Chapter 5 Notes

1. Chapter 5 Notes Ancient Greece

2. Pre-Learning Assignment Early Greeks laid the foundations for democracy in the western world and made many cultural advances that impacted today’s art and philosophy I will assign you into groups According to your group number you will read over that section of Chapter 5 looking for the main idea, pertinent information, and interesting information connecting to the main idea As a group you will create a poster that advertises your section of the chapter. (Make sure to put your section number and title on the top of the poster) We will have a gallery crawl to learn about the other sections in the chapter (during the gallery crawl you will fill out the guide questions)

3. Chapter 5 Notes • Early Greece • Minoans and Mycenaeans • Much of Greek early history is unknown and lost in legend • Two distinct cultures we know of from early Greek history are the Minoans and Mycenaeans • The Minoans of Crete – 3000-1000 BCE • Minoan civilization developed on the island of Crete • Used ships to sail throughout Aegean Sea, to settle colonies on islands, and to carry trade goods between colonies and Crete • Minoan life tied to the sea: sailing, trade, fishing • Minoan art depicts images of life connected to the sea

4. Chapter 5 Notes • Minoans had a written language called Linear A – unrelated to mainland Greek language • Historians cannot read Linear A which allows us to only learn about them from their art and objects • Minoan civilization declined suddenly – reason is unknown, but possibly due to volcanic activity • Ultimate downfall resulted from being conquered by the Mycenaeans

5. Chapter 5 Notes • The Mycenaean States • Had small kingdoms that often fought each other • Considered to be the first Greeks because they spoke a form of the Greek language • Created a writing system based on Minoan • Skilled traders – trade increased after conquering Crete • Society dominated by competition, warfare, and power • Kings taxed trade and farming to construct city buildings and defenses • Kings thirsted for power and glory, which inspired many legends • Legend of the Trojan War – may or may not be true • Mycenaean civilization declined due to increased fight between kingdoms, invasions, and famine • Decline led to a Dark Age where Greek civilization almost vanished

6. Knowledge Check Point Where did the early Minoans live? How do we know about Minoan civilization? Why do historians consider the Mycenaeans to be the first Greeks? What were five factors that contributed to the Mycenaeans?

7. Chapter 5 Notes • Greek City-States • 1100-800 BCE Greece faced instability during the Dark Age • New type of society emerged in the 800’s centered on the polis (city-state) • Polis became the basic political unit • Each polis developed government, laws, and culture independently due to the terrain of Greece which made communication and travel difficult

8. Chapter 5 Notes • Life in the Polis • Center of daily life and culture • Because the polis defined a Greek person, they were fiercely loyal • Polis was built around a high area called an acropolis, which was fortified, had temples to gods, and space for public ceremonies • Other public places, such as the agora (marketplace) were below the acropolis – surrounding the agora were houses, shops, temples, baths, and gymnasiums – all surrounded by a defensive wall – farms were outside the walls • Each polis had a different political system • Athens – democracy (birthplace) (rule by the many) • Corinth – oligarchy (rule by the few)

9. Chapter 5 Notes • The Might of Sparta • Sparta was one of the strongest city-states in Greece • Sparta grew by conquering surrounding small towns • One town they conquered – Messenia – made slaves (helots) of the population • Helots were given to Spartan citizens to perform manual labor • Allowed citizens to focus on training for war • Sparta saw war as the only way to keep order in society • Having a strong army helped keep Helot revolts down • Spartans demanded strength and toughness from birth • Boys and girls were examined for weakness at birth – weak babies were left to die

10. Chapter 5 Notes • Strong baby boys were taught physical and mental toughness by their mothers till age 7 • Entered a school designed to train them in combat – training program designed by King Lycurgus – purpose to prepare boys for the hardships of being a soldier • After training boys were sent into the wilderness to survive with no food or tools • Became soldiers known as hoplites at age 20 and served for 10 years • Women were trained in gymnastics for physical fitness – women had to be fit to birth strong children • Women could own property • Sparta was ruled politically by two military commander kings and an elected council of elders

11. Knowledge Check Point Which city-state was the birthplace of democracy? Why do you think the acropolis was built on higher ground than the rest of the city-state? Why did Spartans place such an emphasis on preparednessfor war? What was the role of helots in Sparta? What was King Lycurgus’s system for training boys?

12. Chapter 5 Notes • Gods and Heroes • Much of what we know of early Greece comes from legends and myths • Greeks used myths to explain where they came from, natural phenomena, and how to live • The Gods of Olympus • Ancient Greeks believed in 100’s of gods and goddesses, each governing one aspect of life or nature • Believed the gods would protect them and the city-states in exchange for the proper rituals and sacrifices • Believed some of the most influential gods (12) lived on Mount Olympus, and are so named the Olympian Gods

13. Chapter 5 Notes • Gods were powerful, but not perfect – myths state the gods were flawed and unpredictable • All Greeks worshipped the same gods, but city-states would claim one god as a protector • Some located were considered sacred to Greeks • Delphi – priestesses of Apollo received visions of the future • Olympia – Olympic games held to honor the gods • Myths about Heroes • Myths were told about Heroes as well as gods • Stories about heroes were used to teach Greeks how they should live • Heroes killed monsters, made discoveries, founded cities, and talked to the gods as equals • Heroes could achieve great things, but hubris (great pride) often caused the hero to meet a tragic end • Heroes – Hercules, Achilles, Odysseus

14. Chapter 5 Notes • Greek Gods • Zeus – king of the gods, sky, lightning • Hera – queen of the gods, marriage, women • Poseidon – sea, earthquakes • Hades – underworld • Athena – wisdom • Apollo – sun, prophecy, healing, music, poetry • Artemis – moon, hunting • Aphrodite – love • Ares – war • Demeter – agriculture • Hestia – hearth, family • Hermes – trade, messenger of the gods • Dionysus – wine • Hephaestus - metalworking

15. Knowledge Check Point How did various city-states honor the Olympian gods? Explain the reasons for the telling of legends and of myths? How would the gods being flaws and unpredictable help the Greek people relate to them? What was the function of the Greek mythical heroes? Why was hubris included in the stories of some heroes?

16. Assignment Read Chapter 5 section 2 Answer section 2 assessment questions (turn into moodle)