Ancient Greece

Civilization Spreads to Greece Through trade and conquest civilization eventually spread to Greece.

Mycenaean Civilization The first Greeks for whom we have written record were the Mycenaeans.

The Mycenaeans were greatly influenced by Egypt and Mesopotamia.

*Question* How might the Phoenicians have contributed to this spread of civilization to Greece?

*Question* How might the Persians have contributed to this spread of civilization to Greece?

The Age of Homer Most information about the Mycenaeans come from two epic poems told by Homer, a blind poet. These epic poems are the Iliad and the Odyssey.

Video Clip: Epics and Legends

The Iliad The Iliad tells the story of Achilles a Greek hero during the Trojan War.

The Iliad included gods, goddesses, and talking horses.

The Odyssey The Odyssey tells of the struggles of the Greek hero Odysseus to return home following the Trojan War.

In the Odyssey, Odysseus encounters a sea monster, one eyed giants and a sorceress who turns men into swine.

*Question* Who was Homer?

*Question* Describe the stories told in the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey.

*Question* Why might a history scrutinize the content of these epics?

Though the historical accuracy of the Iliad and the Odyssey is questionable, the stories reveal a great deal about the values of Ancient Greece.

The heroes in both stories display honor, courage, and eloquence.

*Question* Why are the stories told in the Iliad and the Odyssey important, despite the fact that the accuracy of these stories questionable?

Trojan War Due to the Iliad and the Odyssey, the Mycenaeans are best remembered for their role in the Trojan War.

Since there is little evidence available about the Trojan War, the details regarding the Trojan War are unknown.

The Trojan War most likely began due to a bitter economic rivalry between the Greeks and the Trojans.

However, according to Greek legend the war began due to romantic reasons.

After the Trojan prince Paris kidnapped Helen the beautiful wife of a Greek king, the Mycenaeans set out to rescue her.

The Mycenaeans waged war against the Trojans over a period of ten years. Yet the Greeks were unable to penetrate the walls of Troy.

*Question* According to Greek legend, what was the cause of the Trojan War? How does this compare to what historians believe may be the cause?

*Question* What major obstacle did the Greeks face while waging war against Troy? How could the Greeks potentially overcome this obstacle?

Finally, a clever Greek named Odysseus order a large wooden horse to be built.

Odysseus, along with a number of Greek warriors, hid inside the wooden horse.

The rest of the Greeks sailed away in order to trick the Trojans.

Believing that they had finally won the war, the Trojans brought the wooden horse inside the walls of Troy and began to celebrate.

After all the Trojan went to sleep, the Greek warriors came out of the horse and opened the gates so that the Greek army could enter the city of Troy.

The Greeks quickly seized control of Troy and burned the city to the ground.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v-4Ug0IgVo&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUNTnMEYdnY

Shortly after the fall of Troy, Mycenaean civilization crumbled under the attack of sea raiders.

Following the fall of the Mycenaean Civilization, it would be nearly a century before two other Greek city-states, Sparta and Athens, would rise to prominence.

*Question* Describe walls of Troy how the Greeks finally penetrated the city?

*Question* What might crumbled have been a few the Mycenaean Civilization? reasons why

The Persian Wars Greek city-states began to rebel against the Persian presence in Greece

Eventually Athens and Sparta began to support the other Greek city-states. United, the Greeks eventually defeated the Persians.

The Peloponnesian War Following the Persian War, Athens emerged as the most powerful Greek city-state.

Many Greeks outside of Athens resented Athenian domination.

War broke out between Athens and Sparta in 431 B.C. Soon all of Greece became involved in a 27 year war known as the Peloponnesian War.

The Peloponnesian War was a long, violent and bitter conflict. Sparta eventually called upon a longstanding enemy for support, the Persians.

Athens was eventually defeated, ending their domination of the Greek world.

Fighting continued even after the end of the Peloponnesian War. For the next century, fighting continued to disrupt the Greek world.

As Greeks continued to battle among themselves, a new power rose in Macedonia, a kingdom to the north.

By 359 B.C., their ambitious ruler stood poised to conquer the fighting Greek city-states.

Alexander and the Hellenistic Age

Philip of Macedonia When Philip gained the throne in 359 B.C., he dreamed of conquering the Greek city-states to the south.

Philip of Macedonia Philip formed alliances with many Greek city-states. Philip defeated Athens and Thebes in battle, bringing all of Greece under his control.

Philip of Macedonia However, Philip had a much greater dream, conquering the Persian Empire.

Philip of Macedonia Philip was assassinated before he could achieve this dream. Assassination—the murder of a public figure, usually for political reasons

Alexander the Great His son Alexander succeeded Philip as king. Alexander was only 20 years old at the time.

Alexander the Great The Persian Empire stretched 2,000 miles from Egypt to India. However, the Persian Empire was losing strength.

Alexander the Great Alexander stretched his empire all the way to India before his soldiers became exhausted and refused to continue east.

Alexander the Great Although he never lost a battle, Alexander reluctantly agreed to turn back. Before Alexander could set out again, he struck a sudden fever.

Alexander the Great Alexander decided to give his empire “to the strongest” Following his death, his empire crumbled.

Hellenistic Culture Alexander helped bring about the Hellenistic civilization.

Hellenistic Culture Hellenistic culture is a blending of eastern and western cultures.

Hellenistic Culture During the Hellenistic age, thinkers built on earlier Greek, Babylon, and Egyptian knowledge. This led to major developments in geometry, astronomy and medicine.