Greece!
 The
ancient Greeks and Romans
were two groups of people who
made significant contributions to
society in terms of architecture,
government, and sports.
The ancient Greeks and Romans
have influenced the lives of people
today.
Know the following terms:
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Direct democracy: a government in which
people vote to make their own rules and laws
Representative democracy: a government in
which people vote for (elect) a smaller group of
citizens to make their rules and laws for
everyone
.
Ancient
Greece
was located
near the
Mediterranean
Sea.
Geography
. 
Ancient Greece:
located among
mountains and
hills, surrounded
by Mediterranean
Sea and limited
rich soil.

the Land-difficult to
unite city-states
 Climate
moderate temps
perfect for
outdoor life
Ancient Greece: farmers,
shipbuilders, and traders
.
.
The people of Ancient Greece
Farmed on hillsides;
Trading took place on the
Mediterranean Sea;
Small independent
communities developed
because of the many
mountains.
Trojan War
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Still seeking to gain entrance into Troy,
clever Odysseus ordered a large wooden
horse to be built. Its insides were to be
hollow so that soldiers could hide within it.
Once the statue had been built by the artist
Epeius, a number of the Greek warriors,
along with Odysseus, climbed inside. The
rest of the Greek fleet sailed away, so as to
deceive the Trojans.
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One man, Sinon, was left behind. When the Trojans came to
marvel at the huge creation, Sinon pretended to be angry
with the Greeks, stating that they had deserted him. He
assured the Trojans that the wooden horse was safe and
would bring luck to the Trojans.
Only two people, Laocoon and Cassandra, spoke out against
the horse, but they were ignored. The Trojans celebrated
what they thought was their victory, and dragged the wooden
horse into Troy.
That night, after most of Troy was asleep or in a drunken
stupor, Sinon let the Greek warriors out from the horse, and
they slaughtered the Trojans. Priam was killed as he huddled
by Zeus' altar and Cassandra was pulled from the statue of
Athena and raped.
Epics of Homer
 The
Iliad
 The Odyssey
Myths helps the Greeks
understand nature and
human behavior
Early City-States of the Aegean
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Minoans settled Crete by 6000 B.C.E.
Produced pottery, written script, bronze tools
Palaces destroyed for unknown reasons in
1450 and 1370 B.C.E.
Development of new script hows rising
influence of Greeks over Minoans
Reemergence of Greek culture in 850 B.C.E.
The Greek Polis
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Small, locally organized government
Size restricted by…?
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Geography!
Overpopulation addressed by colonization
Built for defense and to accommodate
mountains
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Poorest lived at lower levels
Agora (open meeting space) on higher ground
Acropolis (temple) on highest ground
Political Structure

Monarchy – Kings

Aristocracy - small groups of nobles

Oligarchy- gov. ruled by a few people

Direct Democracy- state ruled by its
citizens
Athens and the Development of
Democracy
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Developed modern
concept of political
democracy
A leader among citystates
Left the most
historical record
Moved farthest from
kings and oligarchies
to rule by the people
Reforms of Solon moved toward
democracy [600-560 B.C.E.]
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Wealthy represented in
Council of 400
All free men could participate
in decisions
Canceled all public and
private debt
Ended enslavement for debt
payment
Reforms ended with class
conflict and clan rivalries
Cleisthenes 500 B.C ish
(Reformer?)
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Broke power with nobility,
power now based on
where they lived
Increased power of
assembly by allowing all
citizens to submit laws
Council of 500
Citizenship was restricted
to a relatively small
number
Sparta Government
Governed by an Oligarchy
assembly of all free adult males
elects officials - vote major issues
Council of Elders-(30 people)
proposed laws for assembly to
vote on
controlled education
prosecuted court cases
Only ruling families (own the land)
and working-class people are
citizens
Helots worked the land they were
just above slaves
Pericles
1)
2)
3)
To strengthen Athenian
democracy (direct
democracy)
To hold and strengthen
the empire (Delian
League)
To glorify Athens
(beautify Athens-gold,
ivory, marble with money
from the DL)
Persian representation in the
movie, 300:
“The Immortals”
Persians:
Shields made of Wicker
Bronze Helmet of Corinth
500 B.C.E.
Hoplites: Armor made of Bronze
Leonidas fighting the Persians
in the movie 300
War with Persia
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Revolt of Greek colonists in
Asia Minor prompted Persian
attack on Athens
Battle of Marathon: 10,000
man Greek army defeats
48,000 man Persian army (490
B.C.E.)
Greek key was hoplite
soldiers organized into tightlyknit phalanxes, symbolic of
citizen unity of city-state
Pheidippides had race back to Athens

490 B.C., semi-legendary
Athenian courier sent to
Sparta to request help when
the Persians landed at
Marathon. He ran 150 miles
in two days. At the
conclusion of the battle, he
ran the 22 mi (35 km) back
to Athens, where he
reportedly shouted “Rejoice!
We conquer!” and then died
of exhaustion.
Greek Phalanx
Thermopylae
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Xerxes, son of Darius, tried to
defeat Greeks
Decisive Greek victory at
Thermopylae, 480 B.C.E.
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Narrow pass bounded by
mountains on one side and the
sea on the other.
200,000 Persians V. 300
Spartans and 7,000 Greeks in
total
All of the Spartans died
Athenians evacuated their city &
regrouped
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Victory at Salamis plus
persistence in face of
Persian pressure
insured victory
Greek motivation
offset power of
Persians who were
overextending their
powers
Mountain pass in Thermopylae, Greece
PHILOSOPHERS
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The philosophers were “seekers of wisdom” who
tried to study the world in a systematic way
Believed people could understand the universe
through logic and reason
The earliest group was known as sophists- men of
wisdom
Their main concern was political and social success
Many were teachers who trained the children of the
wealthy
SOCRATES469-399-BC
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Developed the
Socratic Method - A
question and
answer technique
of studying issues
This method was
designed to make
people examine
their beliefs
Plato
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Was a student of
Socrates
In The Republic-Plato
outlines his ideas of the
ideal society
Believed no one would
have wealth or luxury
and all would do what
they are best suited to
Aristotle
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A student of Plato
Established the
Lyceum- the world first
scientific institute
Believed that reason
was the highest good
Praised the virtues of
self reliance and self
control
Alexander the Great
356-323 B.C.E.
Alexander the Great’s Empire
Pergamum:
A New
“Hellenistic”
City
Cosmopolitan
Culture
Trade in the Hellenistic World
Library at Alexandria (333 B.C.E.)
Hellenic vs. Hellenistic Art
Hellenistic Philosophers
$
$
Cynics  Diogenes

ignore social conventions & avoid luxuries.
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citizens of the world.

live a humble, simple life.
Epicurians  Epicurus
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avoid pain & seek pleasure.
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all excess leads to pain!
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politics should be avoided.
Hellenistic Philosophers
$ Stoics  Zeno
 nature is the expansion of divine will.
 concept of natural law.
 get involved in politics, not for personal
gain, but to perform virtuous acts for
the good of all.
 true happiness is found in great
achievements.
Hellenism:
The Arts & Sciences
$
Scientists / Mathematicians:
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Aristarchus  heliocentric theory.
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Euclid  geometry.
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Archimedes  pulley.
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Ptolemy  geocentric theory.
Ptolemaic View of the Universe
The Breakup of Alexander’s Empire
The Incursion of Rome into the Hellenistic World