1. Ancient Greece – city-states
After 750 BCE evolved a unique version of city-state
Called polis-major city or town and surrounding countryside
City built on 2 levels:
Top of hill stood acropolis (high city)
Marble temples dedicated to different gods and goddesses
Flatter ground below lay walled city

2. Different governments evolve
Monarchy- first form of government, ruler of polis
Aristocracy- nobles were also military defenders and over time won power from the king
Oligarchy- new middle class emerged, challenged nobles and dominated some city-states

3. Sparta: A warrior society
Dorian invaders settled and built city of Sparta
Set up brutal system of strict control
Boys started training for lifetime in military at age 7
Women were expected to produce healthy sons for army
Sparta isolated themselves from other Greeks
Patron god: Ares

4. Athens Discontent spread throughout Athens
Slowly moved toward democracy
People appointed Solon archon (chief official)
Limited democracy: only citizens could participate
Citizenship was restricted to land owning men
Boys attended school if they could afford it  learned to read write, study music, memorized poetry, and studied public speaking

5. Philosophers
Socrates: Athenian stonemason and philospher, wrote no book, Socratic method
Put on trial and sentenced to death penalty
Plato: Socrates student, rejected Athenian democracy and left for 10 years
Came back and created school called Academy where he taught reason
Aristotle: Plato’s most famous student set up school called Lyceum

6. Art and architecture Monuments Sculptures Displayed perfect balance
Most famous: Parthenon
Temple built on acropolis in Athens dedicated to Athena
Developed new style
Showed natural forms, life like
Most perfect form

7. Gods and Goddesses 12 main Olympian gods:
Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Athena, Aphrodite, Ares, Apollo, Artemis, Hestia, Hermes, Hephaestus, Hades
Zeus and Hera are king and queen of gods
Many myths were created about the gods and goddesses to explain events and everyday happenings

8. Literature Greek Comedy Tragic Drama
Often based on popular myths and legends
Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides 3 famous playwrights
Tragedies were plays that told stories of human suffering, usually ended in disaster
Humorous plays that mocked people or customs
Almost all surviving were written by Aristophanes

9. Recording history Herodotus known as “Father of History”
Collected information and visited places before recording information
Wrote about Persian war- clear bias to Greek side
Thucydides tried to be fair to both sides
Wrote about Peloponnesian war
Both set standards for future historians: importance of research and avoiding bias

10. Persian Wars Athens defeated Persians at Marathon
Afterwards asked other Greek city states to join the fight against Persia
Persians came back, defeated small Spartan force
Athenians brought the fight on water, defeated Persians again

11. Delian League
Athens emerged from Persian wars as most powerful city-state
Organized alliances with other Greek states
Called Delian League after Delos
Athens used its power to create an Athenian empire

12. Athenian Democracy Under Pericles Athens was a direct democracy
Citizens take direct role in day to day govt affairs
Believed all citizens regardless of wealth or social class should be able to participate
Began giving stipends to men participating in Assembly and governing Council

13. Jury Athenians also served on juries
Could have hundreds or thousands of jurors
Citizens over the age of 30 were chosen by lot to serve for a year

14. Ostracism
Could vote to banish public figures they saw as threat to democracy
Person with largest votes against him was ostracized
Person would have to live outside city, typically for period of 10 years

15. Peloponnesian War Many Greeks hated Athenian rule
Spartans broke away with other enemies to form Peloponnesian League
Athens could not attack Sparta with navy
Ended Athenian domination of Greek world
While Greeks battled amongst themselves Macedonia began to rise