The Mycenaeans and Homer Greek Settlements The Land of Greece Athens Democracy The Persian Wars

1. The Mycenaeans and Homer Greek Settlements The Land of Greece Athens Democracy The Persian Wars Religion and the gods Temples The Olympic Games Roman Home Greek Women Education Theater and Actors Craftsmen Learning and Inventions

2. The first Greeks were called the Mycenaeans. They ruled southern Greece from 1600 to 1200 BC Mycenae was their most important city. The Mycenaeans were warriors who set out from their fortified cities for the Mediterranean, looking for metals such as copper, tin, and gold. Their civilization collapsed around 1200 BC Their adventures were told by the poet Homer in his poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. (A) CITADEL Mycenaean chiefs lived in fortified hilltop citadels. Each chieftain controlled the land around this, and traded its produce, pottery, and weapons. The chieftains would join together to carry out raids overseas. (B) PALACEEach citadel had a brightly painted palace. Its largest room was a central hall. Here the chieftain met visitors and feasted with other warriors. (C) THE LION GATEThe Mycenaeans were fine craftsmen of stone. The lion gate at Mycenae still stands after more than 3,000 years.

3. When the warriors returned home they hung their shields on the walls of the chieftains hall. The Mycenaeans spoke Greek. Their writing, called Linear B, was in syllables instead of single letters. Homer wrote of the great palace of the Mycenaean king, Nestor of Pylos. This is a reconstruction of its throne room. It was burned by raiders in about 1200 BC, but archaeologists uncovered its remains. This gold death mask of a warrior was one of the most spectacular finds in the graves at Mycenae. It dates from around 1550 BC.

4. When the Mycenaean civilization collapsed, Greeks scattered across the Aegean. By the 9th century BC, Greeks had settled across mainland Greece and in what is now southern Turkey and Cyprus. Greek traders then began trading with rich civilizations of the east. By 750 BC the Greeks had also moved to the west coast of Italy in search of iron, and later began settling there. By the 6th century BC there were Greek settlements throughout the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions, and Greeks were mingling with many native peoples - Celts, Etruscans in Italy, and the wild Scythians of the Black Sea coast. Each settlement had its own system of government. In Egypt, Greek traders were given their own trading post, Naucratis. They brought silver and oil to exchange for corn. (A) ITALYThe Greeks settled in southern Italy and Sicily after 750 BC These settlements became some of the richest cities in the Greek world. (B) EUBOEA It was sailors from Euboea who first traded with the east and then made the first Greek settlements to the west of Greece. (C) PHOENICIANS These seafaring peoples also settled across the Mediterranean. They became rivals of the Greeks. Greek homeland 1100-750 BC The first colonies 750-700 BC New Greek settlements 700-580 BC The Phoenicians - rivals of the Greeks

5. There was constant trade between the Greek settlements. Spare grain or vegetables could be exchanged for goods such as metals, pottery, and cloth. The Mediterranean can be a stormy sea and shipwrecks on its rocky coasts were common. Some shipwrecks have been found by modern archaeologists.

6. Corinth was the most powerful Greek city of the 7th century BC. It had a fine position between the east and west and was a major shipbuilding centre. Its pottery, often painted with animals and plants from the east, is found throughout the Mediterranean. Bronzecauldrons were given as dedications to the gods. Over 500 have been found at Olympia, the site of the Olympic games. Craftsmen decorated them with exotic animals copied from the east. These animals are griffins. Kouroi were life-size male statues often standing over a grave. Their design was influenced by the east and Egypt.

7. Greece is not a rich farming land. There are many mountains and there is too little rain in the hot summers. Farming had to take place on the plains or on terraced hills. Barley was the main cereal crop because it needed less water than wheat. Olives and vines also grew well and often they were sold abroad in return for more grain. Sheep and goats grazed on the dry mountains.Farmers plots were small. When a farmer died, his plot would be divided among his sons. One result was that the plots became even smaller and many Greeks could not survive on the land. They were forced to find new homes overseas.Greece had very few metals, although there was iron. This could be used for agricultural tools and weapons.(A) PLOUGHINGThe soil was ploughed often to help it hold the rain. Sowing took place in December, with the harvest in May.(B) VINEYARDSVines were grown on terraces cut into the hillsides.(C) OLIVE GATHERINGOlive oil was one of the main exports of ancient Greece. The olive trees grew well in the dry soil and were often planted among the barley.

8. These painted figures of a pig and hare show the pleasure Greeks took in animals. The wooden ploughs cut a line through the soil. The farmer then had to break up the soil by hand. Oxen were prized possessions because they saved a lot of back-breaking work. This beautifully painted pot shows the god of wine, Dionysus, at sea. The mast of his ship is heavy with grapes. Around him dolphins play in the water. This picture is from a wall painting in a tomb. It shows that Egyptians caught and prepared fish to eat. Fresh fish was a welcome extra food. Here a fishmonger cuts one up.

9. From the 8th century BC Greeks began to build cities. They were often built around a large rock to make them easier to defend. Greeks were proud of their cities, which had many fine buildings. Athens was surrounded by the plains of Attica, which provided food and silver mines and gave the city wealth to trade and to build warships. By 480 BC, when the Persians invaded Greece, it was the richest and most powerful Mediterranean city and was able to lead the fight against the Persians. (A) HOUSINGAthenian houses were not grand. The walls were of unbaked brick or timber, roofed with clay tiles. Athenian women normally stayed inside the home. (B) PARTHENONThe Parthenon was the largest building on the Acropolis, which was a rocky hill overlooking the city. It was built to honor Athena, the goddess of Athens. (C) ENTRANCE The Acropolis was the religious and ceremonial centre of Athens and had a fine marble entrance.

10. Athena This stone, found in Athens, reads 'I am the boundary stone of the Agora.' The goddess Athena was the patron of Athens and legend said that it was she who had introduced the olive, the main crop of Athens, to Attica. This is a copy of an enormous statue of her by the sculptor Phidias. It was placed inside the Parthenon. The Agora was the marketplace. It was surrounded by many fine buildings, including stoas - long, open buildings with columns - where men discussed their business and ideas. Pericles Pericles was the leading politician of Athens from 460 to 430 BC He helped set up an Athenian empire.

11. One of the major achievements of Athens was to involve its citizens in the running of its affairs. This system of government is known as democracy, or rule by the people. In Athens, in fact, only men over 20 were classed as citizens and could vote. There were no votes for women, children, foreigners, or the many slaves in the city. Every year, about 700 posts could be filled by citizens. They ranged from generals and treasurers to the keeper of the prison and street cleaners. All except the generals were selected for a year at a time by drawing lots from men over 30. Citizens could become jurors in trials, responsible for deciding whether an accused person was guilty or innocent. (A) ASSEMBLY The Assembly met on the Pnyx, a hill in Athens, about 40 times a year. As many as 8,000 citizens could attend. (B) A CITIZENS VIEW Meetings of the Assembly began early in the morning and could continue until dark. They were often rowdy. Sometimes decisions made in the heat of the debate were overturned the next day when emotions were calmer. Votes were taken by a show of hands. (C) DEBATES Every month the Assembly discussed the city’s defense and the state of its corn reserves.

13. Because most Greek cities were short of land and food, they would often fight with each other. Battles would take place at set times of the year when men were not needed to work in the fields. It was considered very unfair to attack at other times. Soldiers had shields and spears. Battles were fought by both sides pushing, shoving, and jabbing at each other until one army gave up and fled. Usually not many men were killed. In 490 BC when the Persians invaded Greece, the Athenian army faced them on the plain of Marathon to the north of the city. To every ones surprise, they pushed the Persians back towards the sea. A story says a runner raced back to Athens with the good news. This inspired the Marathon race. (A) PHALANX The soldiers fought linked together in phalanxes (rows of men), probably about eight deep. The soldiers had to be well trained to hold a strong line together in the heat of the battle. (B) WEAPONSThe main fighting weapon was a wooden spear tipped with iron. It was used to prod an enemy until he was wounded, or until he turned and ran.

14. This plan shows the battlefield of Marathon. The Athenians and their allies pushed the Persians back toward their ships, killing more than 6,000 of them.

15. The Greeks had always been good seamen and some of the cities had their own navies with warships called triremes. The trireme had three banks of oars. It needed about 170 men to row it. It did not carry artillery, and there were 30 armed men on board at the most. In battle, the trireme would crash head on into the weakest part of the enemys ship - its side. The ships crew had to make sure that the side of their ship was not exposed to attack. One of the great Athenian naval victories was at Salamis in 480 BC The Persians had invaded Greece with a large navy. The Athenians managed to lure the Persian ships into narrow water and destroyed them. (A) PERSIAN SHIPS The Persians had soldiers ready to board the Greek ships but they were unable to get close enough. (B) TRIREME The trireme was a war machine with no living space on board. It was usually beached at night.

16. This map shows what might have happened at the battle of Salamis. The Persians, with their allies the Phoenicians, sailed between the island of Salamis and the mainland and the Greeks attacked from the side. The Persians had no room to turn around or escape. A trireme similar to those built by the Greeks has been reconstructed and rowed. This has shown us that it must have been difficult to hear orders above the noise of the sea. A top speed of 10 miles an hour was possible.

18. Pantheon

20. Greek temples are found in two styles: Doric (left) on the mainland and in the Greek cities of Italy, and Ionic (right) in the cities on the coast of what is now Turkey. Notice the difference in the decoration of the columns.

22. Events

30. Theories and Inventions