■ Essential Question: – What role did geography play in the development of classical Greece? ■ Warm-Up Question: – What do you think of when I say “Greece”?

After the river valley era, a number of classical civilizations developed in the Mediterranean and in Asia Classic cultures created high levels of achievement in art, science, & technology that impacted future ages The first major classical civilization was ancient Greece

Impact of Geography on Greece: Identify 1 geographic feature & propose how it might impact the culture of Greece

Greece’s lack of natural resources & location on the Mediterranean Sea encouraged Greek trade with neighboring societies

Mountains covered about 75% of Greece which divided the people & made unifying the Greek people nearly impossible

The Greeks developed independent city-states, called polis, within each valley & its surrounding mountains

Most Greek city-states had an agora that was the center for trade & government City-states had an acropolis, a temple on a hill dedicated to a sacred god

Despite similar language & religion, the Greek polis were very different from each other, especially how they were governed Differences Among Greek City-States

Political and Social Change ■Greek communities first ruled by kings (Monarchy) -- kings soon lost power ■Each polis was then ruled by landholding aristocrats = nobles

Political and Social Change ■Disputes between aristocrats and commoners (especially farmers) often arose –Farmers often had to borrow money from the aristocrats until harvest --> when they couldn’t pay back the money, the aristocrats took the land, made farmers become sharecroppers/day laborers, or sold farmers into slavery

Political and Social Change ■Farmers began to protest ■Farmers were very powerful in Greek armies because they were the foot soldiers ■Greek armies relied on the phalanx = rows of foot soldiers close together with shields to form a wall

Political and Social Change ■Middle-class artisans & merchants wanted a voice in government & joined the farmers in protest

Political and Social Change ■As a result of the unrest: tyrannies arose –Tyrant = one man - -> seized power and ruled the polis –Most were fair; a few were cruel and unjust –Tyrannies ruled until 500 BCE

Political and Social Change ■500 BCE BCE = city- states were oligarchies or democracies –Oligarchy = a few wealthy people hold power –Democracy = government by the people –2 most famous Greek city- states: Athens = democracy Sparta = oligarchy

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Greek Culture ■ Despite their lack of unity, the Greeks shared some common characteristics: – Greeks shared the same language – Greek writing was influenced by the Phoenician alphabet & became the basis for Latin

Greeks were polytheistic & believed that the gods were immortal but had human qualities; Religion became the basis for Greek mythology Zeus Zeus King of the gods Athena Athena Goddess of wisdom Aphrodite Aphrodite Goddess of love Apollo Apollo God of sun & music Ares Ares God of war Hades Hades God of underworld Hera Hera Goddess of family Poseidon Poseidon God of the seas

The Greek city-states Athens & Sparta represented the differences among polis ■ Athenian society focused on wealth & culture: – Athens had a direct democracy in which both rich & poor citizens could vote & hold public office

Athenian society focused on wealth & culture Architects built the Parthenon to honor the goddess Athena

Athenian society focused on wealth & culture Artists created realistic sculptures Theater had both comedies & tragedies

Athenian society focused on wealth & culture Philosophers Socrates, Plato, & Aristotle questioned assumptions & the use of logic to find answers to questions

The Greek city-states Athens & Sparta represented the differences among polis ■ Spartan society focused on military strength, not freedom & learning – Spartan men served in the military until 60 years old – Boys began military training at age 7 – Women ran family estates while men trained or fought killing-machines

Role of Women ■Women, like men, were expected to exercise and be strong –Spartan women trained in gymnastics, boxing, and wrestling –Needed to produce healthy babies –Had more freedoms than other Greek women –Could go shopping in the marketplace, express political opinions, own property, etc.  could NOT take part in government though

Sparta’s Government ■Sparta was behind other city- states in economics, philosophy, science, and arts –Rulers afraid of change; afraid of outside influence

Closure Activity ■ Where would you rather live: Athens or Sparta? Why?

Spartans showed their strength during the Persian Wars

Quick Overview ■400s BCE  Persian Empire had strongest military in the world ■Persian Empire wanted to invade Europe and expand ■Greek city-states cooperated in resisting Persian attacks ■After victory against Persia, the Greeks enjoyed a “golden age” ■Then – Greek city-states began to fight each other

The Persian Wars ■Persians took over the Greek city- states in Ionia (in Asia) ■Ionians revolted against Persians, with help from other city-states like Athens ■Persians (led by King Darius) defeated the Ionians & decided to punish the other city-states on mainland Greece for helping the Ionians

Battle of Salamis ■10 years later  Darius’s son Xerxes invades Greece from the north ■Xerxes brought 200,000 troops – couldn’t live off the land so offshore supply ships came with them ■Greeks under the leadership of Sparta

Battle of Salamis ■Oracle at Delphi said Greeks would be safe behind a “wooden wall” –Athenian General Themistocles believed “wooden wall” meant fleet of ships & that they needed to challenge the Persians at sea –Greek army had to set up a distraction on land to build this fleet at sea –Greeks chose Thermopylae as place for distraction

The 300 ■At Thermopylae – 7,000 Greeks led by King Leonidas stood firm for 3 days ■Greek traitor showed Persians a trail they could use to attack the Greeks –Leonidas sent home most of his troops to save them –He and 300 Spartans stayed to fight –They lost, but gave Themistocles time to carry out his plan at sea

Battle of Salamis ■Themistocles drew the Persian fleet to the Strait of Salamis –Greek navy destroyed Persian fleet in the strait ■Persians never came back  Greeks won the Persian Wars ■Athens emerged as a powerful city-state

Athens & Sparta competed for influence in Greece & developed a strong rivalry that eventually led to the Peloponnesian War Sparta defeated Athens, but the war weakened the Greeks

The Peloponnesian War ■Persian threat remained even though they lost the Persian Wars ■Athens and other city-states joined together in Delian League to protect themselves from the Persians

The Delian League ■They freed Ionia from Persian rule ■Got rid of pirates in the Aegean Sea ■Made Greece rich because trade grew

The Delian League ■Athens began to dominate the other city-states –Several city-states formed an alliance against Athens –Led by Sparta : Peloponnesian League –Threatened by Athens’ economic and political power and influence –Sparta was afraid of Athens.

The Conflict [431 BCE BCE] ■Peloponnesian War = fought between Athens (and its allies) and Sparta (and its allies)

The Conflict [431 BCE BCE] ■Plague hit Athens -- killed 1/3 of its people (including General Pericles) –After Pericles died, some Athenians wanted to surrender and others wanted to keep fighting –No decision made -- fighting continued for many years

The Conflict [431 BCE BCE] ■Several city-states switched sides and joined Sparta ■Spartans then destroyed Athenian navy –Athens surrendered in 404 BCE

Effects of the War War brought disaster to Greek city-states ■Lost ability to govern themselves ■Increased tension between aristocrats and commoners ■Limited democracy and free political discussion ■Continual fighting among city- states ■Unable to resist the invasion of the Macedonians (with Alexander the Great)