Greek Government & Society

Main Idea Greeks sought to improve their lives through religious practices and experiments in government

Greek Culture in the homeric age 1. Few Greeks during this period could write, so most communication was oral, or spoken. 2. Traveling poets sang or recited folk songs, ballads, or epics. 3. Most of this oral poetry was compiled into two great epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey.

The Iliad & the Odyssey 4. The author was a blind poet named Homer. 5. Iliad- tells the story of the Trojan War 6. Odyssey tells what happened after the war to the Greek hero Odysseus.

Trojan Horse

Greek Government & Society 7. The word odyssey refers to any long, adventure-filled journey. 8. Greek religious beliefs - explanations of nature and emotions not concerned with afterlife. 9. Believed religion could bring rewards in this life.

Greek Government & Society 10. Greeks used myths- traditional stories about gods and goddesses to explain their world. 11. Greek gods and goddesses had human form. 12. Greeks believed that these gods and goddesses spoke to people at oracles and that they could learn about the future.

Perseus defeats Medusa Zeus Apollo and the Muses

Greek Government & Society 13. To please the gods, Greeks held the Olympic Games in honor of the god Zeus every four years beginning in 776 B.C. 14. Athletic contests like boxing, foot races, javelin throwing, and wrestling. 15. Winners received wreathes of wild olive branches. Its worth noting that all competitors had to do so NAKED.

Greek Government 1. Most city states were controlled by a small group of land-owning nobles called aristocrats or “best men.” 2. Greek city-states controlled by these aristocrats were called aristocracies. 3. Aristocrats Controlled almost all aspects of Greek society, government, economy, and the military.

Greek Government 4. Over time, people grew weary of the noble, or rich, making all of the decisions. 5. A new soldier called the hoplite emerged for the common people. Hoplite: heavily armed Greek infantry who carried long spears and fought in closely spaced rows.

Greek Government 6. As the hoplites became more powerful, they demanded more rights in its government. 7. Poor citizens began to look for leaders who could provide a better life than the nobles were providing.

Greek Government 8. Between 650 B.C. and 550 B.C. many people called tyrants seized power illegally. Tyrants: rulers who seized power by force, but had the support of the people. 9. Many ruled well, but many ruled harshly - tyranny. (absolute power used brutally)

Greek Government 10. After 650 B.C. many Greek city-states overthrew their tyrants. The idea of popular government began to take root. popular government: The idea that people can and should rule themselves. 11. Athens developed a form of democracy –a government where the citizens take part. 12. Democracy ultimately developed from the idea of popular government.

Greek Government 13. In theses developing democracies only a small part of the population had full political rights. 14. Women and slaves excluded. 15. Some city-states like Sparta continued with a king (monarchy) but with power limited by a council of citizens.