Ancient Greece Was a collection of separate lands where Greek-speaking people lived Includes 2,000 islands United through ancestry, language, religion, literature & Olympic Games Separated by geography, loyalty to their own city-state & type of government

Geography Shapes Greek Life Mountains Interfered with communication and unification Caused growth of independent city-states Seas and seaports Peninsula with irregular coastline Seaports encouraged development of trade Poor farmland Few crops could be grown; leads to small populations Lack of resources reinforces need to trade Climate moderate climate promotes outdoor life

Trade Routes

Warring City-States Greeks begin to identify more with the local area in which they live and new ways to govern (control) people develop Polis – city-state Acropolis – an outdoor marketplace where citizens met to discuss government Monarchy – a government ruled by a single king Aristocracy – government ruled by a small group of noble, landowning families Oligarchy – government ruled by a few powerful people Tyrant – nobles or wealthy people that took control of the government by appealing to the common people for support Democracy – rule by the people Helot – peasants forced into slavery

Rule & Order in Greek City-States “polis” is new formal government Includes a city & surrounding villages Citizens gather at fortified hilltop “acropolis”

Political Structures City-states have different forms of government Monarchy Oligarchy Tyrants

Athens Develops Democracy Athenian Democracy: Its Flaws Athens’ adult population: Circa 300,000 150,000 foreigners and slaves (not citizens) 100,000 women and others 50,000 male citizens (native born; land owning) with voting rights Direct democracy – the citizen had to be there to vote (typically 5,000-6,000 voted at a time) Only sons of wealthy were educated Women had few rights and no education Slavery played a major role in the economy

Sparta – Military State Sparta is isolated from much of Greece & builds a military state Sparta conquers neighboring Messenia & forces peasants (helots)to farm land Helots outnumber Spartans 20-1 Spartans fear revolt Spartans build up military in response

Spartan Daily Life Birth Age 7 Age 20 Age 30 Newborns brought to ephors (leaders) for examination Sickly babies left to die of exposure Healthy babies Boys lived with their parents until age seven Girls stayed with their parents until marriage, and learning weaving, cooking, cleaning Age 7 Boys sent to military school for strict physical training Weapons and endurance training Frequent beatings Taught basic reading and to be laconic (use brief speech) Age 20 Young men became soldiers Allowed to get married But lived in the barracks until age 30 Age 30 These soldiers became citizens Could vote and could live in their own homes Remained in the military until age 60

Democracy & Greece’s Golden Age Democratic principles & classical culture flourish during Greece’s golden age (no fighting, arts & sciences grow) Skillful politician Respected general Inspiring speaker Hires more public officials Creates “DIRECT DEMOCRACY” –citizens rule directly , not through representatives

Pericles’ Plan to Glorify Athens He buys gold, ivory, marble & hires artisans (skilled craftsmen) to build statues, monuments, temples & other works of art Builds Parthenon to honor goddess Athena Temple contains perfectly formed statues Classical art – values harmony, order, balance, proportion & beauty

Drama & History Greeks invent drama which includes chorus, dance & poetry TRAGEDY – tales of heroes’ downfalls; themes of love, hate, war COMEDY – makes fun of politics & respected people

Athenians & Spartans Go to War PELOPONNESIAN WAR ENDS GOLDEN AGE Sparta – better army Athens – better navy plague strikes Athens & kills many including Pericles SPARTA WINS

Rise of Great Philosophers – thinkers, “lovers of wisdom” Socrates (469-399 B.C.E.) Plato (427-347 B.C.E.) Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.) student of Plato Tutor to Alexander the Great Uses rules of logic to argue Created the basis for scientific inquiry There is absolute truth – “Know thyself” – he believes in questioning authority, actions Convicted of corrupting the youth – forced to drink hemlock Student of Socrates The Republic – an ideal society Founded the Academy, a school, which lasted 900 years

Alexander the Great Conquers Persia & Egypt & extends empire to Indus River in northwest India

Alexander’s Legacy His empire collapsed after his death His conquests spread Greek culture throughout ancient world This time in history is known as the Hellenistic Period

Greece’s Classical Legacy DEMOCRACY – citizens take part in government SCIENCE & MATH – Pythagoras, Euclid & Archimedes ART & ARCHITECTURE – beauty, proportion, temples with columns, Parthenon HISTORY & LITERATURE – comedy, tragedy, epic poems PHILOSOPHY – dignity of the individual, wisdom, reason