1. Classical Greece 2000 B.C. – 300 B.C
Chapter Five

2. Greece Objective
Analyze the history, culture, and impact classical Greece had on the modern world

3. Setting the Stage….
during the Dorian age, Greek civilization experienced decline
Dorians and Mycenaeans began to identify less with the culture of their
ancestors; they started to identify more with the local area in which they lived
method of governing areas had changed from tribal or clan control to formal
governments = city-states

4. Beginnings of Democracy
Democracy, or rule by the people, is often upheld as an ideal form of government. Democracy
began in ancient Greece, but it developed slowly.
Before there was democracy, the people of Greece came under other forms of rule. 1st- there was monarchy, in which a king ruled over the people. During the Dark Age of Greece, most Greek city-states were monarchies. 2nd- there was oligarchy. Here a small group of people ruled over everyone else. At the end of the Dark Age, a small group of nobles shared power with the king. Then during the 6th century B.C., there were problems with oligarchies. This led to the rise of tyrants. Even though tyrants seized power by force, the Greek people supported them. The tyrants promised to reform laws and to help the poor. Finally, in about 510 B.C., the people had enough of the tyrants. They threw the tyrants out of power. This was the beginning of democracy.

5. Beginnings of Democracy
In the democratic city of Athens, Greece, citizens took part in the government. Not everyone, though, could be a citizen. A citizen had to be a male over the age of 18. Usually a man’s father, and sometimes his mother’s father, also had to be citizens. Only about 15% of the 300K people living in Athens could be citizens. Women and children could not be citizens, even though they made up 48% of the population. Foreigners living in Athens could not be citizens, even though they made up 12% of the population. Slaves could not be citizens, even though they made up 25% of the population.
The democracy of the ancient Greeks is not the ideal for which modern countries strive. But the Greeks can take credit for the beginning of an idea.

6. Governments ** Polis: city-state = a fundamental political unit
in ancient Greece **
polis made up of a city and it’s surrounding
countryside = 50 – 500 square miles of territory
Acropolis: fortified hilltop; citizens gathered to
discuss city government
Monarchy – king and / or queen rules

7. Governments Aristocracy: rule by a small group of nobles; rule is
hereditary and based on family ties
due to trade, a new class of wealthy merchants and artisans emerged / became dissatisfied with aristocracy rule and took power or shared it with the nobility
Oligarchy: rule by a few powerful people

8. Governments
many city-states had repeated clashes that occurred between rulers and the common people
powerful individuals – usually nobles or other wealthy citizens – sometimes seized control of the
government by appealing to the common people for support
Tyrant: powerful person who seizes control by appealing to the common people for support
in Greece, tyrants were not harsh or cruel; looked as leaders who worked for the
ordinary people
** Democracy: rule by the people for the people **

9. Athens Government = Democracy Draco’s code (621) B.C.
all are equal under the law
death is the punishment for every crime
allowed debt slavery
Solon (SO*luhn) (594 B.C.)
outlawed debt slavery
four social classes = top 3 can hold political office
all citizens can participate in the Athenian assembly
anyone can bring charges against wrongdoers

10. Athens
Cleisthenes (KLYS*thuh*NEEZ) (500 B.C.) – all citizens can submit laws for debate and passage
Council of which was chosen by random, could propose laws and council the assembly,
only free adult male property owners born in Athens are citizens
women, slaves, and foreigners have few rights

11. Athenian Education
sons of wealthy families get formal education = begin at seven
(7) years old
school- geared to being a good citizen
reading / grammar / poetry / history / math / music / logic /
public speaking / debate issues
athletics = train and develop body
military school = defend Athens
girls – educated at home
child-rearing / weaving / cooking / cleaning
some learned to read and write

12. Sparta Government = military state Assembly Council of Elders (30)
composed of all Spartan citizens, elected officials & voted on major issues
Council of Elders (30)
proposed laws
five (5) elected officials carried out laws passed / controlled education / prosecuted court cases
two (2) kings ruled over Sparta’s military

13. Spartan Daily Life Social Life citizens non-citizens
original inhabitants of the region
non-citizens
free / worked in commerce and industry
Helots (HEHL*uhts)
little better than slaves / worked in fields or as servants

14. Spartan Daily Life Values most powerful army in Greece
individual expression discouraged
NOT = value arts / literature / intellectual pursuits
VALUED = duty / strength / discipline
girls = some military training / ran / wrestled / played sports
Spartan girls were encouraged to strengthen their bodies and to
learn how to run the family for when the men were at war

15. Spartan Daily Life Military men serve in army until age of 60
centers on military training
** from childhood, Spartan boys were trained to be soldiers **
left home at age seven (7) and moved into army barracks and stayed until they were thirty (30)
marched / exercised / fought
training produced tough and resourceful soldiers
service to Sparta over everything else: “Come back with your shield or on it”

16. The Persian Wars Phalanx: foot soldiers / stood side by side
each holding a spear in one hand
and a shield in the other
** Phalanx is the type of fighting method that the Spartans used **
the creation of cheaper iron weapons allowed all men - not just rich to join armies - to fight for their nation

17. The Persian Wars the war was between Greece and Persia
Persia attacked the Ionian Peninsula
Athens sent aid but to no avail
Darius the Great and the Persians vowed to
destroy Athens

18. The Persian Wars
Battle at Marathon (490 B.C.) – Persian fleet carrying 25,000 men land in Greece
10,000 Athenians outnumbered 3 – 1 arranged in phalanxes waited
Persians fled battlefield (light armor, untrained)
Pheidippides (fy*DIP*uh*DEEZ)–
young runner raced back to Athens
brought news of Athenian victory and died

19. The Persian Wars Xerxes (ZURK*seez) (480 B.C.)
Persian king and son of Darius
assembled army for invasion of Greece
Greeks divided on issue:
some wanted to let the Persians smash Athens
some wanted to fight the Persians
some even joined the Persians
Persians met no resistance on the way into Greece

20. The Persian Wars Thermopylae (thur*MAHP*uh*lee)
7,000 Greeks and 300 Spartans blocked the way at narrow mountain pass
The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between Sparta and Persia
stopped Persian advance for three (3) days
traitor told Persians about a secret path around the pass – all 300 Spartans killed while the others retreated
Xerxes burned Athens

21. The Persian Wars Battle of Salamis (SAL*uh*mihs)
Xerxes sent warships to block channel
Persian ships too big to turn
one-third of ships lost
Delian (DEE*lee*uhn) League
several Greek city-states formed an alliance
pressed war against Persians for several years
drove Persians from the territories surrounding Greece
formed to unite city-states into one empire

22. The Persian Wars Consequences (470s)
Athens emerged as leader of Delian League
headquarters moved from the island of Delos to Athens
eventually, many of the other 200 city-states become provinces of a huge Athenian Empire
Athens enters a Golden Age

23. Essential Question
Explain how living in Athens was different from living in Sparta.
Write three complete sentences in the summary location on your note sheet

24. Greece Objective
Analyze the history, culture, and impact classical Greece had on the modern world