Europe

Great Cities

Ancient Heritage Great History

Ancient Greece and Rome established a standard of excellence by which later societies measured their culture. Parthenon in Athens Greece: Temple to the goddess Athena completed in 438 BC 2000 BC – 476 AD

Ancient Greece Athens and Sparta Two major city states each had their own government, laws, and army. Geography led to trade and borrowing of beneficial ideas Mountains cut them off from each other Developed individual city- states known as polis

Athenian Contributions Social – Pluralistic Society Encouraged free expression, new ideas, and change Political – Direct Democracy All native-born free males, citizens over 18, took part in lawmaking assembly. Citizens were educated, loyal, and willing to run the city-state

Spartan Contributions Social – Monolithic Society Only one way of thinking and behaving Political – Totalitarian State Government controlled every part of the lives of its people-limited freedom and demanded complete loyalty

Ancient Rome People were united under one government centered in Rome and they expanded their territory through wars. Political concepts, ideas, and laws originated during the Roman Empire. “Every road leads to Rome…”

Roman Contributions Social Architecture Massive structures Engineering Extensive roads and bridges Apian Way – aqueducts carry water from country to cities Language Latin of Rome is the basis of Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, Romanian, and English

Roman Contributions Political Republic – Government had to run by elected officials. Rome was large, so people couldn’t effectively participate directly in running the government Real power held by Senate – represented upper class Two Consuls: served as heads of state Twelve Tables of Law – protected Roman citizens Justice – innocent until proved guilty

Attracted the poor and slaves because of preaching’s of equality and brotherhood In 312 AD, Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and the church became one of the most important institutions in western Europe. Roman Contributions Religion Growth of Christianity

The Fall of Rome Political Corrupt government, assassinations common, power went to strongest general Economic Heavy taxation, high unemployment, decline in trade Social Selfish attitude, Lack of patriotism In 395 BCE Rome divided into two parts: Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) Capital: Constantinople Flourished Western Roman Empire Capital: Rome Declined into Dark Ages

The Middle Ages Early Middle Ages ( C.E) Late Middle Ages (1000 – 1500 C.E.) Both Ages made social, political, economic, and religious contributions

Early Middle Ages: Contributions Social and Political: Feudalism Social Classes: Kings, lords, knights, vassals, peasants (or serfs) and townspeople Social Mobility was non-existent Kings, lords, and knights were noble elites bound by code of behavior known as chivalry Only relief peasants or serfs had was Christian promise of heaven as a reward for a good life

Early Middle Ages: Contributions In 1054 AD the Christian Church in Europe split into two churches Eastern or Orthodox Became church of Byzantine Empire and Russia Roman Catholic Church Dominant religious institution in Western Europe

Late Middle Ages Anti-Semitism as Jews were put in ghettos Muslim Persecution Considered enemies of church Crusades (holy wars) against Turks Crusades resulted in an exchange of ideas from contact with the advanced Muslim world People became curious about the world around them; renewed interest in learning began Main Contribution in Religion – Catholic Church

Renaissance (1350 – 1650 AD)  Began in Italy – 14 th Century  Rebirth of the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome  Renewed interest in secular and worldly matters  Emphasis upon uniqueness and worth of the individual

Renaissance: Contributions  Science  Copernicus  Heliocentric theory – sun center of universe with mathematical formulas  Galileo Galilei  Telescope  Against what church taught and tried as heretic (a Christian that disagrees with official Church doctrine)

The Protestant Reformation  Objected to the teachings of the Catholic Church church and attempted reformation  Spread his ideas through by using the Printing Press Martin Luther

Reformation: Contributions Protestant: looked to Bible as source of truth Calvinism: predestination and the theory of the elect Henry VIII of England: Act of Supremacy in 1543 which created and established a national religion

Age of Exploration and Colonization (1450 – 1750) Portugal Prince Henry the Navigator (school for sailors – went down African coast) Bartholemeu Dias (reached the Cape of Good Hope) Vasco da Gama (rounded cape and reached India) – water route safer and more profitable than overland Spain Christopher Columbus Ferdinand Magellan (first to circumnavigate the earth) Desire to find a new route to the riches of Asia

Colonies: The effects and the impact of building empires Competition for colonies led to war among European powers Ethnocentric Attitude: Mistreatment of natives (Mayas, Aztecs, Incas) Slave Trade: Violations of human rights and harmful effect on development of African civilizations Christianity spread throughout world Establishment of Colonial Empires

Europe Egypt, Middle East, China Large quantities of rainfall Limited need for irrigation Limited need for centralization of authority Few major geographic boundaries Limited Rainfall Agriculture dependent on large public works Highly centralized authority Major geographical boundaries Does Geography Matter? Europe

Does Geography Matter? In Europe river systems provide Drinking water Sanitation Sewer/trash disposal Trade opportunities Not required for agriculture Agriculture is based on rainfall Allows for urbanization Farmers Craftsmen Aristocracy Individualized Wealth Independent of State Origins of the Middle Class