CH 4: Ancient Greece Sections 1 & 2

CH 4: Ancient GreeceSections 1 & 2 World History Mr. Rich Miami Arts Charter

Sections: • Section 1: The First Greek Civilizations • Section 2: The Greek City-States • Section 3: Classical Greece • Section 4: The Culture of Classical Greece • Section 5: Alexander and the Hellenistic Kingdoms

Section 1: • Impact of Geography • Minoan Civilization • 1st Greek State: Mycenae • Dark Age for the Greeks

Impact of Geography: • Occupied a small area • Mountainous peninsula • Numerous islands • Mountains + Sea = Greek World • Mountains isolated Greek city-states from each other – developed different societies • Sea provided good harbors for trade & Greeks were very good at water navigation – established colonies & spread their culture

Minoan Civilization: • 2700 - 1450 BCE • Bronze Age Civilization • What does Bronze Age mean?? • On island of Crete • Southeast of Greek mainland • Knossos: capital of Minoan Civilization & center of sea empire based on trade • Traveled to Egypt & Greece • Most historians believe the civilization was taken over by the Mycenaeans

Mycenae: • 1600 – 1100 BCE • Indo-Europeans • High point = 1400 – 1200 BCE • Characterized by powerful monarchies • Fortified palace centers • Royals inside palace • Common people scattered outside • Tombs for royals known as tholos • Built into hillsides

Mycenae: • Fortified palace centers • Royals inside palace • Common people scattered outside • Tombs for royals known as tholos • Built into hillsides • Warrior people • Heroism in battle • Murals depict war & hunting scenes • Warrior aristocracy • In-fighting between the cities and invasions from outsiders destroyed the civilization

Homer: Notes from pp. 112-113 in book • Wrote Iliad & Odyssey 1st epic poems of Greece • Epic poem = long poem that tells the tales of a great hero • Did not record history … he created it • Greeks viewed both as true history • Gave Greece a past to be proud of with national heroes • Used as basis for education for generations of Greek men • Values: • Honor • Courage • Striving for excellence (known as arete) • Importance, value, & pride in Greek heritage

Homer: Notes from pp. 112-113 in book • Used stories of the Trojan War to for both pieces • Iliad • Tale of Greek hero Achilles • Moral of the story … Anger = destruction + death • Odyssey • Tale of Greek hero Odysseus • After fall of Troy • Documents return to his wife

Section 2: The Greek City-States

Key Ideas: • The Polis: Center of Greek Life • Greek Colonies • Tyranny in the City-States • Sparta • Athens

The Polis: • Polis = city-state • A city, town, or village + the surrounding country-side • Major force in Greek life by 750 BCE • Acropolis • Major meeting place of the polis • Agora • Small open area that served as meeting space & market-place • Characteristics • Varied in size & population • A community of people • Common identity • Common goals

The Polis: Groups • Citizens w/ political rights • Adult males • Citizens w/o political rights • Women & children • Non-citizens • Slaves & Resident Aliens • Rights & Responsibilities • Each citizen belonged to the state • Fierce loyalty to one’s city-state was required

The Polis: Military • Early Greece • Aristocratic cavalry soldiers • By 700 BCE • Hoplites • Heavily armed infantry soldiers • Marched into battle as a unit • Phalanx • System of marching shoulder to shoulder in a rectangular formation

Greek Colonies: • Colonization occurred between 750 – 550 BCE • Why colonize? 2 key reasons: • Good farmland • Better trade • Each colony = polis • Usually independent of the polis that founded it • Byzantium was a very important Greek colony • Colonization = • Spread of Greek culture & political ideas • ↑ trade & industry • Expansion of trade = new group of wealthy individuals

Tyranny in the City-States: • New group of rich men with no aristocratic ties created tension in the city-state • In Ancient Greece, tyrants = rulers who seized power by force from aristocrats • Support for tyrants came from • Peasants • New rich guys • Tyrants gained power + maintained it w/ • Hired soldiers • New construction of temples, city-walls, & marketplaces • Increased popularity from the above

Tyranny in the City-States: • Rule of tyrants = end of aristocratic rule • Allowed many new people to participate in govt. • 2 key govt. systems • Democracy • Rule by the people • Oligarchy • Rule by the few • 2 key city-states • Sparta • Athens

Sparta: “Highly Disciplined” • Gained new land through conquering • Sparta made conquered peoples slaves called helots • Was a military state on purpose • 800 – 600 BCE • Lives of Spartans very organized & controlled by the state

Sparta: “Highly Disciplined” • Males • Childhood = learn military discipline • Compulsory military service at age 20 (until age 60) • Required to live in barracks until age 30, also allowed to vote in assembly • Females • Lived at home = greater freedom of movement & power in the household • Purpose = bear good strong Spartan babies • They had to be very physically fit!

Sparta: Government • Oligarchy headed by 2 kings • Ephors • Council of Elders • Foreigners not welcome • No travel allowed (unless for military reasons) • Art of War was the only thing a Spartan studied

Athens: • Early Athens ruled by a King • By 7th century BCE = Athens was an Oligarchy • In 594 BCE, power given to Solon (reform-minded aristocrat) • Some reforms initiated not ultimately successful • In 560 BCE, power seized by Pisistratus • 510 BCE, Cleisthenes created a council, allowed for an assembly • This created the foundations for Greek democracy

CH 4: Ancient Greece Sections 1 & 2