Ancient Greece

1. Ancient Greece

2. Early Greeks • Early Greek civilization was built around farming and agriculture. • Even though most land in Greece was rocky, valleys between mountains provided enough fertile soil to farm with. • In Greek society, landowners were considered upper class because: • Could support themselves • Had money to buy weapons and shields • Could serve in army and protect homeland. • Merchants and poor were seen as class below in comparison.

3. Early Greeks • In order to survive, Ancient Greeks became skilled sailors & shipbuilders due to the sea’s that surrounded them. • Rowboats were made for warships while sailboats were made for trade. • The seas offered the following to those who lived by them: • Trade routes among Greeks and other civilizations. • Food source. • Protection from other empires in Middle East.

4. Early Greeks • Greece didn’t produce much grain, but did produce surplus’ of olive oil, wine, wool, and fine pottery. • Greeks would use the surplus’ to trade for lumber, grain, animal hides, and slaves. • Greek merchants would sail around the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea in search of markets. • Greeks often traded with Egypt and Italy, due to close proximity.

5. Early Greeks • The first organized city/civilization in Greek history was Mycenae. • The city was located on the peninsula of Peloponnesus and was surrounded by a huge wall capable of withstanding any attack. • A king ruled the city and surrounding villages and farms and the culture was based around trade. • Mycenaean’s were known for their metal work, which they used to create fine gold jewelry, pottery, and bronze weapons.

6. Early Greeks • Mycenaean culture was around for 800 years before collapsing in 1200 B.C. • After the fall of the Mycenaean’s, Greek culture declines and written records are no longer taken. • Nothing written about Greek culture from 1200 – 750 B.C. • Around 740 B.C., Greek culture begins to grow again, following the lead of another Greek city called Phoenicia.

7. Early Greeks • Phoenicia was located on the eastern coast of Greece and, like the Mycenaean’s, were based around trade. • In order to keep good records of trades made, the Phoenicians created an alphabet of 22 characters. • Phoenicians also learned about the use of coins in trading with other cultures and adopted that idea for themselves. • By 500 B.C., most of Greece were making their own coins for trade purposes.

8. Homework #1 – 1/14/13 • What class of people were landowners considered to be? • What did Greeks become skilled at, due to their surroundings? • What was the first organized city in Greece? • What did the Phoenicians create to help keep better records of trades made by merchants? • What was most of Greece doing by 500 B.C.?

9. Early Greeks • Greece civilization began to advance with the advancements started by Phoenicia. • Due to geography, Greek people were often isolated from each other, giving rise to city-states*. • * - Greek word for city-states were “polis”. • City-states (much like Mesopotamia) were states created around a city and included surrounding villages.

10. Early Greeks • Most Greek city-states were small due to geographic features (mountains) that limited their size. • Typical Greek city-states were about 50-500 square miles big and had populations smaller than 20,000. • Because of the small populations, city-states were typically close-knit communities.

11. Early Greeks • Center of the city-state was called the agora. • People of the city-state came here to conduct business and have public gatherings. • Male citizens would meet at the agora to discuss politics or to hear speeches from politicians. • The agora was also used for: • Festivals & athletic events. • Place for statues, temples, & other public buildings.

12. Early Greeks • Each city-state was independent and practiced whatever form of gov’t worked best for them. • City-states varied between 4 different types of gov’t: • Monarchy • Aristocracy • Oligarchy • Tyrant

13. Early Greeks • The earliest form of city-state gov’t was a monarchy*. • Gov’t where king/queen have supreme power. • Was most common; Greek city-states started with this form, but slowly changed to other types. • Aristocracy is a type of gov’t in which the upper class/nobility rule the city-state. • Upper class would rule city-state, not one person.

14. Early Greeks • Oligarchy was a form of gov’t that is ruled by a few individuals, not one. • Biggest difference between oligarchy & aristocracy was: • Ruling power in oligarchy dependent on wealth/land ownership, not inherited social class (aristocracy). • Tyrants were people who took power without being of royal birth (taking throne illegally). • Tyrants would get power by appealing to lowest classes (most people)

15. Homework #2 - 1/15/13 • What is a polis? • What limited the size of city-state’s in Greece? • What was an agora used for? • Define what an aristocracy is. • Define an oligarchy.

16. Early Greeks • Greeks create the idea of citizenship. States that: • Citizens are loyal to their country. • Entitled to protection from gov’t. • As tyrants showed, lower classes could have influence over governments. • Because of this new-found power, lower classes demanded more say in gov’t.

17. Early Greeks • Two men lead to the creation of democratic ideas in Ancient Greece: • Solon • Cleisthenes • Solon elected to power in Athens in 594 B.C.; creates 4 social classes based on wealth. • Also allows ALL citizens of Athens to serve in the assembly (lawmaking body).

18. Early Greeks • Cleisthenes elected to power in Athens in 500 B.C.; increases power of citizens even more. • Reorganizes assembly by taking power away from nobles; places ALL citizens into 10 tribes based on where they lived. • Not based on wealth or family lines. • Creates the Council of 500 which helped assembly govern city-state.

19. Early Greeks • Council of 500 was made up of 50 men from each of the 10 tribes. • Each member: • Had to be at least 30 yrs. old. • Chosen by lot (name drawn from hat) • Served 1 year. • Could be re-elected one time. • High rate of turnover (1 year term) in council allowed for every citizen to participate.

20. Early Greeks • Council members could suggest laws for the assembly to consider making official laws. • Council of 500 served as the beginning of democratic form of gov’t. • Council was a form of “direct democracy*”. • * - where ALL members of society meet & vote on laws; U.S. uses indirect democracy.

21. Early Greeks • Not all citizens were allowed to take part in Athens’ new gov’t. • Women, slaves, & foreigners were not allowed to be members of gov’t. • Under direct democracy, Athenians were also: • Expected to serve in army when needed. • Served on juries.

22. Homework #3 – 1/17/13 • What 2 ideas did citizenship state? • What class of people demanded more say in government because of tyrants? • What 2 men helped create democracy of Athens? • How long did members of the Council of 500 serve? Why was that beneficial to other people of the city-state? • What form of democracy was the Council of 500? • Who was NOT allowed to take part in the Council of 500? • What other responsibilities were Athenians expected to do under a direct democracy?

23. Early Greeks • Myths have been used by civilizations to explain their beliefs of the world around them. • Greeks used myths to explain the creation of the world or beliefs they had as a culture. • Myths were also used to explain natural events that weren’t controlled by man.

24. Early Greeks • Some examples of myths were: • Pandora’s Box • Theseus & the Minotaur • Prometheus & Fire • Atlas • Greek mythology was also blended into the religion that most Greeks believed in.

25. Early Greeks • Unlike other cultures, Greeks saw their gods/goddesses as part of their everyday life, not a being that should be revered. • Greeks believed that the Olympian gods/goddesses lived on top of Mount Olympus. • Was highest mountain in Greece. • Each city-state chose a god or goddess to protect it; usually had festivals to celebrate that specific god/goddess.

26. Early Greeks • The 12 Olympian Gods were: • Zeus – • Hera – • Poseidon – • Hades – • Hestia – • Ares – Supreme ruler of gods; Rain God & Cloud gatherer • Zeus’ wife (& sister); goddess of childbirth & marriage • Zeus’ brother; God of water • Zeus’ brother; god of the underworld/death • Zeus’ sister; Goddess of the Hearth • Zeus & Hera’s son; God of War

27. Early Greeks • The remaining Olympian Gods: • Athena – • Apollo – • Aphrodite – • Hermes – • Artemis – • Hephaestus – • Zeus’ daughter; Goddess of reason, intelligence, • art, & literature • Zeus’ son; God of music, archery, light, & healing • Zeus’ daughter; Goddess of love, desire, & beauty • Zeus’ son; fastest god & messenger of Zeus • Zeus’ daughter; Goddess of hunt, moon, chastity • Zeus & Hera’s son; God of fire and forge

28. Early Greeks • City states honored the gods & goddesses using: • Holy Festivals • Olympics • Fearing an angry god would punish their city-states, Greeks would hold festivals honoring their specific god/goddess. • Sacrifices, public ceremonies, building statues/temples, and poetry recitals were common in honoring festivals.

29. Early Greeks • Olympics were also included in the religious festivals. • Olympics were: • Every 4 years • Honoring Zeus, not other gods • Took place in Olympia (near base of Mt. Olympus) • The oldest records of Olympic winners dates back to 776 B.C.; games were going on for centuries before that.

30. Early Greeks • Only men were allowed to compete in the athletic contests; women were not allowed to compete (or even attend games). • Some of the events that the men participated in were: • Javelin – throwing spears for distance/accuracy • Foot races – both short & long distances • Wrestling – unarmed, hand-to-hand combat • Boxing – competitors fight with ox hide-wrapped hands • Long Jump – measures distance of jump • Discus – throwing disc for distance/accuracy • Pancratium – mix between boxing & wrestling

31. Early Greeks • While Olympics became source of city-state pride, games were generally used to identify the best soldiers in Greece. • Winners of the events are rewarded by city-states; usually involved: • Olive-leaf wreath (good luck) • Parade welcoming them back as heroes • Free food & land for a year • Extra land for farming

32. Homework #4 – 1/28/13 • What are myths used for in past civilizations? • Where did Greek Olympian gods/goddesses live, according to beliefs? • What 2 methods did Greeks use to honor gods/goddesses? • How often were the Olympic games held? • How many women from each city-state were allowed to compete in the Olympics? • What were the Olympics used for, besides athletic competition?

33. Early Greeks • The two dominant city-states of Greece were: • Sparta • Athens • While Athens promoted fairness throughout their city, their main rival Sparta practiced a more military-like city-state. • When Sparta defeated other cities or villages, the enslaved people were known as helots.

34. Early Greeks • Government in Sparta was run by 2 kings. • The government was managed by 5 elected supervisors • Laws were proposed and passed by a Council of Elders (30 citizens typically 40 years or older). • The main goal of Spartan civilization was to have the best military possible.

35. Early Greeks • Sparta consisted of 3 social classes: • Citizens – spent time training to be soldiers. • Noncitizens – no political rights; lived on outskirts of city. • Helots – Provided the workforce as citizens given time to train. • At age 7, Spartan boys moved away from their families into military houses called barracks. • Spartan boys stayed at military barracks until age 20 when they joined the army; served until age 60 (forced to retire).

36. Early Greeks • Even if married, Spartan soldiers were expected to eat and sleep in military barracks, not at home with their families. • Spartan education focused on: • Discipline • Duty • Strength • Military skill • Spartan boys were taught to read just a little, most were uneducated.

37. Early Greeks • Roles of women in Sparta was to be tough, physically and emotionally. • Mothers/Wives told their soldiers to “Come back with your shield or come back on it” • Dead Spartan soldiers were carried back on their shields. • Education for Spartan women was focused on making them strong. • They spent time training on making themselves physically strong.

38. Early Greeks • Because husbands were frequently training/at war, spouses spent much of their time apart. • With families often apart, women were given more freedom, such as owning property. • If men were at war, women were expected to watch over his property while he was gone.

39. Homework #5 – 1/29/13 • What did the Council of Elder’s do? • What was the main goal of Spartan civilization? • What were the 3 levels of Spartan civilization? • What age did Spartan’s enter the army? • What were women allowed to own?

40. Early Greeks • Contrasting to Sparta, Athens used a democracy to rule their city-state. • However, only free Athenian men could vote. • Athenian civilization was divided into 4 categories: • Citizens • Women • Noncitizen Free people • Slaves • Each class, like citizen’s, also included several levels usually based on wealth.

41. Early Greeks • 1/3 of population in Athens were enslaved people who worked in all parts of Athenian society. • Slaves would sometimes work alongside their masters and also have the opportunity to earn wages • Some eventually were able to buy their freedom.

42. Early Greeks • Education was important to Athenian citizens. • Boys started school between the ages of 6-7 and was designed to prepare the boys to become good citizens. • School focused on studying logic, public speaking, math, writing, reading, poetry, & music. • Athletic training focused on developing strength and coordination.

43. Early Greeks • Women weren’t allowed to take part in Athenian gov’t.; they were expected to be good wives and mothers. • These roles were respected because women kept families strong, which strengthened society as well. • Compared to Spartan women, women in Athens had much less freedom. • Athenian women could not: • Own property, only inherit it if their fathers had no sons. • Attend school (Learned household chores from mothers). • Read and write.

44. Early Greeks • Persians, under command of Darius, conquer Anatolia (part of Greece) as part of their conquest to rule the world. • In 499 B.C., some Greeks in Anatolia revolt against Persian rule. • In support of revolt, Athens sends ships & troops to help the Greeks. • Persia puts down the revolt and decides to punish Athens for their role in the fight.

45. Early Greeks • In 490 B.C., Persia arrives on the plains of Marathon outside Athens. • A runner is sent from Marathon to Sparta to get more support, but it came too late. • Athenians draw Persians out, surround them, then attack in close quarters where Athenians were more effective. • After the battle, Persians lost 6,400 men while Athens lost only 192. • Following victory, runner is sent to Athens to tell of victory. • Runner ran 26 miles to city, told the news, collapsed and died.

46. Early Greeks • In 480 B.C., Persia invaded Greece again, under command of Xerxes (Darius’ son), hoping to conquer the lands for their own. • Greek city-states unify against Persians and form a plan to beat them. • An army of 300 Spartans guarded a narrow pass at Thermopylae against an army of roughly 250,000 Persian troops to prevent them from reaching Athens. • Spartans held off Persians for 3 days until they are overtaken by Persian forces.

47. Early Greeks • As Persia moved closer to Athens, Athenian soldiers lured the Persians towards the sea, turning the ground war into a naval battle. • The battle took place on a narrow body of water where the smaller, quicker Athenian ships could move better than the large Persian boats. • 300 Persian boats are sunk as Persia loses the battle and goes on to lose the war in 479 B.C.

48. Homework #6 • Who was allowed to vote in the Athenian democracy? • What was 1/3 of the Athenian population made up of? • What subjects did Athenian boys study while at school? • Why were women respected because of being good wives and mothers in Athens? • What 3 things were women not allowed to do in Athens? • Who was the leader of the Persians when they attacked Greece in 490 B.C.? • Who won at the battle of Marathon? • Who was Xerxes? • How many Spartans were left to fight at Thermopylae against the Persian army? • Why were Athenian boats more effective than Persian boats in the narrow body of water?