ms. willia. what do you think of when i say “greece”? warm-up question

Unit 2: Ancient Greece

Ms. Willia

What do you think of when I say “Greece”?

Warm-Up Question

Ancient Greece The Greek city-states, especially Athens, developed

cultural innovations that are still used today which transformed Greece into a “classical civilization”

Ancient Greece After the river

valley era, a number of classical civilizations developed in the Mediterranean and in Asia

The first major classical civilization was ancient Greece

Classic cultures created high levels of achievement in art, science, & technology that impacted future ages

Europe’s earliest major culture was the

Minoan civilization of Crete largest of the Greek islands

Minoan culture was strongly influenced by Egypt

Minoan civilization is the source of the Greek myth about the hero Theseus who entered the labyrinth (a maze) and slayed the Minotaur

Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece

Identify 1 geographic feature & propose how it might impact the culture of Greece

Ancient Greece Mountains

covered about 75% of Greece which divided the people & made unifying the Greek people nearly impossible

Greece is a mountainous and rocky peninsula with

little good farmland, but its long irregular coastline and numerous islands provided fine harbors

Greek people were able to: make a living by fishing and trading establish colonies dominate trade in the eastern Mediterranean and Black Seas

Greek communities isolated by mountains developed into independent self-governing city-states that often fought one another leading city-states were:

Sparta- strong military government Athens- the present-day capital of Greece

Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece The Greeks

developed independent city-states, called polis, within each valley & its surrounding mountains

Ancient Greece Despite their lack of unity, the

Greeks shared some common characteristics: Greeks shared the same language Greek writing was influenced by the

Phoenician alphabet & became the basis for Latin

2 epic (meaning long and heroic) poems by Homer

The Iliad takes place during the Trojan War when the Greeks used a large wooden horse with soldiers hidden inside to defeat the defenders of Troy in Asia Minor

The Odyssey recounts the adventures of the hero Odysseus who had to overcome many obstacles during his 10-year voyage home from the war in Troy

These poems are the first literary works of Western Civilization

In both poems, reason and wisdom are more powerful than physical strength

The heroes of Greek myths served as models of excellence for the ancient Greeks

The Iliad and the Odyssey

Greek Gods Greeks were polytheistic & believed that the gods

were immortal but had human qualities; Religion became the basis for Greek mythology Zeus- King of the gods Athena- Goddess of wisdom Aphrodite- Goddess of love Apollo- God of sun & music Ares- God of war Hades- God of underworld Hera- Goddess of family Poseidon- God of the seas

Greek Gods People emulated the

Gods’ behavior Anthropomorphic Influenced peoples’

actions Gods lived on Mt.

Olympus Each God controlled a

specific part of the universe

Greek Military Each city-state had

citizen-soldiers A new method of

fighting emerged called “phalanx”

A massive formation of heavily armed foot soldiers that moved in unison

Ancient Greece Most Greek

city-states had an agora that was the center for trade & government

City-states had an acropolis, a temple on a hill dedicated to a sacred god

The Greeks established the polis:

an association of free male citizens who served as the soldiers who defended their city-state from attack

managed the government chose leaders to govern the city-state for a limited

period of time, often a year Most of the Greek city-states did not have

democratic governments, and even in Athens, citizens were a minority of the population because women, slaves, and foreign-born persons did not qualify as citizens.

Athens

Despite similar language & religion, the Greek polis were very different from each other, especially how they were governed Some polis had a monarchy, a gov’t ruled by a

king Some polis had an aristocracy, a gov’t ruled by

elite nobles

Ancient Greece

Some polis like Sparta had an oligarchy, a gov’t ruled by a small group of citizens

Some polis like Athens had a direct democracy, a gov’t ruled by citizens who vote on decisions

Ancient Greece

Athens It is the place where

democracy was born Only those with both

parents born in Athens could have citizenship

Athens had a direct democracy: all male citizens had the right to attend the Assembly and a vote. met 40 times a year

No elections, leaders chosen by drawing lots Member of 500

Athens “Our constitution is called a

democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people. We alone regard a man who takes no interest in public affairs not as harmless, but as a useless character.”

-Pericles’ 431 B.C.

Athenian Wealth & Culture

Athens had a direct democracy in which both rich & poor citizens could vote & hold public office


Pericles had Architects built the Parthenon to honor the goddess Athena goddess of wisdom and

war and the patron goddess of Athens

The Parthenon is the main building on the Acropolis

It is one of the most influential buildings in the history of Western architecture

Served as a model for important buildings in much of the world including the Lincoln Memorial in the United States


Artists created realistic sculptures

Theater had both comedies & tragedies

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/GriechTheater2.PNG

Athenian Wealth & Culture Philosophers Socrates, Plato, & Aristotle

questioned assumptions & the use of logic to find answers to questions

Humanism=

reason was the true source of knowledge and that a wise person was the best person; reason, not emotion, should rule our lives

Ancient Greeks considered human beings to be the center of existence

Philosophy and arts of classical Greece were more concerned with the value of human beings on earth can be seen in Greek art that portrayed the human body

realistically Greek humanism emphasized order in daily life,

nothing in excess, a balance between extremes known as “The Golden Mean” In school, for example, both the body and the mind were

trained. Greek humanism would help shape the Renaissance

and the Enlightenment in Europe 2,000 years later

Humanism

The Three Great Greek Thinkers

The Three Great Greek Thinkers: SOCRATES

“…the unexamined life is not worth living.”

“Socratic Method” question & answer

approach; helped people recognize they didn’t have all the answers!

“Know thy self”… Self-examination leads to

correct behavior and ethical living.


Socrates on Trial- Seen by many to not

believe in the gods Feared that he was

corrupting the minds of the youth!

He is found guilty and put to death! A scapegoat…


Encouraged his students to question accepted wisdom including government policies.

Socrates did not leave behind written works his philosophy was carried

forward by his student, Plato


How does it depict this famous man? Noble, dignified &

forceful. He is ready to meet

his death but not before he speaks his mind!

“The Death of Socrates” Painted in France in 1787

The Three Great Greek Thinkers: PLATO

Author of The Republic No family or personal

property; common good government

Yet the government should regulate every aspect of its citizens lives

Philosopher king should rule

Plato warned that clever leaders could easily manipulate citizens who knew little about the important issues of the day

Started a school called The Academy

The Three Great Greek Thinkers: ARISTOTLE

Student of Plato Wrote Politics Supports family &

personal property A government that

features three social classes

Favored a single, strong ruler

Taught Alexander the Great

Sparta Military Society Government:

led by two kings and 20 counselors

largest and most sophisticated army in the known world

Forbade: trade, travel and free speech!

Needed army to control slave (helot) population Outnumbered 20 to 1

Control lasted over 250 years

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Greek_Hoplite.JPG

Sparta Army governed life What did it mean for a

man? Trained in military Started at age 7 Marry at 20 but live in

barracks Retire at 60

53 years of service! Males can vote at 30

Spartan Differences Spartan society

focused on military strength, not freedom & learning Spartan men

served in the military until 60 years old

Boys began military training at age 7

Women ran family estates while men trained or fought

Athens vs. Sparta

Athens & Sparta competed for influence in Greece & developed a strong rivalry that eventually led to the Peloponnesian War Sparta defeated Athens, but the war weakened the Greeks

Where would you rather live: Athens or

Sparta? Why?

Closure Activity

What are the top 3 Greek innovations? Explain

how our world is better because of these 3 achievements.

Warm-Up Question

The Phoenicians

What does this map reveal about the Phoenicians?

The Phoenicians What were

they famous for? Invented the

alphabet

The Phoenicians Persian Empire under Darius, 521-486 B.C.E.

Divided into twenty provinces

ruled by a Persian satrap or governor Persian control:

building and patrolling the royal roads use of secret agents

Why were the Persians successful rulers? willing to adapt to local circumstances, to learn

from those with experience, and to utilize the skills of non-Persians

Persian Rule

Persian Wars Greek wealth &

innovation made it a target to outside invasion

Centered in present day Iran, the Persian Empire stretched from the Middle East to India

From 493 B.C. to 479 B.C., Persian kings Darius & Xerxes tried (but failed) to conquer the Greeks in the Persian Wars

The threat of the powerful Persian empire united

the Greek city-states. Around 500 B.C. Greeks were attacked by the

Persians Greeks joined together to fight Persians

3 Persian Wars (499-479 BCE) Battle of Marathon- Greeks repelled a larger

invading force of Persians legend says a Greek soldier ran nearly 26 miles from the

battlefield to Athens where he died after delivering news of the victory

This legend is the basis for the modern marathon foot race

Persian Wars

Impact of the Persian Wars:

Athens emerged as the most powerful city-state.

Athens used the Delian League (alliance of 150 city states) to create an Athenian empire.

With Pericles as its leader, Athens enters into its Golden Age!

Persian Wars

Peloponnesian Wars After the Persian Wars, the Greek city-states, led by rivals

Athens & Sparta, fought each other in the Peloponnesian Wars The Peloponnesian Wars left the Greeks weak & open to

invasion

Peloponnesian Wars

Causes:

Sparta formed the Peloponnesian League Sparta and Athens rivaling for supremacy…

27 year war ensues Pericles brings all the people into the city He depends on the navy, high walls and food

supplies to string out the war

Peloponnesian Wars

Peloponnesian Wars

Effects: Persia gained control of

many city-states Defeated democracy in

Greece Sparta would eventually fall

to Persia Athen’s cultural influence

continues

Macedonia In 338 B.C., King

Philip II of Macedonia attacked & conquered the Greeks, but he died soon after

Macedonians viewed themselves as Greeks & shared much of their culture; King Philip II hired Aristotle to tutor his son Alexander

Alexander the Great (336-323) B.C.E. Accomplishments:

Conquers Egypt, Mediterranean Sea region, Persia, and far as Pakistan

Declared pharaoh in Egypt Alexander had encouraged blending by marrying a

Persian woman and adopting Persian customs. Builds capital of Alexandria and many other

“Alexandria's”

The Empire of Alexander the Great


Alexander was only 20 years old when he became king of Macedonia: But he proved to be

ambitious & a brilliant military strategist

Once in power, Alexander beganto expand his empire


Alexander began his conquest by crushing a Greek revolt in Thebes; He ordered the death of 6,000 people & sold everyone else into slavery; His brutality convinced other Greeks to not rebel

Alexander set his sights on the Persian Empire & began his attack by conquering Egypt; Egyptians viewed Alexander as a liberator

The Empire of Alexander the GreatIn 331 B.C., Alexander

attacked & defeated the mighty Persian army led

by King Darius III

Alexander destroyed the

capital of Persepolis

Alexander led his army to conquer India; After taking the Indus River Valley, Alexander’s troops begged him to return home after 11 years away from their homes while conquering the

empire


By 323 B.C., Alexander had conquered a massive empire & began plans to govern & unify his kingdom, but he fell ill & died at the age of 32


Alexander left behind an important legacy: He spread Hellenic (Greek) innovations & culture

throughout his empire In each territory he conquered, Alexander left

behind a Greek-styled city named Alexandria


Alexandria in Egypt was the most significant of these cities & best

represented Hellenism (the spread & blending of Greek culture )

Alexandria became the center for Hellenistic

culture & trade for the

Mediterranean world

Alexandria had a museum & library that preserved Greek, Egyptian, Persian, Indian cultures & attracted scholars for centuries

Alexandria of Egypt


Alexander's empire was the largest of the classical era, but it was short-lived (13 years) & was never unified or governed

When Alexander died without an heir, his empire was divided among his top 3 generals


Summary of Alexander the Great: He was a military genius &

well educated His interest in Greek history

& culture as well as Persian, Egyptian, & Indian ideas led to a vibrant new culture, Hellenism, that shaped future civilizations

But, his empire did not last long enough to compete with future empires, such as those ruled by Rome and the Mongols

Was Alexander the Great a Hero or Villain??

Read the following descriptions of Alexander the Great and decide whether he was a hero or villain. You must explain WHY

Closure Activity

“In town after town, when natives resisted or

tried to flee, the Macedonian forces adopted a single tactic: slaughter all males, and enslave all women and children. In one 9 month period, Alexander’s forces traveled down the Indus River and killed as many as 80,000 people.”

Description #1

“Alexander treated some of the rebels with

compassion. His troops brought before him one Theban woman who had killed a Macedonian general. The woman was not apologetic, and she remained defiant even to Alexander. Still, he decided to spare her life because he admired her courage.”

Description #2

“Despite the advice of even his closest aides,

Alexander stole the city’s riches for himself. Then, in a drunken state, he allowed his men to burn down the Great Palace and its surrounding temples.”

Description #3

“Alexandria flourished in part because of

Alexander’s great respect for knowledge and various cultural traditions – not only those he brought with him from Greece, but those he found in Egypt as well.”

Description #4

“Alexander used to have the floors sprinkled

with exquisite perfumes and with fragrant wine and incense was burned before him. Also, all the bystanders kept silent or spoke words only of good omen because of fear.”

Description #5

ms. willia. what do you think of when i say “greece”? warm-up question

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