The Greek World Chapter 9

Section 1: Greece and Persia The Big Idea Over time the Persians came to rule a great empire which eventually brought them into conflict with the Greeks. Main Ideas Persia became an empire under Cyrus the Great. The Persian Empire grew stronger under Darius I. The Persians fought Greece twice in the Persian Wars.

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Vulnerable For about 30 years after this the Spartans controlled nearly all of Greece, but resentment from other city-states led to a long period of war that weakened all of Greece and left it open to attack from outside.

Greek language and religion More rights for men than women Greek Cities Athens Both Sparta Democratic Government Emphasis on many subjects in education Known as the home of artist, writers, and philosophers Greek language and religion More rights for men than women Ruled by kings and officials Emphasis only on physical education Known for its powerful and disciplined army

Main Idea 1: Persia became an empire under Cyrus the Great. Cyrus the Great won independence for Persia from the Medes, marking the beginning of the Persian Empire. Cyrus conquered many people but let them keep their own customs. This kept people from rebelling against his strong empire.

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The Persian Army The army was composed of Immortals, which were 10,000 soldiers chosen for their bravery and skill. The army also had a cavalry, a unit of soldiers who ride horses. Cyrus used the cavalry to charge at and shoot enemies with arrows. This army was strong because it was well organized and loyal. Together the components of the army could defeat almost any enemy.

Main Idea 2: The Persian Empire grew stronger under Darius I. Within four years of Cambyses’ death, a young prince named Darius I claimed the throne. He killed all his rivals for power and then worked to restore order in Persia.

Persian Society Darius organized the empire into 20 provinces, each led by a governor called a satrap. They collected taxes, served as judges, and put down rebellions. He built many roads that connected various parts of the empire. He also built a new capital, called Persepolis. During his rule a new religion arose, called Zoroastrianism. This religion taught that two forces were fighting in the universe: a good force and an evil force. Darius expanded the empire by conquering the entire Indus Valley.

Main Idea 3: The Persians fought Greece twice in the Persian Wars. Darius was angry that the Greeks had aided a revolt against the Persians, so he invaded Greece in a series of battles known as the Persian Wars. Greece won these battles because it had better weapons and more clever leaders.

The Second Invasion of Greece Years later, Xerxes I tried to conquer Greece again, this time joined by the Persian navy. The Spartans slowed the Persian army at Thermopylae, giving Greece enough time to gain the upper hand and eventually beat the Persians at Plataea, ending the Persian Wars.

Section 2: Sparta and Athens The Big Idea The two most powerful city-states in Greece, Sparta and Athens, had very different cultures and became bitter enemies in the 400s BC. Main Ideas The Spartans built a military society to provide security and protection. The Athenians admired the mind and the arts in addition to physical abilities. Sparta and Athens fought over who should have power and influence in Greece.

Main Idea 1: The Spartans built a military society to provide security and protection. Daily life in Sparta was dominated by the army, and boys were trained from an early age to be soldiers. Spartan men reached full citizenship at age 30 and could then move back home, but they stayed in the army until they turned 60. Courage, strength, self-discipline, and obedience were the most important qualities to have. Because men were often at war, women had more rights than other Greek women. They ran the household and owned property. They also received physical training and sometimes competed with men in sporting events.

These officials handled dealings between Sparta and other city-states. Government Sparta was officially ruled by two kings who jointly led the army, but elected officials actually had more power than the kings. These officials handled dealings between Sparta and other city-states. Sparta’s government was set up to control the city’s helots, or slaves.

Main Idea 2: The Athenians admired the mind and the arts in addition to physical abilities. Boys and Men in Athens Sparta’s main rival in Greece was Athens. Though they also worked to improve their bodies, they had to devote only two years to the army. They learned to read, write, count, and sing. Wealthy boys continued their education with a private tutor. Boys from poor families usually became farmers. Girls and Women in Athens Unlike boys, girls received almost no education, because men did not think they needed to be educated. Athenian women had fewer rights than women in many other city-states; in fact, they hardly had any at all.

Main Idea 3: Sparta and Athens fought over who should have power and influence in Greece. Sparta and Athens worked together to win the Persian Wars. After the Persian Wars, city-states joined an alliance, which historians call the Delian League. “Alliance” means they agreed to work together. Sparta formed its own alliance, called the Peloponnesian League.

The Peloponnesian War Sparta declared war on Athens, starting the Peloponnesian War. The war lasted for ten years before they decided to call a truce. The war started up once more when Athens tried to expand its empire. The Spartans won. With the defeat of Athens, Sparta became the most powerful city-state in Greece. Other city-states started to resent Sparta, leading to a period of war. Control of Greece shifted from one city-state to another for years.

Section 3: Alexander the Great The Big Idea Alexander the Great built a huge empire and helped spread Greek culture into Egypt and Asia. Main Ideas Macedonia conquered Greece in the 300s BC. Alexander the Great built an empire that united much of Europe, Asia, and Egypt. The Hellenistic kingdoms formed from Alexander’s empire blended Greek and other cultures.

Macedonia Still, democracy all but ended when Athens was conquered by Macedonia in the 330s BC. The Macedonian king did not like anyone other than himself making laws. Though the city council kept operating in a limited way, a new Greek king Phillip II, in 320 BC abolished even that right.

The Phalanx

Alexander the Great Alexander the Great was the son of King Phillip II of Macedonia. Alexander conquered Persia, Egypt, the Middle East and Northern India. He died at age 33.

Alexander’s Empire

Main Idea 1: Macedonia conquered Greece in the 300s BC. Phillip II became king of Macedonia and targeted Greece for an invasion. He beat Athens, and the rest of Greece agreed to make him their leader after seeing Athens’s defeat. Phillip was a brilliant military leader. His soldiers fought as a phalanx with spears that were longer than the Greeks. He also had a cavalry and archers supporting the phalanx. When Phillip died, his throne and his plans were passed on to his son, Alexander.

Main Idea 2: Alexander the Great built an empire that united much of Europe, Asia, and Egypt. Alexander began his rule by ending the revolt in Thebes, setting an example to the Greeks not to rebel. He then set out to build an empire and earned the name Alexander the Great. He went on to conquer Egypt and was crowned pharaoh without a fight. He then defeated Persia and became the ruler of the Persian Empire. Alexander wanted to push into India, but his troops were exhausted and refused to go. He began the march home, but died from sickness before making it back to Greece.

Spreading Greek Culture Alexander’s empire was the largest the world had ever seen. An admirer of Greek culture, he worked to spread it throughout his empire. He encouraged Greek settlers to move to the new cities he conquered. These settlers passed along the language and culture of Greece. Alexander also encouraged people to keep their own culture, so Greek and native customs blended. Historians call the culture Hellenistic, or Greek-like.

Main Idea 3: The Hellenistic kingdoms formed from Alexander’s empire blended Greek and other cultures. After Alexander died, his generals fought for power and divided the empire among themselves. The three kingdoms were Macedonia, Greece, and Syria. Macedonia had the weakest government and had to put down Greek revolts. Syria was weakened by rebellions. Egypt, especially Alexandria, became a great cultural center. Each empire was eventually taken over by the Romans.

Section 4: Greek Achievements The Big Idea Ancient Greeks made lasting contributions in the arts, philosophy, and science. Main Ideas The Greeks made great contributions to the arts. The teachings of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are the basis of modern philosophy. In science, the Greeks made key discoveries in math, medicine, and engineering.

Main Idea 1: The Greeks made great contributions to the arts. Greek statues look as though they could come to life at any time, because Greek artists wanted to show how beautiful people could be. Greek paintings are known for their realism and detail. The Greeks made temples with rows of tall columns rounded in the middle so they appear perfectly straight. The Parthenon was their most impressive temple. The Greeks excelled at writing. They created dramas, or plays. The Greeks were the first to write about history.

Main Idea 2: The teachings of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are the basis of modern philosophy. Socrates taught by asking questions, a technique we call the Socratic method. He wanted people to question their beliefs and look for knowledge. This angered and frightened people. He was arrested and condemned to death for questioning the authority of the gods. Plato and Aristotle followed after Socrates in their pursuit for knowledge and deeper understanding.

Socrates Socrates was a philosopher of Ancient Greece. A philosopher is someone who tries to explain the nature of life. Socrates taught by by asking questions. This method of questioning is still called the Socratic method.

Plato Plato was a student of Socrates. He started a school called The Academy. Plato’s writing took the form of a dialogue between teacher and student. Plato wrote the Republic, which described an ideal society.

Aristotle Aristotle was another Greek philosopher and student of Plato. He wrote about science, art, law, poetry, and government.

Plato and Aristotle Plato had been a student of Socrates. Plato created a school, the Academy, to discuss ideas. He also wrote The Republic, which described his ideal society. Aristotle was Plato’s student. He taught about living life in moderation, or balance. He believed moderation was based on reason, or clear and ordered thinking.

Greek Philosophers Socrates Plato Aristotle 469-399 BC Socrates never wrote any philosophical works Socrates explored his ideas by holding conversations with almost anyone Socrates sought the answer to “What is justice?”, and “What is Knowledge?” 427-347 BC Was a student of Socrates After Socrates' death Plato left Athens and traveled to Egypt, Italy, and Sicily. Plato eventually returned to Athens and founded his Academy, where he thought Philosophy Plato’s best known work is “The Republic” 384-322 BC Alexander the Great’s tutor At 18 Aristotle went to Athens to study under Plato He wrote about a wide variety of topics including politics, poetry, anthropology, meteorology, etc…

Main Idea 3: In science, the Greeks made key discoveries in math, medicine, and engineering. Euclid spent his life studying mathematics, especially geometry. Greek doctors studied the human body to understand how it worked. Hippocrates was a Greek doctor known for his ideas about how doctors should behave. Engineers like Archimedes made great discoveries, such as the water screw, which brought water to the fields.