1. Daily Life in Classical Athens Slavery was common- most (except poor) had slaves Economy based of farming & trade Family was important Women: participated in religion but   Excluded from politics   Could not own property   Had male guardians   Roles included: running household, good wives, *bear and raise children, married at 14 or 15, no formal education

2. The Cultural of Classical Greece Religion affected every aspect of Greek life.   Greeks considered religion necessary to the well being of the state.   Twelve chief gods and goddesses were thought to live on Mount Olympus.   Zeus: chief god & father of gods, Athena: wife of Zeus and goddess of wisdom, Apollo: sun and poetry, Ares: war, Aphrodite: love, Poseidon: brother of Zeus, god of sea and earth quakes

3. The Greeks created dramas we know it in Western culture. The first Greek dramas were tragedies, which were presented in a trilogy. 1. The only complete trilogy in existence today is the Oresteia, by Aeschylus. 2. Sophocles’s most famous play was Oedipus Rex. Greek comedy was used to criticize both politicians and intellectuals.

4. Philosophy refers to an organized system of thought.   Pythagoras taught that the essence of the universe could be found in music and numbers.   The Socratic (Socrates) method of teaching uses question and answer format to lead pupils to see things for themselves by using their own reason. Socrates believed that the goal of education was only to improve the individual. All real knowledge is present within a person. He said, “ The unexamined life is not worth living.” Questioning authority lead him into trouble. He was sentenced to die by drinking poison.

5. Plato was fascinated with question of reality; how do we know what is real? One of Socrates students’. He believed in an eternal and perfect form. He came to distrust the working of democracy. Contrary to Greek custom, he also believed that men and women should have equal education and equal access to all positions.

6. Sophists: beyond capacity of human mind to understand the universe. It was more important for individuals to improve themselves. There are no absolute right or wrong. The Sophists were viewed as harmful to society. Aristotle: Plato’s student. Interests lay in classifying and analyzing things based on observation and investigation. He wrote about subjects, including ethics, logic, politics, poetry, astronomy, geology, biology, and physics. He favored constitutional government as the best form for most people.

7. Some of the finest examples of Greek classical architecture were from the fifth century. A. The most famous building from this period was the Parthenon (pg. 116) 1. The patron goddess of Athens was Athena. 2. The Parthenon was an expression of Athenian pride in their city-state. B. Greek sculptors did not seek to achieve realism, but rather standard of ideal beauty.

8. Threat of Macedonia Macedonians were barbarians Philip II became king of Macedonia He built a powerful army and made Macedonia the chief power of the Greek world Athenians and Macedonians fought at the Battle of Chaeronea Macedonians crushed the Greeks Phillip II was assassinated before he could form a league to unify the Greek world against Persia

9. Alexander the Great After his father’s death (Phillip II) Alexander quickly moved to fulfill his father’s dream His dream was to dissolve the Persian Empire Alexander freed the Ionian Greek city state By 332 BC, Syria, Palestine and Egypt were under his control He built Alexandria and made it the capital of Egypt He took possession of the Persian Empire after defeating the Persian’s at the Battle of Gaugamela Alexander the Great died at the age of 32 He possessed great military leadership, strategy and tactics

10. Hellenistic Kingdoms Hellenistic Era – the age of Alexander the Great; period when the Greek language and culture was spread out throughout the world. Alexander’s empire fell apart soon after his death. Macedonian generals struggle for power Four Hellenistic Kingdoms emerged: Macedonia, Syria, Kingdom of Pergamum in western Asia Minor and Egypt The new cities of the Hellenistic Era helped to spread Greek culture.

11. Hellenistic Culture Hellenistic Era was a period of cultural accomplishments in many areas Alexandria (Egypt) became a center for poets, writers, philosophers and scientists Greek building, like baths, theaters and temples lined the streets of the new cities Hellenistic Age produced an enormous quantity of literature.

12. Contributions to Hellenistic Culture Aristarchus- developed the theory the sun was at the center of the universe Eratosthenes- determined that the Earth was round Archimedes- established the value of the mathematical constant Pi. Euclid- wrote the “Element” Epicureanism- the belief to follow self-interest as a basic motivating force. Happiness was the goal of life. Happiness was accomplished by pursuing pleasures Stoicism- happiness could only be found when people gained inner peace by living in harmony with the will of God