Ancient Greek Civilization

Greece Minoan Civilization Minoan Civilization –Successful trade Aegean and Mediterranean Sea Aegean and Mediterranean Sea –Reached its height around B.C. –Vanished Not sure why Not sure why Invaders played a role Invaders played a role

Greece Mycenaeans Mycenaeans –Took over Minoans First Greek speaking people First Greek speaking people Dominated from B.C. Dominated from B.C. –Very successful traders Trojan War Trojan War –Mycenae (Greece) vs. Troy Greece wins Greece wins Mycenae is later invaded and taken over Mycenae is later invaded and taken over

Greece Greek civilization dies down until around 750 B.C. Greek civilization dies down until around 750 B.C. –Create many small city-states No vast empire No vast empire Population growth forces Greeks out of their villages Population growth forces Greeks out of their villages –Expand all over parts of the Mediterranean City-state becomes stronger City-state becomes stronger

Greece New forms of government start to form New forms of government start to form City-states (polis) City-states (polis) –Consisted of a major city/town and surrounding country side –In each polis was an acropolis on top of a hill Dedicated to different gods and goddesses Dedicated to different gods and goddesses Power starts to shift from a king to a group of nobleman Power starts to shift from a king to a group of nobleman

Greece Nobles used to protect the king Nobles used to protect the king –Only ones with metals and bronze used for weapons –Eventually seized power from king –Became aristocracy Rule by a hereditary landholding elite Rule by a hereditary landholding elite As trade grew, merchants became more powerful As trade grew, merchants became more powerful –Seize power as an oligarchy Power from small, wealthy elite class Power from small, wealthy elite class

Greece Military techniques start to change Military techniques start to change –Iron can be used for weapons Cheaper and more accessible Cheaper and more accessible –Middle class can have weapons Gain more power Gain more power Different ideas start to emerge Different ideas start to emerge –Sparta and Athens

Greece Sparta Sparta –Built by invaders from the North Turned citizens into slaves Turned citizens into slaves –Strict control –Spartans were bred to be warriors –Whole city-state based on military –Isolated from rest of Greece

Greece Athens Athens Grew under the aristocracy Grew under the aristocracy –People not happy –Demanded more rights Slowly turned into a democracy Slowly turned into a democracy –Many reforms tried to give citizens more rights –Very limited democracy, but more advanced than any other civilization