1. Ancient Greece
1750 BC – 133 BC

7. Crete Home of the Minoans, an early Greek civilization
The Minoans were named after Mino, a legendary king of Crete
Was a dominant Greek civilization between 1600 BC and 1500 BC
Was known for being successful traders

8. The Minoans The Minoans emerged as a trading empire
Set up trading outposts throughout Mesopotamia and the Middle East
Rulers of the empire lived in a palace at Knossos
By 1400 BC the Minoans had vanished
Natural disaster and invasion ended the Minoans

9. The Mycenaeans
The first Greek-speaking people of whom we have written record
Conquered the Greek mainland and Crete
Were sea traders like the Minoans
Consisted of separate city-states, each was ruled by a warrior-king and was built like a fortress

10. The Trojan War
The Mycenaeans are known for their role in the Trojan War (1250 BC)
Troy vs. the Mycenaeans
What may have happened: war due to economic competition
Greek legend: Helen, the wife of the Greek king is kidnapped by the prince of Troy
Result= 10 year war, Troy is burnt to the ground

11. Trojans vs. the Greeks Homer’s The Iliad
Epic about the Trojan War
Was regarded as a legend, now evidence proves that Troy existed and was destroyed by fire

12. Greek Origins The Mycenaeans were eventually conquered by the Dorians
Greek civilization diminished as a result
Centuries later, the Greeks would make stories of the Mycenaeans and the Minoans as a part of their heritage

13. Rise of Greek city states

14. Geography
Greece is a part of the Balkan peninsula, surrounded by the Mediterranean sea
Mountains divide the peninsula into isolated valleys
Consisted of small city-states separated from one another
The coast provided for safe harbors, allowing the Greeks to become skilled sailors

15. The Greek Polis
Greeks created their own version of a city-state, called a polis
Included a major city and surrounding countryside
A Greek polis consisted of two levels
The acropolis on the top (“high city”)
Lower level (market, theater, public buildings, homes)

16. Gov’t Originally, Greek city-states were run by kings (monarchy)
Eventually power shifted to the noble landowners
Aristocracy- rule by landholding elite
Extension of trade leads to an oligarchy

17. Sparta A warrior society, centered around warfare
Daily life ruled by discipline
Spartan boys prepare for military life
Strict discipline results in excellent soldiers
Women were required to exercise and maintain physical fitness
Spartan logic: strong women make strong babies
Run the household while husband was at war

19. A Spartan Life
Birth- the child is examined, if he or she is sick or deformed then they are left to die
7 years old: the child is taken for military training
7-17 years old: learned reading, writing, and physical training
18-19: learned army tactics and survival techniques
20-29: rigorous military training
30+: became full citizens

21. Athens Athens evolved from a monarchy to an aristocracy
Landowners held power
Wealthy Athenians controlled society, making the ordinary unhappy
Eventually Athens became a democracy
“Gov’t by the people, for the people”

22. A Limited Democracy
Only citizens can participate in gov’t, and citizens are landholding men
Athens still gives more people a say in gov’t than any other ancient civilization

23. Athenian women
Manage the household in wealthy homes, rarely go out in public
Cook, clean, raise children
Was not educated
Poor women worked outside of the home

24. Education Boys went to school if they could afford it
Learned to read, write, study music
Receive military training and participate in athletics

25. Persian and Peloponnesian Wars
CONFLICT!
Persian and Peloponnesian Wars

26. The Persian Wars
The Persian Empire was the largest empire at that time
In 499 BC, Ionian Greeks rebelled against Persia with the help of Athens
Darius I was furious at the role Athens played in the rebellion
Persia crushed the rebel cities, and sent a huge force to punish Athens

27. Battle of Marathon
The Persian army landed at Marathon, north of Athens
The Greeks were greatly outnumbered by the Persians
The Greeks beat the Persians using hand to hand combat
Major upset

28. The 300 Darius I died before he could attacked Greece again
His son Xerxes sent a larger force to conquer Greece
The Persians and the Spartans meet at the narrow pass at Thermopylae
King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fight the Persian force
The Spartans are defeated, but are successful in uniting Greece to fight a common enemy

32. Battle of Salamis
The Athenians and Themistocles build a fleet of ships to fight the Persian navy at the strait of Salamis
Athenian warships could damage Persian ships with underwater battering rams
Xerxes navy is defeated, soon after the Greeks defeat the Persians on land in Asia Minor

34. Bragging Rights and the Golden Age
Following the victory, Athens emerged as the most powerful city-state
Allied with other city-states
Delian League
Pericles created a more democratic gov’t
Direct democracy- the citizens=gov’t
Used a jury in the legal system
Could banish a public official
Ostracism

35. Peloponnesian War Sparta formed the Peloponnesian League
Due to rivalries between the two leagues, Sparta and Athens engaged in a 27 year war
Athenians were forced to crowd inside the city, creating a plague
Sparta sided with Persia for their navy
Both civilizations are nearly eliminated, however Sparta is victorious