1. Classical Greece

2. Greece The role of geography:
Mountains and the sea influenced Greek development
Greek cities couldn’t unify (mountains)
– became independent polis, or city-states
Small size of city-states creates
more citizen involvement in
government
Proximity to the sea made Greeks,
especially Athens, skilled sailors
& traders

3. Poor soil means no traditional agriculture
Poor soil means no traditional agriculture. Instead commercial agriculture develops (cash crops, in particular olives, grapes)
Commercial agriculture traded for food crops – influences development of colonies
Greeks united
by culture,
language,
religion & trade

4. City-states Sparta and Athens: the two largest city-states
The leaders of the development of Classical Greece
SPARTA
-Land-locked (no access to sea)
Conquered neighbors & enslaved them (helots).
Helots did work so Spartan men could be in the army
To control large slave population, Sparta was a military state
Government was an oligarchy
Did not value the individual, or the arts
Spartan army the best in ancient Greece
ATHENS
Focused on trade around the Aegean & Mediterranean Seas
Established colonies around the Mediterranean to provide food for Athens & markets for trade
Government was a direct democracy; all male citizens could participate
Valued the individual, saw art & beauty as important to society
Athenian Navy the best in ancient Greece

5. Greek Democracy Why did democracy develop in Athens?
To give citizens a voice in their government, preventing rebellion – iron weapons were cheaper than bronze, so more citizens had them
Economy dependent on trade → merchants could demand to be included in gov’t decisions
Most farmers owned their land, and also demanded a voice in the government

6. Wars Persian Wars (499 – 479BC)
Greek colonies controlled by the Persian revolted
Athens created an army to help rebellion
First Persian invasion failed
Xerxes (king of Persia) invades again. The Spartans help hold them off at the battle of Thermopylae (the movie 300). Betrayal lets Persians occupy parts of Greece, including Athens
Greek army & navy win decisive victories
Unified Greeks and created the “Delian League”

7. The Athenian Empire
Athens continues war against Persia to recapture their lost colonies
Delian League (Athens & its allies) finances the war – Athens regains its wealth
Pericles an important leader – expands empire, opening democracy to all male citizens, beautifying the city
Art & philosophy flourish during this time period

8. Greek Civil War Peloponnesian Wars (431 – 404BC)
Delian League pays tribute to Athens → some city-states start to resent this when Persia is defeated
Sparta leads coalition of city-states against Athens
War lasts 27 years, Athens is defeated

9. Long-Term impact of Civil War
Weakens the two “powers” of Greece: Athens & Sparta
Allows Macedonians (Northern Greece) to gain power
King Philip II & his son Alexander conquer Greece – Alexander will create the largest Greek empire in history

10. Greek Religion & Philosophy
Polytheistic
gods and goddesses embodied nature and explained the human condition
Greek mythology: stories told about the Greek gods and goddesses and their relationship to nature
Most myths taught a lesson
They became the center of social and civic life (Athens was dedicated to their namesake Athena)
Each city-state built temples and celebrated festivals dedicated to their gods

11. The Olympic Games
Greek city-states got together every 4 years at Olympia for a sport festival to honor Zeus (father of the gods)
Chariot racing, long jumping, boxing, and much more

12. Greek Philosophy! New way of thinking based on:
The focus of man as the center of intellectual and artistic endeavors
Knowledge comes from reason without aid of the senses
3 FAMOUS GREEK PHILOSOPHERS:
Socrates: studied human behavior and ethics
Plato: student of Socrates
Aristotle: meaning of life
THEIR WRITINGS BECAME THE HEART OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD!

13. Greek Achievements! Homer’s “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”
Greek Dramas (plays)
Some of the first historians and histories written were Greek
Pythagorean Theorem (a₂+b₂=c₂)
Greek Statues: ideal form of the human body
Architecture
-The Parthenon (temple to Athena)
- Marble columns

14. Cultural Influences
Hellenistic Culture: a combination of the best of Greek and Persian cultures growing out of the trade that increased during this time period
Celebrated the human experience and human body
Stressed science, math, astronomy
Architecture based on columns and sculpture
Built upon later by the Romans