Classical Greece 2.02 Identify the roots of Greek civilization and recognize its achievements from the Minoan era through the Hellenistic period Describe the developments and achievements of Roman civilization and analyze the significance of the fall of Rome.

The Challenge of Persia The Persians – Greeks in Asia Minor fell to the Persian Empire in the mid-sixth century BC – 499 BC Athenian Navy assisted in an unsuccessful revolt – Led the Persian ruler Darius to seek revenge

The Challenge of Persia Battle at Marathon – 490 BC Persians landed at Marathon – Only 26 miles from Athens – Outnumbered Athenians attacked and defeated the Persians – News of the defeat was brought by Pheidippides who ran from Marathon to Athens Died after announcing the victory Today’s marathons are based on this story – Minor defeat to Persians but proved to the Athenians that the Persians could be beaten – mzfCY&feature=PlayList&p=68CB508ACE &playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&ind ex=3 mzfCY&feature=PlayList&p=68CB508ACE &playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&ind ex=3

The Challenge of Persia Battle of Thermopylae – Xerxes took over after Darius’ death – Vowed revenge – Some Greeks formed a defensive league under the Spartans Athenians built a navy instead – Xerxes led a massive invasion into Greece – Greeks tried to hold them off at the pass of Thermopylae Force of 7,000 held them off for 2 days 300 Spartans in the Greek Army were especially brave

The Challenge of Persia Battle of Thermopylae – A traitor told the Persians how to use a mountain path to outflank the Greek force – Athenians abandoned their city – Greek fleet managed to defeat the Persians – A few months later the Greeks were able to regroup and defeat the Persians at Plataea – Video.aspx?SearchText=thermop ylae&ID= Video.aspx?SearchText=thermop ylae&ID=226989

The Athenian Empire Athens took over leadership of the entire Greek world after the defeat of the Persians Delian League – 478 BC – Defensive alliance – Formed against the Persians – Main headquarters on island of Delos – Eventually liberated almost all Greeks states in Aegean from Persian control – Allowed Athens to create an empire

The Athenian Empire Age of Pericles – Dominated politics in Athens between 461 & 429 BC – Saw the height of Athenian power & brilliance

Pericles Created a direct democracy – Every male citizen participated in the governing assembly & voted on all major issues Made it possible for poor citizens to take part in public affairs by paying office holders Helped Athens become the center of Greek culture Started massive rebuilding projects

Daily Life in Classical Athens By 5 th century BC Athens had the largest population in Greece 150,000+ citizens – 43,000 men who had political power People living in the city not as citizens – 35,000 foreigners – 100,000 slaves

Slavery in Classical Athens Common in the ancient world Most Athenians (except the very poor) owned at least one slave Wealthy citizens owned large numbers – Usually employed them in industry Usual jobs included working the fields or helping take care of homes Some were owned by the state and worked on public construction

Athenian Economy & Society Largely based on farming & trade Family was an important institution – Consisted of: Husband Wife Children Other dependent relatives & slaves also seen as family – Primary function: to produce more citizens

Athenian Economy & Society Status of women – Those who were citizens could take part in most religious festivals – Excluded from public life – Expected to remain at home – Had to have a companion if leaving the home – No formal education – Married at 14 or 15

The Great Peloponnesian War After defeating Persians Greece divided between Athenians and Spartans Distrust between the two sides led to the Great Peloponnesian War Sparta finally won Greatly weakened Greece

Greek Religion Affected every aspect of life Temples were major buildings in cities Gods & Goddesses lived on Mt. Olympus Dead went to a gloomy underworld ruled by Hades Rituals were important to get the gods’ favor

Greek Religion Festivals were very important Helped start the modern Olympic games

Greek Religion Source of most Greek drama and art Romans adopted Greek gods (changed the names) Many stories about Greek gods appear in European and American literature

Greek Architecture & Sculpture Architecture – Temples to gods most important – Ex: the Parthenon in Athens Sculpture – Lifelike statutes of humans – Showed a standard of ideal beauty

Drama Plays usually presented in outdoor theaters First dramas were tragedies – Ex: Oedipus Rex by Sophocles – v=sA1_QZxvRyo&feature=related v=sA1_QZxvRyo&feature=related Comedy developed later – Used to criticize politicians and intellectuals

Writing History Greeks were 1 st in the Western world to present history as an analysis of past events Herodotus: History of the Persian Wars Thucydides: The Peloponnesian War

Greek Philosophy Philosophy – comes from Greek word meaning “love of wisdom” Pythagoras – Pythagorean theorem – Essence of the universe is in music & numbers Sophists – Traveling teachers – Said it was beyond the human mind to understand the universe – Goal was to argue effectively – No absolute right or wrong – based on the individual

Greek Philosophy Socrates – Taught without pay – Goal of education was to improve the individual – Taught students to live by a code of ethics – Used teaching method involving a question-and-answer format – Questioned authority

Greek Philosophy Plato – Socrates’ student – Explained ideas about government in The Republic – Believed men and women should have the same education Aristotle – Plato’s student – Believed people’s happiness tied to their behavior – Studied natural science