1. Ancient Greece Geography and the Early Greeks The Glory of Athens
Why might historians consider ancient Greece the first Western civilization?
Geography and the Early Greeks
LESSON 1
The Glory of Athens
LESSON 2
Athens and Sparta
LESSON 3
Greek Mythology and Literature
LESSON 4
Greek Art, Philosophy, and Science
LESSON 5
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2. Geography and the Early Greeks
LESSON 1
Big Idea
Greece’s geography and its nearness to the sea strongly influenced the development of trade and the growth of city-states.
Main Ideas
Geography helped shape early Greek civilization.
Trading cultures developed in the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations.
The Greeks created city-states for protection and security.
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3. Geography Shapes Greek Civilization
Lesson 1
Geography Shapes Greek Civilization
Main Idea 1
Geography helped shape early Greek civilization.
Mountains and Settlements
Mountains cover much of Greece, so contact with other villages was difficult.
People settled in the flat areas along the coast and in river valleys.
People created their own governments and ways of life.
Seas and Ships
Because travel was so difficult inland, Greeks turned to the seas on all sides.
They became skilled shipbuilders and sailors.
The sea became a source of food as well as a way of trading with other communities.
They also exchanged ideas with other cultures.
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4. Trading Cultures Develop
Lesson 1
Trading Cultures Develop
Main Idea 2
Trading cultures developed in the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations.
The Minoans
They spent much of their time at sea, trading in the Mediterranean.
Ships carried goods such as wood, olive oil, and pottery all around the eastern Mediterranean.
They became the victims of a huge volcano that erupted north of Crete.
They were not considered to be Greek, since they didn’t speak Greek.
The Mycenaeans
They were the first people to be considered Greek.
They lived inland and built fortresses.
They were more violent in their trade.
They took over Crete and became the major traders in the eastern Mediterranean.
They developed colonies in northern Greece and Italy, from which they shipped goods around the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
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5. Greeks Create City-States
Lesson 1
Greeks Create City-States
Main Idea 3
The Greeks created city-states for protection and security.
During the Dark Ages, the Greeks started joining together in small groups for protection.
These groups set up independent city-states. The Greek word for city-state is polis.
The creation of city-states marks the beginning of Greece’s classical age, an age marked by great achievements.
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6. Main Idea 3 Life in a City-State
Lesson 1
Main Idea 3
(continued)
Life in a City-State
A city-state was usually built around a strong fortress on top of a high hill called an acropolis.
The town around the acropolis was surrounded by walls for protection. People no longer had to fear raiders.
Life in the city focused on the marketplace, or agora.
The city-state became the foundation for Greek civilization and gave the Greeks an identity.
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7. City-States and Colonization
Lesson 1
Main Idea 3
(continued)
City-States and Colonization
Life in Greece became more settled, and people agreed that the Greeks should establish colonies.
Before long, groups from city-states around Greece began setting up colonies in distant lands.
They spread all around the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
continued…
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8. Main Idea 3 Patterns of Trade
Lesson 1
Main Idea 3
(continued)
Patterns of Trade
Although the colonies were independent, they often traded with city-states on the mainland.
Trade made the city-states much richer.
Soon the Greeks had become the greatest traders in the whole Aegean region.
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9. The Glory of Athens LESSON 2 Big Idea Main Ideas
The people of Athens endured war and tried many different forms of government before creating a democracy.
Main Ideas
Aristocrats and tyrants ruled early Athens.
Athens created the world’s first democracy.
Ancient democracy was different than modern democracy.
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10. Aristocrats and Tyrants Rule
Lesson 2
Aristocrats and Tyrants Rule
Main Idea 1
Aristocrats and tyrants ruled early Athens.
Greece is the the birthplace of democracy, a type of government in which people rule themselves.
The word democracy comes from Greek words meaning “rule of the people.”
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11. Main Idea 1 Rule by a Few People Kings ruled in early Athens.
Lesson 2
Main Idea 1
(continued)
Rule by a Few People
Kings ruled in early Athens.
A group of rich landowners—aristocrats—took power.
Athens became an oligarchy—a government in which only a few people hold power.
Only the highest social class had power, making Athenian society an aristocracy.
As a result of rebels trying to overthrow the aristocrats, harsh laws were created by a man named Draco.
A man named Solon created a set of laws allowing all free men to be citizens, people who had the right to participate in government.
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12. Main Idea 1 The Rise of the Tyrants
Lesson 2
Main Idea 1
(continued)
The Rise of the Tyrants
Peisistratus overthrew the oligarchy, however, and became the ruler of Athens.
He was called a tyrant, a leader who held power through the use of force.
Tyrants were usually good, not harsh, leaders in ancient Greece
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13. The Use of Common Currency
Lesson 2
Main Idea 1
(continued)
The Use of Common Currency
Greek tyrants encouraged the development of a common currency to make trade easier.
Silver coins were minted.
A common standard of weights and measures was established.
Athens’ coins became used widely throughout Greece.
Corinth also minted its own coins, which helped it become a dominant city-state.
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14. Athens Creates Democracy
Lesson 2
Athens Creates Democracy
Main Idea 2
Athens created the world’s first democracy.
A leader named Cleisthenes, a member of one of the most powerful families in Athens, overthrew the aristocracy and established the world’s first democracy.
For this reason, he is considered the father of democracy.
continued…
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15. Democracy under Cleisthenes
Lesson 2
Main Idea 2
(continued)
Democracy under Cleisthenes
Under Cleisthenes, all citizens in Athens had the right to participate in the assembly, or gathering of citizens, that created the city’s laws.
They needed many citizens to participate and sometimes had to go searching for people to be in the assembly.
continued…
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16. Changes in Athenian Democracy
Lesson 2
Main Idea 2
(continued)
Changes in Athenian Democracy
As time passed, citizens got more power, such as serving on juries.
Athens reached its height under Pericles, who encouraged people to take pride in their city.
He also began to pay people who served in public office or on juries.
continued…
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17. Main Idea 2 Greek Constitutions
Lesson 2
Main Idea 2
(continued)
Greek Constitutions
The Greeks created constitutions in which laws were written.
A constitution is a set of beliefs and laws that are used to govern a state, nation, or organization.
continued…
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18. End of Democracy in Athens
Lesson 2
Main Idea 2
(continued)
End of Democracy in Athens
Athens was conquered by the Macedonians and fell under their influence.
The king ruled like a dictator. No one could make decisions without his approval.
The assembly still met to make laws, but it had to be careful not to upset the king.
Eventually, a new king took over and ended Athenian democracy altogether.
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19. Ancient Democracy Differs from Modern Democracy
Lesson 2
Ancient Democracy Differs from Modern Democracy
Ancient democracy was different than modern democracy.
Direct Democracy
All citizens in Athens could participate directly in the government, which was called a direct democracy.
Each vote counted, and the majority ruled.
Representative Democracy
The United States is too large for direct democracy to work for the whole country.
Instead, we have a representative democracy.
In a representative democracy, also called a republic, citizens elect officials to represent them in the government. These officials then make the laws.
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20. Athens and Sparta LESSON 3 Big Idea Main Ideas
The two most powerful city-states in Greece, Sparta and Athens, had very different cultures and became bitter enemies in the 400s BC.
Main Ideas
The Spartans built a military society to provide security and protection.
The Athenians admired the mind and the arts in addition to physical abilities.
Sparta and Athens fought over who should have power and influence in Greece.
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21. Spartans Build a Military Society
Lesson 3
Spartans Build a Military Society
Main Idea 1
The Spartans built a military society to provide security and protection.
Spartan society was dominated by the military.
According to tradition, Spartan’s military society was created between 900 and 600 BC by Lycurgus to prevent another slave revolt.
Spartans believed that military power provided security and protection.
continued…
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22. Main Idea 1 Boys and Men in Sparta
Lesson 3
Main Idea 1
(continued)
Boys and Men in Sparta
Boys were trained from an early age to be soldiers.
Boys learned to endure hardships; stole food to survive.
Soldiers between the ages of 20 and 30 lived in army barracks.
Men stayed in the army until age 60.
Spartans reinforced self-discipline by requiring soldiers to live lives free from comforts.
continued…
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23. Girls and Women in Sparta
Lesson 3
Main Idea 1
(continued)
Girls and Women in Sparta
Spartan women had more rights than other Greek women.
Some women owned lands and ran their households.
Women also received physical training because Spartans believed this would help them bear healthy children.
continued…
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24. Lesson 3
Main Idea 1
(continued)
Government
Sparta ruled by two kings, but elected officials had more power.
Sparta’s government was set up to control the helots, or government-owned slaves.
The helots grew all the city’s crops, were servants, and were forced to fight during war.
Sparta became a rich, powerful, and prosperous city.
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25. Athenians Admire the Mind
Lesson 3
Athenians Admire the Mind
Main Idea 2
The Athenians admired the mind and the arts in addition to physical abilities.
Boys and Men in Athens
Athenian men didn’t devote their lives to the military.
Athenian boys from rich families worked to improve their bodies and minds.
Athenian boys learned how to read, write, count, and play instruments.
Wealthy families hired private tutors to teach boys about philosophy, geometry, astronomy, and more.
Boys from poor families did not receive an education; instead, they grew food for the city.
continued…
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26. Girls and Women in Athens
Lesson 3
Main Idea 2
(continued)
Girls and Women in Athens
Girls received almost no education.
Most girls were learned household tasks instead.
Athenian women had fewer rights than women in other city-states.
Women could not serve in the government, leave their homes, or buy anything.
continued…
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27. Limited Rights in Athenian Society
Lesson 3
Main Idea 2
(continued)
Limited Rights in Athenian Society
Although Athens was a democracy, some people had fewer rights than others.
Athenian women had fewer rights than other Greek women as well as women in other ancient governments.
Athenian slaves had limited rights that depended on which of three slave classes they belonged.
Foreigners, called metics, had some rights, but could not participate in government.
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28. Sparta and Athens Fight
Lesson 3
Sparta and Athens Fight
Main Idea 3
Sparta and Athens fought over who should have power and influence in Greece.
Athenian Power
Sparta and Athens worked together to win the Persian Wars.
After the Persian Wars, city-states joined an alliance, an agreement to work together, which historians call the Delian League.
Athens became the strongest member of the Delian League.
Athens treated other members as subjects and used the Leagues money to pay for Athenian buildings.
continued…
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29. Sparta and Athens Fight
Lesson 3
Sparta and Athens Fight
Main Idea 3
(continued)
The Peloponnesian War
Sparta declared war on Athens, starting the Peloponnesian War.
The war lasted for ten years before they decided to call a truce.
The war started up once more when Athens tried to expand its empire. The Spartans won.
With the defeat of Athens, Sparta became the most powerful city-state in Greece.
Fighting Among the City-States
Other city-states started to resent Sparta, leading to a period of war.
Control of Greece shifted from one city-state to another for years.
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30. Greek Mythology and Literature
LESSON 4
The Big Idea
The ancient Greeks created great myths and works of literature that influence the way we speak and write today.
Main Ideas
The Greeks created myths to explain the world.
Ancient Greek literature provides some of the world’s greatest poems and stories.
Greek literature lives on and influences our world even today.
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31. Myths Explain the World
Lesson 4
Myths Explain the World
Main Idea 1
The Greeks created myths to explain the world.
Instead of scientific explanations, the Greeks used mythology to explain things.
Mythology is a body of stories about gods and heroes that try to explain how the world works.
continued…
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32. Lesson 4
Main Idea 1
(continued)
Greek Gods
Greeks believed gods caused things like volcanic eruptions.
The most important Greek gods included:
Zeus, king of the gods
Hera, queen of the gods
Poseidon, god of the sea
Hades, god of the underworld
Athena, goddess of wisdom,
Apollo, god of the sun
Aphrodite, goddess of love
continued…
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33. Deities, Titans, Gods, and Mythology
Lesson 4
Main Idea 1
(continued)
Deities, Titans, Gods, and Mythology
In Greek mythology, Gaea and Uranus were the first two deities in the world.
The children and grandchildren of Gaea and Uranus were known as the Titans.
The gods defeated the Titans and took control of Mount Olympus.
To keep the gods happy, they built great temples. The Greeks expected help when they needed it in return.
continued…
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34. Main Idea 1 Heroes and Mythology
Lesson 4
Main Idea 1
(continued)
Heroes and Mythology
Many Greek myths told about the adventures of great heroes.
Some heroes were real, while others were not.
Some of the major heroes were Theseus, Jason, and Hercules.
Theseus traveled to Crete and killed the minotaur, a half-human, half-bull monster.
Jason sailed across the seas in search of great treasure.
Hercules was the most famous hero. He fought many monsters and performed nearly impossible tasks.
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35. Ancient Greek Literature
Lesson 4
Ancient Greek Literature
Main Idea 2
Ancient literature provides some of the world’s greatest poems and stories.
Homer and Epic Poetry
Among the earliest Greek writings are two epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer.
The Iliad tells the story of the last years of the Trojan War.
The Odyssey describes the challenges that Odysseus faced on his way home from the war.
These poems were central to the education system and influenced later writing as well.
continued…
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36. Ancient Greek Literature
Lesson 4
Ancient Greek Literature
Main Idea 2
(continued)
Lyric Poetry
Some poems were set to music.
The writers of these poems were called lyric poets, after their instrument, the lyre.
The most famous lyric poet was a woman named Sappho.
Her poems were beautiful and emotional. They spoke of love and relationships with her friends and family.
Fables
Other Greeks told short stories that taught the reader lessons about life or gave advice on how to live. These stories were called fables.
Aesop is famous for fables such as “The Tortoise and the Hare” and “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”
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37. Greek Literature Lives
Lesson 4
Greek Literature Lives
Main Idea 3
Greek literature lives on and influences our world even today.
Language
The Greek alphabet is the basis for most of the writing systems in the Western world.
The most obvious way we see the influence of the Greeks is in our language.
Many English words and expressions come from mythology, such as “odyssey” and “titanic.”
continued…
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38. Main Idea 3 New Forms of Writing
Lesson 4
Main Idea 3
(continued)
New Forms of Writing
The Greeks created new writing forms such as drama and history.
Athenian writers created many of the greatest plays of the ancient world and brought innovations to play writing.
The Greeks were among the first to write about history.
Many historians modeled their works after Thucydides’ methods.
continued…
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39. Literature and the Arts
Lesson 4
Main Idea 3
(continued)
Literature and the Arts
Greek myths have inspired artists and writers for centuries.
Moviemakers have borrowed some of these stories.
Mythological references are also common among names of sports teams.
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40. Greek Art, Philosophy, and Science
LESSON 5
The Big Idea
Ancient Greeks made lasting contributions in the arts, philosophy, and science.
Main Ideas
The Greeks made great contributions to the arts.
The teachings of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are the basis of modern philosophy.
In science, the Greeks made key discoveries in math, medicine, and engineering.
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41. The Arts Main Idea 1 Statues and Paintings
Lesson 5
The Arts
Main Idea 1
The Greeks made great contributions to the arts.
Statues and Paintings
Greek statues look as though they could come to life at any time, because Greek artists wanted to show how beautiful people could be.
They made statues of various gods and goddess for religious purposes.
Greek paintings are known for their realism and detail.
Painting scenes often had geographic features, myths, or athletic competitions.
continued…
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42. Main Idea 1 Greek Architecture
Lesson 5
Main Idea 1
(continued)
Greek Architecture
The Greeks made temples with rows of tall columns rounded in the middle so they appear perfectly straight.
The Parthenon was their most impressive temple.
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43. Lesson 5
Philosophy
Main Idea 2
The teachings of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are the basis of modern philosophy.
By around 500 BC philosophers began to think about other explanations for the mysteries of the world.
They believed in the power of the human mind to think, explain, and understand life.
continued…
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44. Training of the Body and the Mind
Lesson 5
Main Idea 2
(continued)
Training of the Body and the Mind
Discussions and lectures about philosophy, literature, and music took place at a gymnasium.
Aristotle wrote and debated philosophy at the Lyceum, a gymnasium in Athens.
continued…
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45. Lesson 5
Main Idea 2
(continued)
Socrates
Socrates taught by asking questions, a technique we call the Socratic method.
He wanted people to question their beliefs and look for knowledge. This angered and frightened people.
He was arrested and condemned to death for questioning the authority of the gods.
continued…
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46. Main Idea 2 Plato Aristotle Lesson 5 (continued)
Plato had been a student of Socrates.
Plato created a school, the Academy, to discuss ideas.
He also wrote The Republic, which described his ideal society.
Aristotle
Aristotle was Plato’s student.
He taught about living life in moderation, or balance.
He believed moderation was based on reason, or clear and ordered thinking.
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47. Science Main Idea 3 Mathematics
Lesson 5
Science
Main Idea 3
In science, the Greeks made key discoveries in math, medicine, and engineering.
(continued)
Mathematics
Euclid spent his life studying mathematics, especially geometry.
The study of flat shapes and lines is called Euclidean geometry.
Thales developed five theorems and may have been able to predict a solar eclipse.
Pythagoras proved that in a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
Hypatia taught about mathematics and astronomy.
continued…
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48. Medicine and Engineering
Lesson 5
Main Idea 3
(continued)
Medicine and Engineering
Hippocrates was a Greek doctor known for his ideas about how doctors should behave.
Engineers like Archimedes made great discoveries, such as the water screw, which brought water to the fields.
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