Ancient Greece (2000 B.C. – 300 B.C.)

Set-up of Ancient Greece Ancient Greece was not a united country Was a collection of separate lands where Greek-speaking people lived By 750 the Greeks set up the polis (city-state) A polis was made up of a city and its surrounding countryside At first the polis was ruled by a king or nobility

Government The first democracy was developed in Athens, Greece Democracy: People vote on the laws/a government by the people The democracy was direct but limited no slave, foreigners, or women could vote or participate

Greek Religion Greeks had several Gods that they believed controlled nature Examples: Zeus: father of Gods and mortals Eros: God of love Poseidon: God of the sea Hades: lord of the underworld Athena: Goddess of wisdom, war, justice and skill Greeks developed myths (traditional stories) about their Gods

He is the lover of Aphrodite. ?????? Gods/Goddesses He is God of the sky and king to all the other Gods. ??????? She is the queen of the Gods. She is incredibly jealous and would do anything to harm her cheating husband. ??????? She is the Goddess of love and was born from the sea. She is the prettiest goddess of them all. ???????? He is the god of fire and creates the armor the other gods wear. He is the lover of Aphrodite. ??????

Greek Philosophy Philosopher: a person determined to seek the truth These philosophers began to question the traditional beliefs that Gods controlled everything Philosophers made many advances because they were constantly questioning traditional beliefs ???????????????????????????????????????????????

Philosophers v Socrates Plato Aristotle To find yourself, think for yourself. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. Aristotle The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living differ from the dead.

Socrates Greek philosopher who taught people to discard any belief that could not be proved through reason. Socrates was executed because he was accused of turning people away from tradition The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance -Socrates The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance -Socrates

Athens vs. Sparta

300: Battle of Thermopylae Spartans and others vs. Persians http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McwmRQUTfKk

Alexander the Great He united the warring city-states under one large empire He conquered parts of Egypt and the Middle East which he included in his empire Cultural diffusion took place because he united many different cultures under one empire

Decline in Power Empire was weakened after Alexander’s death Peloponnesian war: Athens vs. Sparta Empire was weakened after Alexander’s death Rome eventually came to power and took over ancient Greece