The Ancient Greeks: From Cycladic Culture to Alexander's Empire

1. The Ancient Greeks By: Kelsie

2. The Cycladic and Minoan Culture • Cycladic culture- a group of about 200 islands east of the Greek mainland. • The Cyclades made a living by fishing and trading. • After about 2000 B.C. the Cyclades followed customs from more powerful cultures. • The Minoan culture began in 2700 B.C. in Crete. • They began as an agricultural society. • The Minoans built a large building called Knossos. • Knossos covered an area as large as about three football fields. Kelsie Anderson - History

3. The Mycenaean and Trojan Culture • The settlement at Mycenae started in about 1900 B.C. • The Mycenaean culture spread throughout the Aegean region. • The Minoan and Mycenaean cultures adapted each others ways. • The Trojans- Started at the city of Troy, the Trojan culture began in 2900 B.C. • The Mycenaean culture built a huge hollow horse and hid inside it. The Trojans then accepted it at a peace offering. • Then, the Mycenaeans defeated the Trojans. Kelsie Anderson - History

4. Pictures for Lesson One MycenaeanWeapons Trojan Horse Minoan Map Kelsie Anderson - History

5. To Be Greek And The Rise of the City-states • City-states were formed when people from neighboring villages to protect each other. • Most of the groups built forts on hilltops, called an acropolis. • The people of the city-states shared an ancestor, Hellen. • The called themselves Hellenes and their country Hellas. • The Greeks called people who couldn’t speak Greek barbarians. Kelsie Anderson - History

6. Athens and Sparta • Athens was a city-state and located on Attica. • After the Dark Age, the Athens ruled by an aristocracy. • The Athenians struggled for control of a city-state. • The Athenians asked their leader, Solon, to make changes so he can end their struggles. • He divided them into classes based on wealth. • Sparta was also a city-state, located on the Peloponnesians Peninsula. • Only men in the ruling class were considered citizens of Sparta. • Sparta had a citizen assembly where they voted on laws, but didn’t suggest them. Kelsie Anderson - History

7. Pictures for Lesson Two Acropolis Athen Flag Spartan War Greek Writing Kelsie Anderson - History

8. The Persian Wars and The Age of Pericles • The Greek city-states fought over land and trade. • A common enemy was Persia. Persia built a huge empire including Assyria, Babylonia, Egypt, and the Greek city-states. • When a battle was won, a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens to tell about the victory. Athletes re-create this by running a marathon. • The Greeks defeated the Persians many times even though the Persians outnumbered the Greeks. • Pericles led the Athenians for most of the Athenian rule. • In 460 B.C. Pericles was elected leader for the Athens. • In 457 B.C. Pericles allowed every male citizen to hold any position in the government office. Kelsie Anderson - History

9. The Achievements and End of the Golden Age • Sophocles wrote tragedies, serious plays with sad endings. • Aristophanes wrote comedies, or plays that are funny. • When the Golden Age was going on, scientists studied human life and nature. • Soldiers were sent to Egypt so Pericles could make Athens the school of Greece. This started the Peloponnesian war. • A disease spread throughout the city when Pericles called all people from the countryside to the city. • Finally, the Athens surrendered to Sparta. Kelsie Anderson - History

10. Greek Philosophers • Philosophers also means “lovers of wisdom.” • Socrates called himself “gadfly” because he used criticism to get them into thinking about the best way to live life. • This annoyed the leaders of Athens and Socrates was ordered to drink poison. • Socrates drank the poison because he believed that it was important to obey the law. Kelsie Anderson - History

11. Pictures for Lesson Three Kelsie Anderson - History

12. The Making of an Emperor • Alexander The Great was born in 356 B.C. in Macedonia. • His mother’s name was Olympias, she was also Greek. • Alexander’s teacher was Aristotle. • At age 16, Alexander fought in the army. • At age 18, Alexander commanded the cavalry • Two years later, Philip died and Alexander became king. Kelsie Anderson - History

13. The Building Of an Empire • In 334 B.C. Alexander defeated the Persians. • King Gordius tied a knot to his chariot and stated if anyone untied the knot would rule Asia. • Alexander cut Gordius’s knot and was crowned king. • Alexander and his army also conquered Tyrein 332 B.C. • Alexander was pharaoh of Egypt after freeing them from the Persian rule. • Next, Alexander captured Babylon and Persepolis. Kelsie Anderson - History

14. The End of an Empire • Alexander led his army into Bactria and married a princess, Roxane. • Alexander wanted to lead his army into northern Africa. • Alexander died shortly before his 33rd birthday of an illness. • After his death, the empire began to break into separate parts. Kelsie Anderson - History

15. Alexander’s Legacy • Many of the cultures Alexander’s army conquered began to speak and write in Greek. • Alexander built many cities before his death. Many of Alexander’s cities were named Alexandria. • In Alexandria, Egypt a library contained more than 500,000 scrolls of papyrus. • In the museum, scholars exchanged ideas. Kelsie Anderson - History

16. Pictures for Lesson Four Kelsie Anderson - History