1. The “CLASSICAL ERA” in the West
PERSIA
GREECE
ROME

2. The “Classical Era” Greek Civilization

3. The “CLASSICAL ERA” ANCIENT GREECE
Identify and describe the major effects of the development of the Greek civilization.
Describe the major political influence of Greek Civilization.
Describe the major philosophical influence of the Ancient Greeks.
Describe the major cultural influence of Ancient Greece.
Identify key ideas about government and law in Ancient Greece .
Describe the role of women and how it changed in Ancient Greece.
Identify the origin of major mathematical, scientific and technological ideas in Ancient Greece.

4. ANCIENT GREECE
The Parthenon

5. Geography of Greece
Large, mountainous peninsula, including islands of the Aegean Sea, and coast of present day Turkey
Greece has a hilly terrain, making farming difficult.
Much of Greece is stony and only suitable for pasture

6. Greek Trade Since Greeks could not farm, they relied on trade
Products they produced:
Wine
olive oil
Pottery

7. They traded with other people in the Mediterranean
Exposed to key achievements of other cultures, such as the Phoenician Alphabet (a way of writing)

8. Early Greek Civilization
M I N O A N
Flourished on island of Crete from 2000 BC to 1400 BC
Developed own form of writing
Used copper and bronze
Skilled at shipbuilding
Mysteriously collapsed around 1400 BC

9. Early Greek Civilizations
M Y C E N A E
Located on mainland Greece from 1400 BC to 1200 BC
At this time, the Dorians, a group of people from northern Greece, conquered the Greek mainland

10. The Rise of Greek city-states
Mountains and the sea caused Greek centers to be isolated
As a result, separate city-states developed
Each had their own form of government and set of laws
POLIS – Greek word for city-state.

11. The Rise of Greek city-states
EXAMPLE:
All Greeks believed in the same gods and goddesses, including Zeus, Athena, and Apollo
They were believed to live on Mt. Olympus
Greeks shared in a common culture, based on their language, religious beliefs, traditions, and close economic ties

12. Greek Olympics Citizens from all the Greek city-states participated
every four years in Olympic games
honor of Zeus and other Greek gods
Greeks believed their gods were pleased by strong, graceful, human bodies

13. S P A R T A
Located in the southern part of Greece, called Peloponnesus

14. S P A R T A
In 725 BC, Spartans conquered their neighbors They forced these people, known as the helots, to farm for them.

15. S P A R T A
What does this statue tell you about what was important in ancient Sparta?

16. S P A R T A Life in Sparta was organized over military needs
Strict obedience and self-discipline were highly valued
Ex: if a newborn Spartan baby was found to be unhealthy, it was left on a hillside to die
Statue of King Leonidas

17. S P A R T A N S
At the age of 7, Spartan boys left their families to train for battle. They served in the army until age 60

18. The Last Stand of the 300 The Battle of Thermopylae

19. D E M O C R A T I C A T H E N S

20. D E M O C R A T I C A T H E N S

21. Democratic Athens
Every citizen could participate in government by voting on issues decided by the city-state
The main governing body of Athens was the Citizens Assembly
Open to all citizens, but only the first 5,000 could attend the meetings
Met 10 times a year
Directed foreign policy and made laws for Athens
Citizens who served on a council, jury, or as magistrates were paid
Ensured that even poor citizens could participate in government

22. Greek DEMOCRACY in Athens
Athens was first to introduce this type of government to Greece
In Greek, democracy means “rule of the people”
In a DEMOCRACY…
Ordinary citizens participate in government, either directly or by elected representatives
In Athens, not everybody was considered citizens
Women, foreigners, and slaves were not citizens and could not participate

23. The Golden Age of Greek Culture
In the 5th Century BC, the Persian Empire tried to conquer the Greek city-states, but failed
After this war, the Greeks enjoyed a “Golden Age”

24. The Golden Age of Greek Culture
Pericles championed democracy
He collected revenues from other city-states to rebuild Athens
Art, literature, and philosophy all flourished

25. Greek Philosophers
Greeks believed that human reason was powerful enough to understand the world and solve its problems.
They asked questions to find answers.

26. S O C R A T E S Questioned his students in moral terms.
What is goodness?
What is moral?
What is justice?
Condemned to death by the Athenian Council for corrupting the young

27. P L A T O Student of Socrates.
Concluded values are more than just what things appear to be in daily life.
The Republic
The ideal city-state is ruled by philosopher kings
Justice
The rule of reason over desire.

28. A R I S T O T L E Plato’s most famous student
Less concerned with the abstract and collected, classified and studied the relationships of things.
Teacher of Alexander the Great

29. The Golden Age of Greek Culture
Greek sculptors and architects designed buildings and statues with ideal proportions.
The PARTHENON
Constructed on a hill known as the ACROPOLIS
Inside was a giant statue of Athena, the patron goddess of the city

30. Science and Mathematics
ERATOSHENES
Geographer who showed that the Earth was round and calculated its circumference
Created a device (sieve) for discovering all prime numbers in math

31. Science and Mathematics
ARCHIMEDES
One of the greatest mathematicians
Made lots of contributions in geometry
Studied Levers
Archimedes Principle
Buoyancy
Designed catapults
Archimedes Screw called an auger –Earth Mover.
GIVE ME A PLACE TO STAND AND I WILL MOVE THE EARTH

32. Classical Greek Music
Listened to choral music and instruments like the flute
Developed musical scales

33. Greek Historians
HERODOTUS & THUCYDIDES
Told the story of the past

34. Greek Literature SOPHOCLES Greek playwright
Completed the 1st known comedies and tragedies
Greeks watched these plays in amphitheaters

35. The PELOPONNESIAN WARS
432 B.C. – 404 B.C.

36. Peloponnesian Wars Started with the rivalry between Athens and Sparta
The Athenians used their power to force other city-states to pay them taxes

37. Peloponnesian Wars
Sparta declared war on Athens starting the Peloponnesian Wars in 432 B.C.

38. Peloponnesian Wars
After 30 years of fighting, Sparta emerged as the victor
This war weakened the Greek city-states
Poverty became widespread, and Athens was completely devastated
Sparta emerged as the leading city-state

39. Women in Ancient Greece
Men regarded women as inferior and excluded them from public life
Women managed the home
Athenian women could own clothing and slaves, but they could NOT own land or enter into contracts
Spartan women had a greater status.
Many were given an education and physical training

40. Alexander the Great
In 228 BC, the King of Macedonia brought all of the Greek city-states under his control
His son, Alexander the Great, was taught by Aristotle
He conquered most of the Mediterranean world, including Egypt and Persia
However, Alexander died at a young age and his empire quickly fell apart

41. Alexander the Great

42. Alexander the Great’s Empire
Describe what Alexander’s empire included.

43. Hellenistic Culture Wherever Alexander went, he spread Greek culture
The fusion of Greek culture with the cultures of the Middle East and India
The greatest Hellenistic achievements were in mathematics and science
Alexander constructed a great library at Alexandria and encouraged scholarship