1. Ancient Greece 2000-700 BCE

2. Ancient and Classical Greece Timeline 2000 BCE 1500 BCE Minoan Civilization prospers Mycenae thrives About 1200 BCE Trojan War Takes place City-states flourish 750 BCE 479 BCE Greece wins Persian War 431BCE Peloponnesian Wars (Sparta & Athens) 334BCE Alexander begins to build Empire by conquering Persian Empire Homer composes The Iliad and The Odyssey

3. Minoan and Mycenaean Civilizations and the city of Troy Minoan civilization Crete Mycenae and Troy were civilizations that thrived before Sparta and Athens became powerful city states within Greece. Mycenae and Troy are most known because of the writings of Homer, a blind storyteller from Mycenae.

4. Homer wrote two epic poems, The Iliad and the Odyssey. What does “epic” mean? Both poems were about the Trojan War.

5. What do you already know about the Trojan War? Talk to your neighbor.

6. The Trojan War is believed to have occurred around 1200 BC. The Greeks fought Troy for ten years. Historians believe that the war was over control of the Aegean Sea.

7. Homer’s Iliad recounts the story: Helen is the most beautiful woman in the world and the wife of the king of Sparta. Helen falls in love with Paris, the prince of Troy, as he is in Sparta negotiating a peace treaty. Helen is kidnapped by Paris and taken to Troy. This sparks a war between the Greeks and the Trojans as the Greeks attempted to invade Troy.

8. The walls of Troy were impenetrable. So the Greeks built a huge horse (hidden inside were soldiers) and left it at the gates of troy as a gift. After the Trojans opened the gates And pulled the horse inside, the Greeks attacked and burned the city to the ground.

9. Because they reveal so much about Greek culture, civilization and their values of honor, heroism and courage. Why are these stories important?

10. Both stories reveal much about Greek Mythology. What do you already know about Greek Mythology? Is it polytheistic or monotheistic?

11. How did Greek mythology affect culture, politics and art? Festivals were held to honor the gods and goddesses Each city state had a patron god or goddess that the Greeks believed protected it. Politically, governments consulted the Gods and goddesses through the Oracle of Delphi The gods and goddesses were the subject of classical art

12. How did it help explain the natural world and human behavior? It helped explain geographic features and natural phenomenon as well as emotions such as jealousy and anger.

13. Who were the most important Greek gods and goddesses? It was believed that the Greek gods and goddesses lived on Mt. Olympus The Oracle at Delphi, a mystical priestess was believed to be able to speak to the gods and goddesses.

14. Zeus Hera

15. Apollo Artemis

16. Athena Aphrodite

17. Homeric Quotes about Greek Mythology “It was built against the will of the immortal gods So it did not last for long.” The Iliad Park Row building in New York

18. “You will certainly not be able to take the lead in all things yourself, for to one man a god has given deeds of war, and to another the dance, to another lyre and song, and to another wide sounding Zeus puts a good mind.” The Iliad National Archives Building, Washington DC

19. “Thus, have the gods spun the thread from wretched mortals that live in grief while they themselves are without cares; for two jars stand on the floor of Zeus of the gifts which he gives, one of evils and another of blessings.” The Iliad U.S. Dept. of Justice

20. “The gods, likening themselves To all kinds of strangers, go in various disguises From city to city, observing the wrongdoing and the righteousness of men.” Manhattan Bridge, NYC The Odyssey