The Ancient Greeks Daily Life and Culture Major Contributions Athens vs. Sparta The Olympics Hellenistic Period

Daily Life and Culture There was no single Greek Religion * Each city state worshiped its own “gods” * Prayed with their families (Sacrifices) The Greeks: Served as Oracles (Priests who could talk to the gods) Most people feared their gods Built temples to honor their gods

Major gods/goddesses Major gods/goddesses Zeus- ruler of Mount Olympus (King) Aphrodite- goddess of love and beauty Apollo- god of sun/ truth and medicine Ares- god of war Artemis- goddess of the moon Athena- goddess of wisdom/daughter of Zeus Hermes- guide to the underworld/ son of Zeus Poseidon- god of the sea and earthquakes Hades- god of the underworld Hera- goddess of women and marriage

Theatre Theatre grew from large festivals in honor of Dionysus * Stories were told about the gods/goddesses * Tragedies- stories about suffering * Comedies- plays with a happy ending ** Plays were given at open air theatres

Philosophy ** Greeks placed such an importance on learning and philosophy Socrates- philosopher (thinking process) * Interested w/ how the mind works * Socratic Method- questioning method Plato- philosopher that worked w/ Socrates * Learned from Socrates * Wrote the Republic (book on government) Aristotle- philosopher that worked / Plato * Known as “The Master of them that Know” * Developed both the Scientific Method and Hypothesis

Science and Math Major Contributions Thales- first known Greek Scientist * 1st 2 steps of Scientific Method * Predicted eclipses * Basic substance of matter 2. Pythagoras- sought to explain the nature of all things using mathematics * Pythagorean Theorem- a2+b2= c2 3. Hippocrates- founder of science and medicine * Hippocratic oath- all DR’s today must say this

City States Polis- Greek city state * Acropolis- raised area in the city * Agora- open area used for a marketplace Each City State had: Its own government and laws Between 5,000 and 10,000 citizens Temples, government buildings in the center ** 2 of the greatest Greek City States (ATHENS AND SPARTA)

Map of Athens and Sparta

Sparta Quick Facts Sparta was located in the south central region of Greece By 500 BC it was the military leader in Greece Aristocrats- group of nobles that ruled Sparta (2 Kings that ruled together) * Kings had little power * Only Aristocrats could be citizens The Assembly- All citizens over 20 years old were Members (could vote, discuss important matters)

Spartan Ways of Life Helots- were enslaved people owned by the City States * Spartans used them for farming * Gave ½ their crops to the Aristocrats Perioeci- merchants that lived in the city * Spartans used them for business and trade ** Both the Helots and Perioeci worked while the Aristocrats trained for war

More Spartan Ways of Life… Key Facts About Spartan Life: Boys were sent to live in military camps (7) Spartan men were to be married by 20 Spartan men could retire from military by 60 Spartan women had plenty of freedoms Spartans believed that new ideas were weak * Tried to avoid change * Too dependant on slaves and military Main goal was to be military strong Conquered in 371 BC

Athens Very different philosophy about living that the Spartans Athenian Government Oligarchy- few people have ruling power Constitution- set of principles or rules for governing Democratic- favoring equality for all people

Athenian Citizenship 18 Years Old (Males) Became citizens Took an Oath of Citizenship Promised to be honorable in battle, follow the constitution and respect the gods ** Chose council members by lot (chance/random) * Did not want to favor the rich or educated * Believed all people were able to hold office

The Persian Wars In 545 B.C. the Persian empire was spreading throughout Greece * Asia Minor and the Aegean Islands * Ionia was also conquered 20 Years Later- Ionia revolts and asks the Greeks for help * Years of back and forth fighting * Darius (King of Persia) wanted to punish the Greeks for helping the Ionians

Darius Responds… Sends 600 Warships and a big army to Greece (lands in Marathon) * Tried to sail to Athens * Were attacked by the Athenians * Defeated A runner spreading the news of victory cried out “NIKE!!!!”- Greek goddess of Victory More Naval Battles throughout Greece The Persians were eventually defeated at the Battle of Plataea

The Delian League Greece defeated the Persians but Persia still controlled Ionia * Greece needed protected Set up a Defensive League: Delian League- protective group of city states joined together for defensive reasons * Common navy, fought together * Could not withdrawal unless other countries allowed it * Sparta DOES NOT join the league

Downfall of Athens The Delian league works for a while Athens begins to gain more and more power Pericles was the strong leader of Athens * Built much of the Architecture * Art, Literature and Philosophy Athens Downfall The more powerful Athens became the more jealous the other city states became Athens attacked one of Sparta’s allies (Sparta declares WAR) Peloponnesian Wars- Athens vs. Sparta 30 Years of fighting between the two city states Sparta wins and takes control of Athens Athens is never the same after the war * Plague and sickness hurt their population * Lost ¼ of their total population (never recovered totally from the war)

Hellenistic Period By 338 BC Greece had a new ruler * Philip of Macedonia Philip of Macedonia 1. Loved Greek Culture 2. Tried to unite all the city states together 3. Eventually gained control over Greece 4. Killed in 336 BC- Son Alexander took over

Alexander the Great Took over Philips throne at age 20 Was taught by Aristotle Easily crushed the Persian army Alexander the Great- Empire Wanted peace between the Persians, Macedonians and the Greeks Conquered 70 cities- 16 of them he named Alexandria Alexandria- one located at the Nile Delta * Center of trade and learning * Two great harbors/Museums/Libraries

Alexander the Great: His Death 323 BC- Alexander became ill and died * Buried at Alexandria in Egypt * Became a legend (Only 33 years old) After His Death Fights broke out about who would rule next Most of Empire went back to original rulers Three Generals divided the rest of Empire 1. Ruler of Macedonia 2. Ruler of Egypt 3. Ruler of Persia ** Athens and Sparta become independent city states

Life After Alexander the Great Life After Alexander’s Death 1. Trade and influence grew * Africa and Asia trading * Currency developed (Alexander pic) * Wheat, olive oil, pearls, spices, ivory 2. Everything became Greek in that region ** Never the same “Power” (Military) * Were weaker after Alexander’s death * Economy began to struggle * Population of the city states fell (Greeks moved) * Less people = Less power ** By 146 BC- most city states were under Roman Control