1. Bellringer What are some American values?
Think of things that everyone agrees are good, like “fairness”

2. Agenda The First Greeks Foundations of Greek Culture
Ancient Greek Values

3. Objectives
Students will be able to… 36. Identify the foundations of Greek values and culture, including the Minoans and Mycenaeans.

4. Objective #36
Ancient Greece
Most historians consider Ancient Greece to be the foundation of our culture today
Understanding Ancient Greece is essential for understanding ourselves
But where did Ancient Greek culture come from?

5. The First Greeks

6. The Minoans Civilization based on the island of Crete
Capital at Knossos

7. Where is Ancient Greece?

8. Where is Crete?

9. Minoan Civilization Named after King Minos You read about him…
Dominant in Mediterranean trade from 2000 to 1400 BCE
Not quite Greek, but Greek-like

10. Palace at Knossos

11. Grand Staircase

12. Theater

13. 6 miles of interlocking pipes to bring water from the mountain
Plumbing
6 miles of interlocking pipes to bring water from the mountain

14. Art (frescos)

15. Minoans Collapse Recover from disaster in 1700 BCE
Can’t recover from earthquakes and volcanic eruption in 1470 BCE
Probably invaded from mainland Greece

16. Cultural Diffusion! Minoans trade throughout Mediterranean
Mainland Greece (Europe)
Asia Minor
Egypt
Spread pottery techniques, religion, and maybe language

17. Then, the Mycenaeans
Nomads settle in Greece, borrow cultural ideas from the Minoans, and probably invade Crete
Mycenaeans
Take over Mediterranean trade
Fall to nomadic invaders around 1200 BCE

18. The Mycenaeans

19. Before they die… The Mycenaeans create Greek culture Language
Religion/mythology
Art and literature
They also fight the Trojan War

20. What are some similarities between the Mycenaeans and Minoans?
Pre-Greek Civilizations
Both conquered
Both dominated Mediterranean trade

21. Foundations of Greek Culture

22. Stories Greek culture is based on stories
Mythology, stories about the world, the gods, and the past
The Homeric Epics (Iliad and Odyssey), stories about heroes
About what it means to be Greek

23. Homeric Epics Epic = long poem about a hero, important to a culture
Homer = probable author, lived around 750 BCE
Events took place around 1250 BCE (the Mycenaean time)

24. The Iliad A story about the Trojan War
A prince (Paris) from Troy in Asia Minor captures Helen, the beautiful wife of a Greek king
A huge Greek army attacks Troy, led by Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae
How big was the army?

25. The Iliad
After 10 years surrounding the city, the Greeks trick their way into Troy and destroy the city
How?
Learn a lot about what Greeks wanted in heroes and leaders

26. The Odyssey
After winning the Trojan War, a Greek king named Odysseus tries to go home, but angers the gods
It takes him 10 years and many trials to reach his wife and son
Learn about Greek life at home, what they value in husbands and fathers

27. The Odyssey Some of Odysseus’ trials Circe, who turns men into animals
Cannibals
The Sirens’ call
A visit to Hades
Cyclopes
Scylla and Charybdis

28. Not Just Stories Homeric epics are more than stories, they are history
Everything was bigger and everyone was stronger and better
This shapes how Greeks view themselves and what they value

29. What qualities of the Iliad and Odyssey make it an epic poem?
They both have a hero
Both display important Greek values
Both still part of Greek culture

30. Lion’s Gate

31. Cyclopean Walls

32. Ancient Greek Values

33. Greek Values Respect the gods Family Arete (valor or virtue)
Agon (competition)
Kleos aphthiton (undying glory)

34. Respect the Gods The gods are like high schoolers Jealous Petty
Easily angered
And they hold grudges
Don’t make them angry, or you will pay
Myths tell you how to act
Rule #5

35. The Tale of Croesus Herodotus: the world’s first historian
Croesus: the king of Lydia, the most powerful kingdom in Western Asia

36. Where is Lydia?
Persia
Lydia
Greece

37. The Oracles Oracles can see the future
Most famous oracle was at Delphi
Locals will allow you to ask questions of the oracle…for a price
Treasury of the Athenians at Delphi

38. Oracle at Delphi

39. A Mighty Empire Falls
The Lydian Empire!

40. A Mule is Monarch It was Cyrus!
“the mule cited in the oracle is Cyrus himself, who was born from parents of different peoples and different social stations.”

41. The Lessons Oracles are vague and must be interpreted carefully
Hubris (excessive pride) will bring you down

42. Mr. Poth’s Rule of World History #6
If you act like you can’t lose, you will

43. Family
Loyal to their family and friends, welcome guests as temporary family members
Examples:
Greeks fight for 10 years to get Helen back in the Iliad, led by Helen’s husband’s brother
Odysseus travels for 10 years to return home to his wife, who remains faithful

44. Arete Your value or worth, your moral excellence Examples:
Warriors and athletes honored in the Iliad and Odyssey
Celebration of Odysseus’ and Penelope’s intelligence

45. Agon
Competition or conflict, whether in sport, battle, or conversation. The Greeks love to compete
Examples:
Constant athletic challenges throughout the Iliad and Odyssey
Olympic Games

46. Kleos Aphthiton
Undying glory – the ultimate goal for the Ancient Greeks was to be remembered forever
Examples:
Achilles (Iliad): you know how he died
Kings trying to be the most powerful
Olympic athletes
Spartan warriors