Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece

1. Minoans

   • 2000 b.C civilization emerged
     • Around 1500 b.C the civilization misteriously disappeared
   • Built magnificent palaces
     • Palace of Knossos
       • Home to almost 20,000 people
         • Minoans worked to maintain the palace
       • Center of Minoan culture, religion, and economy
   • Left behind written records
     • We can´t read the language
   • MYTHS
     • king Minos and the Minotaur's labyrynth
   • Grew wealthy through trade in the Mediteranean
     • Olive Oil, wine, cloth, pottery, and metalwork
   • Strong Navy
   • Didn´t build city walls
   • Polytheistic religion

2. Myceneans

   • Mycenae was their main city
     • Built high on a hill
     • Surrounded by thick walls
       • That was thought to be built by Cyclopes
     • A network of roads, connected Mycenae to other other cities
   • Picked influences from Minoan Culture
     • Art, architecture, religion, writing, trade, metalworking, and shipbuilding
   • 1500 b.C They invaded Crete
   • Conquered Lands across the Eastern Mediterranean and Greece
   • 1200 b.c The civilization came to a violent end
     • Most of the cities were destroyed
     • The end of this civilization meant that Ancient Greece entered a period of decline that lasted until 950 b.C

3. City-states

   • Acropolis
     • Highest point in an Ancient Greek city
   • Agora
     • City´s marketplace
   • Polis
     • Independent political unit in which a dominant city rules the surrounding area
   • Geographic Isolation influenced how these city-states developed
   • Shared a common language, religion, heritage, and culture
     • but remained independent from each other
   • Established their own way of government
     • Monarchy
       • Ruled by a single person
     • Aristochracy
       • Ruled by a small group of elite, landowning families
     • Tyrany
       • Powerful men take advantage of a situation (often one that weakens the government) and takes the place as ruler
     • Oligarchy
       • Ruled by a few powerful citizens

4. Uniting Against the Persians

   • Persian Empire conquered lonia.
     • Lonians rebelled against Persia with the help of Athens
       • The Greeks claimed victory over Persia
         • 10 years after this battle in Marathon Darius´s successor invaded Athens.
           • Athens formed Alliances with Greek city-states.
             • After the Battle of Plataea, Persia never invaded greece again.

5. Pericles and Democracy

   • Pericles : Athens great leader.
     • expanded limited democracy into one that allows all male citizens to participate in democracy.
       • He paid jurors.
         • Direct Democracy
           • Citizens gathered together to vote on laws and policies.
             • Pericles guided Athens through a golden age.

6. The Athenian Empire

   • Delian League
     • Contribution against Persia
       • Athen´s powerful navy allowed Athens to rule the Mediterranean region and the Delian League.
         • Parthenon
           • The inspiring temple that was dedicated to Athen´s goddess Athena.
         • Sparta established its own alliance called Peloponnesian League.

7. Religion and the gods

   • The gods were considered immortal.
     • unhappy gods showed their displeasure by causing problems.
       • The top12 gods were the ones who lived in the Olympus.
         • Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athenea, Demeter, Dionysus, Hephaestus, Hermes and Poseidón.
     • This is how religion blended with mythology.

8. Philip of Macedonia

   • His ultimate goal was to conquered Persian Empire.
     • He created a professional army with a new method called phalanx.
       • He also created the use of catapult.
         • His son Alexander the great will soon surpass his achievments.

9. Alexander the Great

   • Alexander was well known as "the Great"
     • He set out to fulfill his father`s plans to conquered Persia.
       • He invaded and freed Persian-controlled Anatolia.
         • Alexander won the support of conquered people by honoring local traditions.
           • In Egypt he founded Alexandria.
             • It was one of the most important cities in the Ancient world..

10. Philosophy and Literature

    • Philosophy comes from a greek word "love of wisdom".
      • Philosophers tried to understand the universe.
        • Socrates was an Athenian philosopher
          • That studied the meaning of right and wrong.
            • He taught Plato one of the most influential philosophers in history
              • He taught Aristotle.
    • Homer was the most famous writer of epic poetry.

11. Colonization and Trade

    • Countryside didn´t have enough usable farmland to feed everyone
      • 750 b.C and 550 b.C city-states waged wars with one another for control over limited natural resources
    • Sent people overseas to establizh new colonies in places with more resources
      • City-states selected their colonists by lottery and prevented them from returning to Greece
        • The new colonies were self-governing and maintained close political and economical links with their parent city-states
    • WATER HIGHWAYS
      • Mediterranean and Black sea were easy to navigate
      • Sea Trade flourishes
        • Expert sailors carried raw materials from one place to another
        • Boosted Greece´s growing economy
        • Encouraged cultural diffusion
          • Ancient Greece had a strong cultural influence on Early Rome
          • Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet
            • Foundation of the modern alphabet
    • 600 b.C Introduction to coins

12. Athens

    • Helped shape thir approach to governing
    • Women were firmly controled by their husbands
    • Appreciated art, beauty, and intelligence
      • Athenian boys attended school if their families could afford it
        • After completing the education they went to a two year military training
      • Girls did not attended school
        • Lerned household skills at home
      • Poor Children worked from an early age
    • DEMOCRACY
      • Athens replaced its Monarchy to Aristocracy
        • Aristocratic families began to fight each other
          • Violence in Athens followed
          • In 594 b.C They responded to the crisis by intruducing a Solon
            • a trusted man with special powers in government
      • In 508 b.C Athens established democracy
        • form of government in which citizens have a direct role in governing

13. Arts and Architecture

    • Greeks loved theater
      • Plays were performed in amphitheaters
        • Comedy:was humorous and often mocked famous people.
          • Tragedy: was serious and unhappy endings.
    • Greek sculptors carved figures from marble, Wood, and bronce.
      • Colossus of Rhodes.
        • 100 ft tall bronce statue of Helios.
    • Democtratic art
      • Expressed beauty and harmony.

14. Sparta

    • Spartans lived in one of the most fertile areas in Greece
      • Eurotas river valley
    • Surrounded by mountains
      • Made attacking this city-state difficult
    • Their government was a blend between the rule of kings, elected officials, and the ruling class
      • Two kings shared the power
      • Officials were elected by citizens every year
      • Council of elders proposed laws
    • Helots
      • lowest social class
    • Soldiers considered an honor to die in battle
      • At seven years of age, boys were raised to be soldiers
        • Wore thin tunics and no shoes
          • Intense physical training and endless military drills created strong and obedient soldiers
            • When they were 20 they joined a military refimen
    • Husbands and wives spent much time apart
      • Women lived their daily lives independent from men
        • They could own land
    • Sparta had good soldiers, but had few artists, philosophers or scientists