Unit 7 Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

How did Greece's physical geography shape its economic, social, and political development?

​

How democratic was Athens, and how has this shaped Western culture? Was Sparta as militaristic as popularly believed?

​

What caused the decline of ancient Greece?

​

How has ancient Greek Civilization impacted the development of Western civilization?

​

​

→ Geography

• Greece is made up of the Balkan & Peloponnesus Peninsulas; Aegean Basin shaped the economic, social, and political development of Greece.

Major geographic features: Southeastern-most region in Europe, surrounded by water on 3 sides with smaller peninsulas, mountains served as natural barriers and boundaries (prevented mass farming), and deep bays and natural habors along coastlines.

• The expansion of Greek civilization through trade and colonization led to the spread of Hellenic culture across the Mediterranean and Black seas.�→ Cultural Diffusion (spreading

your culture to other people)

​

Knowledge Check

What is cultural diffusion (in your own words):

When 2 different cultures come together to

Create a new cultural idea. For example,

Greek culture is a diffusion of ideas from

Mediterranean culture and Black Sea.

​

Which peninsulas made up Greece?

Balkan, Peloponnesus

​

Map Knowledge Check

Which number represents the location of

ancient Athens?

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

→ Economic and political Development

• Mountains → lack of arable land
• arable=Land that is suitable for growing crops
• Lack of arable land + overpopulation � = COLONIZATION

​

• The mountains of Greece divided the land

– leading to the rise of independent city-states

• In ancient times, Greece was NOT a united country.
• Another term for GREEK CITY STATE = polis

​

​

​

Knowledge Check

• Arable land is _________ for farming.

True or False: Greece had arable land?

​

​

2. What geographic feature was most common in Greece, causing it to be divided?

​

Another term for a Greek city-state is:

​

Knowledge Check

The lack of arable land in Greece contributed to an economic system based on:

• Manufactured goods
• Shipping and Trade
• Agricultural Production
• Lumber and Minerals

​

Which primary factor encouraged Greek city-states to develop different identities?

• Language
• Religion
• Economy
• Geography

​

​

​

​

→ Greek Mythology: based on polytheistic religion integral to Greece’s culture, politics, and ART

• Myths offered explanations of: natural events (e.g. storms), human qualities (e.g. envy), and life events (birth/death).
• Gods and goddesses were believed to live in Mt. Olympus.
• Key Gods and goddesses included: Zeus (king of Gods), Hera, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Aphrodite

→ Got IT FRom the Greeks?

• Many of Western civilization’s (our) symbols and images in literature, art, and architecture come from ancient Greek mythology.

Knowledge Check

Which statement best describes the origin of these terms: Achilles’ heel, Titanic, Trojan Horse,

• They are taken from Roman mythology
• They are taken from Greek mythology
• They are Egyptian gods
• They are found in the Epic of Gilgamesh

​

​

​

​

Greek social structure

​

Social structure

Men, women, and slaves all had clearly defined roles in Greek society

• Society was divided into free and enslaved populations.
• People became slaves by being captured as prisoners of war, born to enslaved parents, or by failing to repay their loans and debts.
• Enslaved people did not have power, political rights, or status.
• Most families owned slaves as household servants or laborers.

Legacy of Athens

Classical Athens developed the most democratic system of government the world had ever seen, although not everyone could participate in decision making. It became an inspiration for modern democracies.

Political Power

​

• Citizens (free adult males) had political rights and the responsibility of civic participation in government.
• Women and foreigners had no political rights.
• Slaves had no political rights.

→ Life In Greece: ATHENS

Stages in the evolution of Athenian government

​

Monarchy

Oligarchy

Tyranny

Democracy

Cruel, powerful government

→ KNOWLEDgE CHECK: Place the evolution of athenian government in correct order

​

​

I.

II.

III.

IV.

Democracy, Monarchy, Oligarchy, Tyranny

→ Life In Greece: ATHENS (democracy)

• Athenian Values:
• Personal expression - “be yourself”
• Education for males
• Pursue arts and sciences
• Serving in army or navy was a choice

​

• Remember:�Athens= artistic � & academics

​

• Democratic principles from Athens used in government today: Direct democracy, public debates, duties of the citizen (civics)

→ Life In Greece: ATHENS

Tyranny

Democracy

• Tyrants who took control of the government in Athens and worked for reforms�

Questions:

​

• What did tyranny mean in ancient Greece?

​

• Who were the two famous Greek tyrants?

​

• Who was the good tyrant?

→ Life In Greece: Sparta (oLIGaRCHY=rule by a small group)

• For over 200 years sparta had the most powerful army in Greece
• BUT all forms of individual expression were discouraged→ Spartans did not value or have time for the arts or self expression; rigid social structure
• Spartans Values
• Duty
• Strength
• Discipline...over beauty and freedom

Militaristic, aggressive

→ Athens and sparta: forced to come together

Soon Athens and Sparta will have to come together to hold off an intimidating force!

The �Persian�Empire!

​

I’m comin for ya, Greece!

→ Persian Wars (499-449 bce)

• The Persians had conquered most of the known world and had the largest empire to date.
• In 500 BCE, the Greek city-states rose up in rebellion against Persia→ the Ionian Revolt
• This revolt influenced Darius to launch an invasion on the Greek mainland (Remember Darius?)
• Darius vowed to burn Athens and landed his navy at Marathon

Questions:

​

• What event led to Darius launching an invasion on the Greeks?

​

• Where did Darius land to fight the Athenians?

→ Persian Wars (499-449 bce)

• Persian wars united Athens and Sparta against the Persian Empire.
• Athenian victories over the Persians at Marathon and Salamis left Greeks in control of the Aegean Sea.
• Athens preserved its independence and continued innovations in government and culture.
• Athens and Sparta formed the Delian League in case Persia came back, but they didn’t so the alliance fell apart.
• Delian League = military alliance between all Greek City-states

​

Golden Age after the Persian Wars

​

→ The Golden Age of Pericles

• Between the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars (coming soon), Athens experienced a Golden Age
• Who brought the Golden Age?
• Pericles
• wise, honest, fair, skillful politician
• His 3 Goals for Athens:

1. Strengthen and extend democracy (most men had an equal voice)

2. Rebuild Athens after its destruction in the Persian Wars

3. Glorify (honor) Athens by building the Parthenon

​

→ The Golden Age of Pericles

“We are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not the few.” -Pericles

​

• In a Direct Democracy- �each citizen can�participate and provide individual input.

You get a vote!

Pericles

You get a vote!

You get a vote!

Questions:

​

• What can each citizen do in a Direct Democracy?

​

​

​

​

• In this quotation, Pericles describes Athenian society as valuing:

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

• Military discipline
• Civic responsibility
• Religious freedom
• Economic opportunity

Question

​

Ancient Athens was responsible for developing which concept in government?

​

• Civil service
• Elected legislatures
• Direct democracy
• Written laws