ANCIENT GREECE & ROME

2. Mycenaeans came next around 1400BC and conquered Crete ANCIENT GREECE Early Civilizations of Greece developed in geographic isolation due to mountains and was influenced by location by the Mediterranean sea. 1. Minoans were the 1st Greek civilization around 1750BC on the Island of Crete 2. Mycenaeans came next around 1400BC and conquered Crete

Greek City States Athens Sparta The Greeks began to spread throughout the Balkan Peninsula and divide into City States called a Polis – think a country that is centered around a major city There were many city states with Athens and Sparta being among the most powerful Greek City States Athens Sparta

Sparta's Warriors Video Clip

Development of Modern Government Ancient Greece is particularly important to modern society as it is often considered to be where democracy, or government by the people, began Athens was the first major city state to have a form of limited democracy Only males, usually the wealthy and educated, were allowed to have a say in Athens’s democracy by being apart of the cities assembly Women and Slaves were excluded

The Expansion of Greek Thought Greek thought and culture were spread throughout the Mediterranean when Alexander the Great, a Macedonian king, conquered the peninsula and then the rest of the greater area

The Hellenistic Age and Contributions Alexander’s proliferation of Greek thought and culture throughout the Mediterranean is called the Hellenistic Age – around 325 B.C. to 145 B.C when Rome conquered the Greek mainland During this age, and before it in Classical Greece – around 600 B.C to 325 B.C. - many important contributions were made that still influence our world today Among them were: philosophy, medicine, art, architecture, literature and mathematics

Alexander the Great Video

Famous Greek Philosophers Socrates – lived around 470 to 400 B.C. – best known for the Socratic method which employs continuous question asking to draw out answers that people already know. Only known to us through the Writings of Plato

Famous Greek Philosophers Plato – lived around 428 to 348 B.C. – best know for his work The Republic in which he lays out his ideal society as one where wise Philosopher Kings rule the lives of citizens. Founded the School The Academy at Athens

Famous Greek Philosophers Aristotle – lived around 384 B.C to 322 B.C. - the best known student of Plato and later teacher to Alexander the Great. Studied almost everything but best known for formal study of logic, zoology, medicine and basic scientific method. Founded the Lyceum or educational institution just outside of Athens

Ancient Greek Philosophy Video

Greek Architecture The Parthenon The Lincoln Memorial

Ancient Rome Notes

Ancient Rome Rome’s history begins on the Italian peninsula when the Roman people drove the Etruscans from the peninsula around 500 B.C. making them a main power By 270 B.C. Rome controlled most of the peninsula

Ancient Rome In time the people of Rome developed their state as a republic where elected officials in the Senate controlled the society Patricians vs. Plebians Part of what made Rome successful was that they educated all their citizens, girls and boys, and were fair with the people they conquered

Roman Expansion Around 130 B.C. Rome begins to expand beyond the peninsula, eventually coming into contact with another major Mediterranean power, Carthage, which lies on the Northern Middle part of Africa Rome fights several wars against Carthage for control of the Mediterranean Sea that was important for trade Known as the Punic Wars These wars last for about 100 years with Rome eventually winning Rome would then go on to control most of the Mediterranean, including the Greeks and the remnants of Alexander’s Empire

Map of the Mediterranean World at the time just before the Punic Wars

The Expansion of Roman Rule

Roman Republic Declines Due partly to the great wealth that was accumulated from controlling Mediterranean trade, Rome began to become a society of excesses Greed and self-interest replaced virtues such as simplicity, hard work, and devotion to duty The Senate became corrupt – reforms were needed Unable to resolve its problems peacefully, Rome plunged into a series of civil wars Powerful generals would take power from time to time and two rose to dominate Roman politics: Julius Caesar and Pompey In 58 B.C. Julius Caesar defeated Pompey and essentially became a dictator of Rome, although he kept the Senate intact

The Roman Empire Age Fearing too much power in the hands of one man, Julius Caesar was killed sparking a major civil war between his supporters and those opposed His supporters eventually won and his Nephew Octavian was placed in power with the title of Augustus or exalted one Augustus ushered in the Empire age, where one or two people held ultimate authority, and an age called the Pax Romana The Pax was a 200 year period of relative peace within the Empire that allowed Rome to expand to most of the then known world – an area roughly the size of the U.S.

Evolution of the Romans

Roman Aqueduct – Carries fresh water in to Roman cities

The army was professionalized (20 year enlistment; good pay and pensions)                                                                                        The basic military unit was the legion, each of which included about 5,000 men A typical Roman Centurion – Officer who commanded roughly a 100 Men A Roman Legionaire – Basic Military Unit – Heavy Infantry

Roman Gladius short sword, 1st century A. D Roman Gladius short sword, 1st century A.D. Carried by the Roman legionnaires during the conquest of Europe and Britain

Roman catapult Roman armor Infantry Shields Roman fort

Evolution of our Alphabet

Roman and Greek God Comparisons Jupiter Zeus Neptune Poseidon Pluto Hades Juno Hera Mars Ares Saturn Cronus Venus Aphrodite Cupid Eros Apollo Bacchus Dionysus Mercury Hermes

– place of entertainment Roman Amphitheater The Colosseum – place of entertainment

Roman Empire Video