remarkable civilization was thriving here in Greece. Greece is known as
"The Birthplace of Western Civilization" because its people
created the world's first democratic government, the first
Olympic Games, and made important contributions to
architecture, art, literature, science, and mathematics.
And their mysterious religion has enriched countless generations with its many wonderful myths and legends.
So now let us go back in time and find out what it was like
to live during this amazing period of history
The Land and City-States of Ancient Greece
The civilization of ancient Greece developed here in the
northeastern region of the Mediterranean Sea, in an area
known for its beauty, where the mountains touch the sea. It
is a place where olive trees spring from fields of wild flowers
and where shepherds still tend their flocks on the rocky hillsides of hundreds of remote islands.
Because of the rugged geography of this ancient land, long
ago people from different parts of Greece were isolated from
one another and that is why they were rarely united under a
single government.
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Instead, their civilization developed in many independent
city-states that were scattered across a large area. Basically, a
Greek city-state was nothing more than a tiny country made
up of a single city and the lands and villages that surrounded it.
Each city-state was unique. Each had its own system of government, its own laws, and its own military.
But because the citizens of all the different city-states spoke
the Greek language, had similar customs, employed similar
styles of building and art, and worshipped the same gods and
goddesses, historians have combined them into a single
great civilization known as the civilization of ancient
Greece.
Religion in Ancient Greece
The lives of the ancient Greeks were strongly influenced by
their religion, and by understanding their beliefs, we can
learn quite a lot about the world in which they lived.
The Greek religion was very well organized, and yet it wasn't based on sacred books of teachings such as the Bible or
the Koran; instead, it slowly grew and developed over thousands of years. Religion was taught mainly through folk tales
called myths that were passed down from one generation to
the next. Greek myths told of the magical powers and
adventures of the gods.
The Greeks worshipped the nature spirits of rivers, springs,
trees, and caves. But most important to them were the gods
and goddesses that came from the snow-covered peaks of
Mount Olympus.
The ancient Greeks thought that the Olympian gods were a
family of huge all-powerful beings who could change their
shapes by magic.
The Greek gods were believed to be immortal, that is, that
they could live forever. Each god had a different role—some
governed various regions of the world, while others controlled the many different things that affected human life.
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For example, here we see a statue of the god Poseidon. He
ruled the seas and all the creatures in them.
Poseidon's brother, Zeus, was the king of the gods and ruled
the sky and stormy weather. Zeus was also the father of
many of the most important gods and goddesses.
His children included Apollo, the god of the sun; Artemis,
the goddess of the hunt; and Athena, the goddess of wisdom
to name a just a few.
The Greek gods were thought to be a lot like human beings
because myths told of how they got angry and jealous, and
even fought with one another.
The way the ancient Greeks could obtain a god's advice was
by asking questions of a strange woman called an “oracle.”
Oracles used a special room hidden underneath temples like
this one. By performing special ceremonies, oracles spoke in
the god's voice and could see into the future.
The ancient Greeks believed it was very important to keep
the gods happy so they wouldn't cause trouble in the world,
and that was why temples were always the finest buildings in
any Greek town.
Greek temples weren't like churches, mosques or synagogues because ordinary people weren't allowed inside to
worship; instead a temple was built to be a home for a god's
spirit.
Athens: The Birthplace of Democracy
Several temples stood on the rocky hill of the acropolis, or
"high city," that overlooked the streets of Athens.
And of these temples, this one, called the Parthenon, was
completed around the year 432 B.C. The temple was constructed of pure white marble for the goddess Athena, the
protector of their city-state.
Inside the Parthenon, a famous sculptor had constructed an
enormous statue of the goddess from wood, gold and ivory.
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In Athens, the main festival of the summer, the Panathenaia,
honored Athena's birthday. The festival began with a joyous
procession in which gifts and sacrifical animals were brought
to her temple. As people paraded through the streets, they
sang hymns, and played musical instruments.
After reaching the temple, a splendid ceremony was held in
which Athena's birthday gift from the Athenians, a newly
woven gown, was placed on her statue.
Outside the temple, the animals were sacrificed and some of
their meat was burned on a sacred fire.
After the ceremonies ended, the people of Athens enjoyed a
typical Greek feast of meat, olives, grapes, cheese, figs,
bread, and wine.
Athens was probably the best of all the Greek city-states. It
was famous not only because of its many fine buidings but
also because it was where the world's first democracy was
established. In fact, democracy is a Greek word that means
"government by the people."
Although the Athenian democracy allowed enslavement of
people captured in wars, and did not allow women to vote,
it still proved to be very successful.
Under it, Athens thrived, and with the help of some of the
greatest statesmen, artists, and scholars in history, the city
grew in wealth, beauty, and power.
The Sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia
Religious festivals, such as the one honoring Athena, were
very important to the ancient Greeks.
Most religious festivals included contests in which athletes
competed with one another in front of huge crowds.
The largest and most famous of these contests, the Olympic
Games, are still held today. The first Olympic Games took
place here in ancient Olympia in the year 776 B.C.
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Olympia was a santuary, or sacred town, built for Zeus and
originally the Olympic games were held in his honor. To this
day, the Olympic torch is still lit in Olympia and then is carried by runners to wherever the games are being held.
Long ago, Zeus's magnificent temple stood proudly in the
center of Olympia, near it were a row of buildings called
treasuries, where valuable religious offerings were stored.
Also nearby was a smaller temple—the Temple of Hera,
Zeus's goddess wife, whom the ancient Greeks called "the
mother of the gods.”
Just outside the walls of the temple enclosure stood the stadium and the athletic buildings, where the contestants
trained.
Like Athena's temple in Athens, Zeus's temple at Olympia
held a gold and ivory statue of the god that stood over 44
feet, or nearly 14 meters, high. Zeus's temple was ringed
with altars like this one, and on some of them sacrificial fires
burned 24 hours a day. Sprinkled among the altars were the
statues of the winners of past Olympic games. And all
around them grew the wild olive trees that were sacred to
Zeus.
Today the temple of the king of the gods lies in ruins, and
his statue has long since disappeared. But the stones of its
huge pillars still lie where they crashed to the earth over
1500 years ago following a powerful earthquake.
The Olympic Games
The Olympic Games were held every four years at midsummer. They lasted for a whole month, and during this time,
warfare among the city-states stopped as a sign of respect for
Zeus.
Tens of thousands of men came from all parts of Greece,
either to watch or to participate in the games. Women, however, were not allowed to attend.
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During the first day of the Olympic Games, religious ceremonies were held. There was a grand procession, and offerings and sacrifices were made to Zeus.
The next day, here in the stadium, the events began. There
were foot races, wrestling contests, and boxing matches to
name just a few. Besides these events, horse races and chariot races were held in the Olympic racecourse next to the stadium.
For prizes, instead of the bronze, silver and gold medals of
today, the winners of the ancient Olympic Games were
crowned with wreaths made from the branchs of Zeus'
sacred olive trees. In Greece, this simple ceremony was considered the greatest honor a man could ever receive.
The Theater in Ancient Greece
Athletic competitions were an important part of life in
Ancient Greece, but watching plays was probably an even
more popular activity.
Plays were held in open-air theaters like this one, which
were found in nearly all Greek towns.
In the center of each theater stood a small round altar to the
god Dionysus because theaters were actually his temples. In
fact, the best seats were always reserved for his priests.
Dionysus was the god of wine and pleasure and in ancient
Greece, wild religious festivals were often held in his honor.
Attending plays was thought to please Dionysus mainly
because it was an enjoyable thing to do. The ancient Greeks
loved to watch day-long plays that were performed in the
circular area at the foot of the grandstands called they called
the orchestra.
The Greeks were very famous for their plays which were
based on legends and myths. Greek plays were very different
from those of today because the actors in ancient times were
always men who wore masks like this one that had strange,
exaggerated expressions.
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Healing in Ancient Greece: The Sanctuary of Asclepius
It is quite interesting that just a short walk from the huge
theater seen here, there once stood the greatest center for
healing in all of ancient Greece.
Long ago, sick people came from far and wide hoping to be
cured here at the santuary of Asclepius. Asclepius was the
god of medicine and the son of Apollo, the sun god.
Myths told of how the god had learned healing from a very
wise being belonging to a race of creatures called centaurs
that were half-man and half-horse.
The temple of Asclepius was guarded by thousands of
snakes, the god's sacred animal. It was outside this temple
that those seeking to be cured sacrificed animals and burned
offerings to the god of medicine.
After making their offerings, the sick people followed a path
through the woods to a hospital building where they spent
the night sleeping on the skin of the animal they had just
sacrificed. While they slept, if they were lucky, the god of
medicine appeared to them in their dreams. In the morning,
the patients would tell a temple priest what they had seen in
their dreams and the priest would prescribe a treatment to
cure them.
In ancient Greece, some of the most common treatments for
sick people were having them take special baths, do physical exercises or even having them perform mental excercises, such as studying certain books or writing poetry.
Conclusion
The medical treatments used by the ancient Greeks must
have actually done some good because their civilization
prospered for a quite a long time until the Romans started to
conquer them around 220 B.C.
But the Romans truly admired the Greeks and ended up
absorbing many Greek ways into their own civilization.
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And so it was the Romans who spread Greek ideas, styles of
art, and religious beliefs to the countries of western Europe.
And that is why ancient Greece has come to be known as the
"Birthplace of Western Civilization."
When European explorers began to cross the great oceans,
they brought Greek ideas with them to the New World.
It very easy to see the influence ancient Greece has had on
us just by looking at the styles of many the buildings found
in almost any town in America. Two of the best examples of
the Greek style of architecture are found in Washington
D.C in the fine buildings of the United States Supreme
Court and the U.S. Capitol.
And it is interesting to think that, inside of these famous
buildings that were built to resemble Greek temples, the
Democratic principles of government that began thousands
of years ago in ancient Greece are still being followed today.
VIDEO QUIZ
1. TRUE OR FALSE? Zeus was the god of the sea.
2. TRUE OR FALSE? Greek theaters were temples to the
god Poseidon.
3. TRUE OR FALSE? The Olympian gods were from
Mount Olympus.
4. TRUE OR FALSE? Dionysus was the god of wine and
pleasure.
5. TRUE OR FALSE? Only men acted in ancient Greek
plays.
6. TRUE OR FALSE? Oracles were women who spoke for
the gods.
7. TRUE OR FALSE? Athena's temple was called the
“Parthenon.”
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8. TRUE OR FALSE? The world's first democracy began in
Corinth.
9. TRUE OR FALSE? Centaurs were half-man and halfhorse.
10. TRUE OR FALSE? The word “acropolis” means "high
city."
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Name _________________________
LIVING IN ANCIENT GREECE
Pre-Test
Directions: Answer the following questions True or False:
_______ 1. The civilization of ancient Greece was at its peak nearly 1000 years ago.
_______ 2. The ancient Greeks had no written language but still produced a very successful
civilization.
_______ 3. For most of its history, ancient Greece was not a politically unified country.
_______ 4. Olives and sheep were important sources of food in ancient Greece.
_______ 5. The ancient Greeks believed that one all-powerful god created human beings, ruled over
their lives, and decided when they would die.
©2000 Ancient Lights Educational Media
Published and Distributed by AGC/United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution
2
Name _________________________
LIVING IN ANCIENT GREECE
Video Quiz
1. TRUE OR FALSE? Zeus was the god of the sea. ________
2. TRUE OR FALSE? Greek theaters were temples to the god Poseidon. ________
3. TRUE OR FALSE? The Olympian gods were from Mount Olympus. ________
4. TRUE OR FALSE? Dionysus was the god of wine and pleasure. ________
5. TRUE OR FALSE? Only men acted in ancient Greek plays. ________
6. TRUE OR FALSE? Oracles were women who spoke for the gods. ________
7. TRUE OR FALSE? Athena's temple was called the Parthenon. ________
8. TRUE OR FALSE? The world's first democracy began in Corinth. ________
9. TRUE OR FALSE? Centaurs were half-man and half-horse. ________
10. TRUE OR FALSE? The word acropolis means "high city.” ________
©2000 Ancient Lights Educational Media
Published and Distributed by AGC/United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution
3
Name _________________________
LIVING IN ANCIENT GREECE
Vocabulary List
acropoli s: A Greek word meaning "high city." In
Athens, the acropolis rises over the city. The Parthenon,
the famous temple of Athena, is located in the acropolis.
agora : A marketplace or city square.
altar : A flat-topped block used for making offerings to a
god or goddess.
Alexander the Great : One of the most famous ancient
Greek conquerors who lived from 356-323 B.C.
Alexander was the son of King Phillip of Macedonia. He
conquered Egypt, Syria, Persia, and even part of India.
architect : A person who designs buildings.
archeologist : A person who studies the lives and cultures of ancient peoples. Archeologists excavate ancient
cities and examine the things that were left behind by
long forgotten people in order to understand how they
lived.
Golden Age 473-431 B.C. : The time when Athens was
in its glory and was the cultural and financial center of
the Greek world.
Greek influence : The many ways that Greek civilization has affected styles of art, artchitecture, religion, and
thought in other cultures.
Hephaestus : The ancient Greek god of fire and metalworking.
Hera : The ancient Greek goddess considered to be the
"mother of the gods.” She was the jealous wife of Zeus,
the king of the gods, and was the protector of families.
himation : A cloak worn by both men and women in
ancient Greece.
Homer : The Greek poet and writer of the 8th century
B.C. who is believed to have written the "Iliad" and the
"Odyssey," two of the most famous books of all time.
aristocrat : A Greek word meaning "the best people." In
ancient Greece, the aristocrats were rich land owners.
hoplite : A well-armed Greek foot soldier.
Aristotle : A famous Greek philosopher and writer.
immortal : Not mortal; able to live forever. The ancient
Greek gods were believed to be immortal.
Artemis : The ancient Greek goddess of the hunt.
Asclepius : The ancient Greek god of medicine.
libation : Liquid, such as wine or oil, poured on the
ground as an offering to the gods.
Athena : The ancient Greek goddess of wisdom.
Mount Olympus : A mountain in Greece where most of
the gods and goddesses were believed to have lived.
Apollo : The ancient Greek god of the sun.
centaur : A mythical creature that was half-man and
half-horse.
chiton : Dresses worn by the women of ancient Greece.
city-states : The civilization of ancient Greece developed in many small, independent countries known as
city-states. Each city-state had its own army, its own
laws, and own form of government. Vatican city in Italy
is a modern example of a city-state.
civilization : The total culture of a people. Civilized
people are usually more advanced in science, art, and
social organization than uncivilized people.
democracy : A word meaning "government by the people." This form of government was first created in the
Greek city-state of Athens over 2400 years ago.
Dionysus : The ancient Greek god of wine and pleasure.
myths : Folk tales often telling about the great powers
and adventures of the gods and goddesses. Even though
myths may not be true, they can tell us a lot about what
ancient people believed.
offering : A sacred gift to a god.
Olympian gods : The great gods who lived on Mount
Olympus.
Olympic Games : Atheletic competitions held every
four years in honor of Zeus at his sanctuary at Olympia.
oracle : A place where prophecies are made; or a person
who makes prophecies and who gives advice about the
future.
orchestra : The place in a greek theater where actors
performed.
Panathenaia : A birthday festival for the goddess Athena.
Parthenon : The famous temple of Athena in Athens.
©2000 Ancient Lights Educational Media
Published and Distributed by AGC/United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution
4
Name _________________________
LIVING IN ANCIENT GREECE
Vocabulary List (continued) and Vocabulary Activity
(continued on Blackline Master 4)
Vocabulary Activity :
Pericles : A great statesman of ancient Athens who led
and helped develop its democracy.
From the Vocabulary List, find the following:
peplo s: A long cloak worn by Greek women. The statue of Athena in the Parthenon wore a peplos. A new
peplos was woven for the goddess each year and presented to her on the birthday festival, the Panathenaia.
1. The names of three types of clothing worn by
the ancient Greeks.
philosopher : A greek word meaning “lover of knowledge.” Philosophers studied and wrote about the meaning of life and about science.
Plato : A famous Greek philosopher and writer.
polythemism : The worship of many gods and goddesses.
Poseidon : The ancient Greek god of the sea.
1. _____________________________________
2. _____________________________________
3. _____________________________________
2. The names of four famous Greek writers and/or
philosopers.
1. _____________________________________
Ptolemy : The name of 14 different Greek rulers of
Egypt from 323 to 30 B.C. Ptolemy I was a general in
the army of Alexander the Great.
2. _____________________________________
remote : Far away; a distant place.
3. _____________________________________
Roman Empir e: A great and powerful empire that
ruled nearly all of Europe and parts of Africa and Asia
for many centuries. The capital of this empire was in
Rome, which is today the capital of Italy. The Roman
Empire was most powerful from about 300 B.C. to
around 400 A.D. After conquering Greece, the Romans
came to rule Egypt as well in 30 B.C.
4. _____________________________________
sacrifice : An offering to a god. In ancient Greece, living animals were killed as sacrifices and some of their
flesh was burned as an offering.
sanctuar y: A holy place.
Socrates : A famous Greek philosopher and writer.
Western Civilization : The civilization that developed
in the countries that once made up the western half of
the Roman Empire. Through the Romans, who adopted many aspects of Greek civilization, Greek ideas
spread across these lands. That is why ancient Greece is
called "The Birthplace of Western Civilization."
Zeus : King of the Greek gods and father of many of
the most important gods and goddesses; also god of the
sky and weather.
3. The names of nine different gods and godesses
of ancient Greece.
1. _____________________________________
2. _____________________________________
3. _____________________________________
4. _____________________________________
5. _____________________________________
6. _____________________________________
7. _____________________________________
8. _____________________________________
9. _____________________________________
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5
Name _________________________
LIVING IN ANCIENT GREECE
Timeline
2000 B.C. Arrival of the first Greek-speaking people
on the mainland of Greece.
457 B.C. Beginning of the "Golden Age" of Athens.
Democracy develops under the guidance of Pericles.
1600 B.C . Rise of the Mycenean culture in Greece.
447 B.C.
1200 B.C . Trojan War.
390 B.C . A Greek astronomer suggests that the planets Venus and Mercury may orbit the sun.
The Parthenon is being built.
1100 B.C . Mycenaen culture disappears.
800 B.C . Greeks use Phonecian writing to create their
own written language.
332 B.C . The Macedonian Greek, Alexander the
Great, conquers Egypt, bringing Greek culture to that
land. The Egyptians believe he is a god and make him a
pharaoh. Alexandria, a great city of science and culture,
is founded in Egypt in honor of Alexander the Great.
776 B.C. The first Olympic games are held at
Olympia in honor of the god Zeus.
324 B.C . Greece declares Alexander the Great to be a
god.
750 B.C . The writer Homer is believed to have been
alive. Greeks found colonies in distant regions.
323 B.C . Alexander the Great dies. The Macedonian
rulers called the Ptolemies begin to govern Egypt.
663 B.C. The great Egyptian city of Thebes is sacked
by the Assyrians.
260 B.C . The great wall of China is begun.
900 B.C . Sparta is founded.
600 B.C. Phonecian sailors are travelling by ship
around Africa.
170 B.C . The first paved roads are being built in
Rome.
148 B.C . Macedonia becomes a Roman province.
586 B.C . Jerusalem is destroyed by King
Nebuchanezzar of Babylonia.
585 B.C . May the 28th of 585 B.C. is believed to be
the first accurately known date in human history
because the Greek astronomer Thales of Miletus predicts and records a solar eclipse.
534 B.C . The first Greek plays called "tragedies" are
performed.
500 B.C . Certain people in Greece are teaching that
the earth is ball-shaped, not a flat disc. The first steel is
being made in India. Greece begins a fifty-year war
with Persia.
490 B.C . Greece defeats Persian invaders at the battle
of Marathon.
483 B.C.
India.
The Buddha, founder of Buddhism, dies in
146 B.C . Rome destroys the Greek city-state of
Corinth.
91 B.C.
The great wall of China is completed.
31 B.C . Rome defeats the last Greek ruler at the
Battle of Actium.
Timeline Learning Activity
Using the timeline, find:
1. The first accurately known date of an event in history.
2. The year the first Olympic games were held
3. The year the first tragedies were performed in Greek
theaters.
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6
Name _________________________
LIVING IN ANCIENT GREECE
Crossword Puzzle
2
4
6
1
2
1
3
4
3
5
5
6
You may use the
vocabulary list for help
in solving this puzzle.
ACROSS
1. The highest part of a Greek citiy was its __________.
2. The festival of Zeus was celebrated every four years
at the town of ______________ and was famous all
across Greece for its athletic contests.
3. The Parthenon was a temple to the goddess
____________.
4. In ancient Greece, animals were killed as
______________ to the gods.
5. Mount __________ was believed to be the home of
many of ancient Greece's greatest gods and goddesses.
6. The civilization of ancient Greece developed near
the shores of the ____________________________ Sea.
DOWN
1. _________ was the ancient Greek god of the sun.
2. The world's first democracy developed in the citystate of ____________.
3. ___________ was the ancient Greek god of the sea.
4. The Greeks thought their gods were ____________ ;
that is, that they would never die.
5. Forces from the Italian city of _______ conquered
Greece and adopted many Greek ways, which they
then spread across western Europe.
6. The wife of Zeus and protector of families was called
___________.
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7
Name _________________________
LIVING IN ANCIENT GREECE
Interesting Facts About Ancient Greece
1. Women did not play active roles in Greek society. They had nothing to do with politics or law.
In houses, men and women often used separate rooms. Women would eat, carry out their household duties and see their friends in their own quarters called the gynaeceum. Men ate and saw
their friends in their own room called the andron.
2. In the fourth and fifth centuries B.C., slaves formed a large part of the population of ancient
Greece. Slaves were captured in wars or kidnapped from enemy towns. The children of slaves
were born into slavery. Slavery in ancient Greece was not based on race. Most slaves worked in
mines, farms or as servants in homes. A slave known as a paidogogus attended classes with a boy
student to make sure he behaved.
3. The agora, or marketplace, was the favorite place for ancient Greek men to gather during the
day to discuss business and politics.
4. Besides making animal sacrifices, gifts were regularly offered to the gods. Such things as
shields, helmets, jewelery, vases, and musical instruments were offered. The offerings were kept
in special buildings called treasuries.
5. The Greeks prayed very often. They prayed to the gods by stretching their arms to the sky.
They prayed to the dead by pounding their fists on the ground. A paean was a song or shout of
prayer made by a group of people.
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8
Name _________________________
LIVING IN ANCIENT GREECE
MAP EXCERISE
Directions : Locate the following places on the map found on Blackline Master 9:
Albania (modern country)
Athens (modern city, ancient city-state)
Sparta (ancient city-state)
Corinth (ancient city-state)
Delphi (ancient sacred town)
Black Sea
Olympia (ancient sacred town)
Rome (modern city, capital of the Roman Empire)
Macedonia (modern country)
Bulgaria (modern country)
Turkey (modern country)
Syria (modern country)
Cyprus (island ruled by Greece and Turkey)
Crete (the largest Greek island)
Istanbul (modern city)
Sicily (Italian island and site of Greek colonies)
©2000 Ancient Lights Educational Media
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All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution
©2000 Ancient Lights Educational Media
Published and Distributed by AGC/United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution
10
Name _________________________
LIVING IN ANCIENT GREECE
Post-Test
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct answers.
1. The Olympic games were originally held to honor the god ____________________.
2. The biggest and most beautiful temple in Athens, called the ___________________, was built to be the
home for the goddess of wisdom named ___________________.
3. In ancient Greece, sailors made offerings to the god ____________ who ruled the sea, so they would
have safe journeys.
4. If a man in ancient Greece wished to know what was going to happen in the future, he might ask an
_______________, a person who acted as the voice of a god.
5. An altar to the god Dionysus could be found in ancient Greek _________________.
6. Asclepius was the god of ___________________________.
7. The Olympic games were held every _________ years.
8. A wine drinker might offer a libation, a splash of wine to ____________, the god of wine and pleasure.
9. Winners of the Olympic games received _____________________ as prizes.
10. Pericles was famous for having helped Athens develop the world's first ______________ government.
©2000 Ancient Lights Educational Media
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