Chapter 7 Section 2 Greek Politics and Society

The Trojan War The Trojan War was fought over a woman, Helen. She was the wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta (a city in Greece), and she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

The Trojan War Paris, a shepherd from Troy (a city in present day Turkey) and the son of Priam, king of Troy, kidnapped her from Sparta and brought her back home to Troy. Menelaus and his allies laid siege to Troy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_36-H0-Vsps&feature=player_embedded

Siege a prolonged effort to gain or overcome something.

The Trojan War The Spartans could not break through Troy’s walls. The defeated Troy by hiding soldiers inside of a giant horse and then told all of their troops to hide.

The Trojan War When the citizens of Troy found the horse and that the troops had left they brought the horse inside the gates.

The Trojan War The Spartan soldiers snuck out of the horse and opened the gates for the rest of the army to enter and destroy Troy.

Polis A city-state or independent communities, composed of villages and surrounding farmland.

Polis Greek root word for “politics” These Polis made up Greece.

Aristocracy Government run by the nobility, or group of powerful landowners. The nobility ruled the city-states of Greece.

Sponsor To pay for something. Citizens of a Greek Polis would sponsor athletic events, religious festivals, and dramas.

Democracy Government ruled by the people, citizens play an active role. Developed around 700 B.C., coming from the Greek words demo (people) and kratos (rule).

Democracy All male citizens, not just nobles, could play a role in government.

Athens The most famous city-state of ancient Greece. By 450 B.C. about 225,000 people lived in Athens.

Athens Athens was a great seafaring power, it became rich with trade. Athens had a strong democracy.

Athens Women in Athens did not have full citizenship. They could not vote or own property. Athens also had many slaves who were often captives from wars.

Sparta Was more inland and did not have a sea for trade. By 600 B.C. it had conquered and enslaved all the people around it.

Sparta The military and fighting was very important to Spartan culture. At age seven boys were sent to camps to learn how to fight. Sparta did not have a democracy and was ruled by nobility.

Greek Wars The Persian Empire threatened Greece by taking over some of its colonies in Asia.

Tyrant A ruler who governs by threats of force.

Greek Wars Darius, the ruler of Persia, decided to invade Greece in 490 B.C. Greek soldiers defeated Darius and the Persians at Marathon.

Greek Wars Ten years later, Darius’s son Xerxes, again attempted to conquer Greece

300 Battle of Thermopylae thər-MOP-i-lee Occurred in August or September 480 B.C. A group of 300 Spartans held against the Persian forces of Xerxes that number by ancient accounts in the millions for 7 days.

Greek Wars Athens and Sparta joined together to defeat the Persians at the sea battle of Salamis.

Peloponnesian Wars By 431 B.C., fearing the growing power of Athens, Sparta launched a series of attacks against the city. 404 B.C. Athens surrendered to Sparta and the age of Greek Democracy died.