Early Greece

Geography of Greece While the earliest civilizations developed on fertile river valleys, a very different set of geographic conditions influenced the rise of Greece. Greece is a small country located on a peninsula in Southern Europe with many islands. Peninsula ~ area of land surrounded by water on three sides (like Florida). Greece is surrounded by the Ionian sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Aegean Sea. Mountains divide the peninsula into isolated valleys that separate the Greek city-states. The Sea was very important to Ancient Greeks – most people used the sea to make a living. Most Greeks were fisherman and sea-traders who exported olive oil and wine.

Early People of the Aegean The earliest civilization to settle in Greece were the Minoans. The Minoans were successful sea-traders who lived on the Island of Crete. The Minoans suddenly vanished around 1400 B.C. – probably a volcano or earthquake. Around 1400 B.C., the Mycenaeans conquered mainland Greece and established a sea-trading empire. These are the first Greek-speaking people of whom we have a written record.

The Mycenaeans The Mycenaean civilization dominated the Aegean world from 1400 BC to 1200 BC. They often traveled beyond the Aegean to Sicily, Italy, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. They absorbed Egyptian and Mesopotamian customs, many of which they passed on to the Greeks. Like the Minoan’s before them, they were also sea traders. Their Civilization was divided into City States. A Warrior-King would built a thick-walled Fortress and rule the surrounding villages.

The Trojan War In 1250 B.C., the Mycenaeans fought the Trojan War against the economic rival Troy (in Turkey). Economic OR Romantic Motives? The war lasted 10 years, until the Greeks seized Troy and burned the city to the ground. Most of what we know about the Trojan War comes from two great epic poems written by Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey. The Iliad ~ story of the Trojan War with a talking horse. The Odyssey ~ tells the story of Odysseus on his way home after the Trojan War to his wife.

The Iliad Homer’s the Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War. According to Legend, the Trojan War started because a prince from Troy kidnapped the wife of a Greek leader, named Helen, and took her back to Troy. In order to get her back, the Greeks send a huge army to attack Troy. The war lasted 10 years, until the Greeks eventually defeated the Trojans by tricking them. The Greeks built a huge wooden horse and put it just outside the walls of Troy. Then the Greek soldiers leave their camp outside the city. The Trojans believe that the Greeks have given up and gone home. However, they don’t know that Greek soldiers are hidden inside the wooden horse. The Trojans decide that the great horse was built to honor the gods. They bring the horse inside Troy to dedicate to the goddess Athena. That night, while the Trojans are celebrating the end of the war, the Greek soldiers climb down out of the horse. They unlock the city gates to let in the rest of the Greek army Taken by surprise, the Trojans are defeated.

The Odyssey Homer’s Odyssey tells of the adventures of Odysseus as he tries to make his way home after the Trojan War. Time and again, events keep Odysseus from getting home. He encounters monsters and half-human creatures. He battles a one-eyed giant called a Cyclops as well as the sea monster Scylla. For a time, a goddess keeps him captive on her island. Finally, 20 years after the fall of Troy, Odysseus returns to Ithaca with the help of the goddess Athena.

Decline of the Mycenae Not Long after their victory over Troy, The Mycenaens themselves came under attack from sea raiders (also greek speaking) called the Dorians, invading from the North. AS Mycenaean power faded, and their cities and trade declined. People forgot many skills, including the art of writing. After the Dorian invasions, Greece passed several centuries in obscurity. The people lived in isolated villages and had little contact with the outside world. However, over time a new Greek civilization will be forged that will dominate the region and influence the western world.

Bellringer 2-24-14 Have your World Religion Project out on your desk!!! You should have your Project with Library notes & Workscited tucked inside. Bellringer Unit 1 (Part 3) : Did the Trojan War actually happen? What evidence is there to prove your theory? Answer in complete sentences, citing evidence from the video on Friday.

Announcements QUIZ on Greece: Wednesday February 26th TEST on Greece & Rome: Monday March 3rd.

Different Forms of Government in Greece Look at the back of # 30. Read the article you were assigned with a partner and take notes on the corresponding chart on your notes. Then, draw a picture with your partner to represent that form of government. (Don’t use any words & Don’t label your picture with the type of gov.)

The Greek City States

The Greek City States The Five main City States in Ancient Greece were: Athens Sparta Corinth Megara Argos There was actually no central government in ancient Greece. Each city-state had its own form of government.

Governing the City States As the Greek world expanded after 750 B.C., the Greeks developed a new version of a city state called a polis and new forms of government. Polis ~ a city and its surrounding countryside. Each polis had an acropolis, or high city, with a large marble temple. New Forms of Government #1 Monarchy The earliest form of government in Greece was monarchy. A monarch is a king or queen who has supreme power. A monarchy is a government that is ruled by a king or queen. Most Greek city-states started out as monarchies but changed over time to other forms of government. Sparta and other city-states developed a political system called oligarchy. Oligarchy means “rule by the few”. In an oligarchy, people rule because of wealth or land ownership. #2 Oligarchy

#3 Tyranny #5 Indirect Democracy Poor people were not part of government in monarchies or oligarchies. Poor people came to resent this, and began rebellions. A wealthy person who wanted to seize power made use of that anger. He would ask poor people to support him in becoming a leader. Such leaders were called tyrants. In Greece, a tyrant was someone who took power in an illegal way. #4 Direct Democracy Athens and some other city-states began to develop a democratic form of government, in which citizens had a more active role in the government. Direct Democracy is a government in which the citizens work together to decide on the laws, vote in elections, and sit on juries #5 Indirect Democracy Indirect Democracy is a type of government in which the citizens make political decisions through elected representatives. In an Indirect Democracy, people elect representatives to make laws. The United States is an example of an indirect democracy.

WHICH FORM OF GOVERNMENT……….?

…IS typically ruled by the elite or the wealthy in society? Oligarchy or Aristocracy

…..Means to “take” or “Usurp” power? Tyranny

….Is ruled by a King or Queen? Monarchy

….. Do The PEOPLE in society have the power? Democracy

…. Is Power is inherited or passed down through bloodline? Monarchy

… Is Ruled by wealthy LAND owners? Aristocracy

…Believes in the philosophy “One man, One vote” DIRECT DEMOCRACY

…are officials elected to make decisions for you? Indirect democracy

Culture in ATHENS & SPARTA Greek City- States

Athens: Birth Place of Democracy Athens and Sparta Two very different city-states came to dominate Greece: Athens and Sparta. Athens: Birth Place of Democracy Athenian government began as a monarchy and evolved into an aristocracy. However, people were not happy and Athens moved towards a democracy. The first direct democracy was developed in Athens. While Athens’s direct democracy allowed citizens to play a role in law-making, it was considered a limited democracy because women and slaves were not considered citizens and could not vote and had no rights. Athenians valued government, philosophy, art, and education. In Athens, boys attended school, but girls did not.

Sparta: The Military Ideal Unlike Athens, Sparta developed a powerful military city-state ruled by two kings and a council of elders. The government of Sparta was an oligarchy ruled by a few elite people. Spartans had MANY slaves, called Helots, who outnumbered the rulers. Therefore, Sparta set up a brutal system of strict control over the Helots. A Spartan’s life revolved around the military and discipline. Every newborn was “inspected” and sickly children were abandoned to die. At the age of 7, boys began very difficult training for the military and continued to serve in the military until they were 60 years old! Spartan women could inherit property, but had few other rights. Their main duty was to produce strong warriors.

Conflict in the Greek World The Persian Wars In 499 B.C., the Ionian Greeks rebelled against Persian Rule. The Greek city-states declared war against Persia - the Greek city-states win!! After the Persian Wars, Athens formed an alliance among the city-states called the Delian League. The Delian League was meant to unify the city-states, promote peace, and defend Greece from invaders. In 431 B.C., war broke out between Athens and Sparta because many Greeks disliked Athenian control. Who do you think will win??? The Peloponnesian Wars Sparta wins!! Signals the end of Athenian control of the Greek World

Bellringer 2-25-14 Which geographic feature led to the isolated Greek city-states? What are the 4 types of government that evolved in Ancient Greece? Which type of government would you most like to live under? If you have your project today- Please give it to me!

Announcements Vocabulary due Thursday 2-27 Quiz Tomorrow Wed. 2-26 Test Monday 3-2

Athens & Sparta Review Questions What was the Culture like in Athens? What was the Culture like in Sparta? What type of government did each have? Read the Article you were assigned for some further information about Athens and Sparta, fill in the information on your notes sheet.

Review Who fought in the Persian wars? Who fought in the Peloponnesian war?

Complete the writing assignment on the back of page #31. HOMEWORK Complete the writing assignment on the back of page #31.

Greek Achievements TOC # 32 – Greek Achievement Notes Foldable notes: Cut in between the categories to make flaps. Record your notes underneath the flaps.