 Located in the southern part of Europe’s
Balkan Peninsula; very mountainous, and
many islands. (Island of Crete; Peloponnesus
peninsula; Mt. Olympus).
 Mountains protected and isolated the Greeks on
the mainland.
 Greek people never united under one government.
 People depended on the sea-trade for their living.
(Aegean, Mediterranean, Ionian, Black)
 Climate was mild; conducive to outdoor public
meetings. (theater, schools, government)
 Minoans (2500 to 1450 B.C.)
 concentrated on the island of Crete.
 Wealthy people with palaces (indoor bathrooms,
fireboxes) who decorated with brigthly colored
murals and enjoyed dancing and sports.
 Destroyed by a tidal wave caused by earthquake.
 Mycenaens (2000 to 1100 B.C.)
 also lived on Crete; combined with Minoans to form
ancient Greece.
 Married with local people (Hellenes) after
extending boundary to the Balkan Sea.
 Built stone walls for protection.
 Government kept detailed records of taxes, crops,
and livestock.
 Overran by the Dorians, which started the “Dark
Age” where written language disappeared with no
records kept, trade stopped, and poverty.
 Many fled to the mainland.
 They restored both cultures into the Hellenic
Civilization, the original inhabitants of Greece.
Hellenic Civilization taught love for nature, importance
of the husband-wife relationship, and loyalty between
friends.
 Homer (700 B.C.)-wrote the epics Illiad & The
Odyssey
 Illiad-a Trojan prince falls in love with Helen (wife
of Mycenaean prince). Helen is captured and taken
to Troy, on which the Mycenaean's lay siege for 10
years. The Greeks build a huge horse and hide
soldiers inside. The Trojans believe they have won
and take the horse into the city. That night, the
Greeks sneak out of the horse, capturing and
burning Troy to the ground. The “Trojan Horse”
destroyed from within.
 Odyssey-a homeward adventure of a Mycenaean
king after the Trojan War taking 10 years to return
home. An odyssey is a long journey.
 Heroes-teachers used the Illiad to teach pride in
Greek civilization and heritage.
 Activities of gods & goddesses explained why
people behaved as they did. They believed deities
caused physical storms to happen.
Athena-wisdom & art;
Demeter-goddess of agriculture;
Aphrodite-goddess of love & beauty;
Zeus-king of the gods; ruled the sky (weather).
Dionysus-god of wine & fertility. (play about this
one)
 Apollo-god of light (sun) and prophecy.
 Hades-ruled the underworld.
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 Greeks humanized their gods; they were total
human forms. They believed gods behaved like
humans (married & had children).
 Deities possessed super human powers
(physical & mental).
 Humans tried to be like deities in every way
possible.
 12 most important deities lived on Mount
Olympus; each one controlling a specific part
of the natural world.
 Religious festivals were important part of
Greek life; Olympic Games honored Zeus.
 This was the basic political unit of Hellenic
civilization comprised of the city and the
surrounding villages and fields (measured about 3
days walking distance). The center of the city
stood on a fortified hill (acropolis) with a temple
for the local deity. At the foot of the acropolis was
the agora-public square.
Balance
Symmetry
Pediment
Frieze
Columns
 The polis was small enough that all citizens
could take part in business with 5,000-10,000
male citizens who voted, owned property, and
held office. Women, slaves, and foreigners
had no part.
 The polis was famous for trading of wine and
olive oil with a monetary system.
 Kings lost power to landholding aristocrats
(wealthy nobles).
 Farmers had to obtain loans from aristocrats.
When they were unable to pay them back, they
lost their land, becoming peasants and
sharecroppers.
 farmers were foot soldiers in the Greek army,
more valuable than a wealthy cavalry.
 Other middle class working people (artisans)
joined forces with the farmers wanting a voice in
government and citizenship.
 tyrants seized power making promises to the
farmers (low & middle classes) and wanting
citizenship.
 harshness of a few tyrants caused “tyranny” to
mean rule by a cruel and unjust person.
 citizens restructured their government into
either an oligarchy (small group of rulers) or
democracy (rule by the people).
 -there were 2 democracies:
 1. Sparta
 2. Athens
 descendants of Dorian invaders founded in
southern Greece. Land was invaded and
farming people were taken as slaves (Helots)
and assigned to farm the land. Artisans and
merchants were hired, but were considered
free individuals, called Periocci. Together,
they outnumbered the Spartans. To maintain
power, they established a military society.
 Spartan Military
 life revolved around the military. Men were the
soldiers. Women breeded more soldiers.
Newborns were examined and the sickly left on a
hillside. Young boys would go to military school,
learning to read, write, use weapons, and steal. (If
caught stealing, they were whipped publicly. They
would go barefoot and have one garment to wear
and having little to eat.) After 20 years as a soldier,
they would marry at age 30, but continued to live
and serve in the military until 60, then they would
retire.
 Women in Sparta
 Involved in gymnastics, wrestling, and boxing.
They were to be as healthy and strong as possible.
They married at 19. If younger, they were less likely
to have a healthy child. They had no rights in
government.
 Government in Sparta
 2 kings ruled jointly, leading the army and religious
services.
 Legislative body had 2 houses
 The Assembly had most power, making laws and decisions
concerning war and peace. Male citizens over 20 served.
There were five overseers (ephors) elected to administer
public affairs, and could veto legislation.
 The Council of Elders were comprised of 28 men over 60
who proposed legislation.
 Spartan Culture
 people were exceptional athletes, always winning
the Olympic Games.
 they lagged behind intellectually, and in trade and
manufacturing.
 located in the central part of Greece.
 descendants of Mycenaean's.
 named after the goddess Athena.
 included more citizens; all free men regardless of
class or ownership of land
 Athenian Tyrants (brought changes)
 Draco-extremely harsh penalties for breaking laws.
For minor offenses, such as stealing, the penalty
was death. “Draconian” means cruel and severe.
Laws were written down, and aristocrats could not
dictate.
 Solon-improved economic conditions. He canceled
all debts and freed debtors from slavery in Draco’s
rule. Anyone could own a limited amount of land.
He promoted trade. Cash crops were grown rather
than grain. He ordered fathers to teach their sons a
skill. He set up a 2 house legislature:
 1. Council of 400 (aristocrats);
 2. Council of Assembly (commoners).
 Peisistratus-divided land among the landless;
extended citizenship to the poor; gave poor loans;
and provided jobs for the poor by providing work
projects.
 Cleisthenes-created laws that established a
democracy for Athens. A tyrant was no longer
needed.
 Athenian Democracy-lasted almost 200 years
until the Macedonians overthrew them. This
was more of a direct democracy.
 The Assembly was the major political institution.
All citizens were equal and guaranteed freedoms
and could belong to the Assembly. The Assembly
passed laws and acted as the Supreme Court. They
chose 10 generals to run a navy and army.
 The Council of 500 administered everyday
government business. They were chosen by a
lottery drawing because they thought elections
unfair. Good speakers had the advantage in an
election.
 Jury System-majority vote needed for a verdict and
the jury was very large (200+). The large size would
keep jurors from the influence of threats and
bribes.
 Ostracism-each year, citizens would write the name
of an undesirable politician on a piece of baked clay
(ostracon). If the name appeared on 6,000 ostracas,
the person was exiled for 10 years.
 Education in Athens
 fathers were required to educate their sons. All
citizens were expected to hold public office. Girls
did not receive a formal education, learning to
weave and bake. Boys went to school from age 7
through 18. They learned The Illiad and the
Odyssey by heart. They studied math, drawing,
music, and gymnastics. They also studied rhetoricpublic speaking. After school, they spend 2 years in
the military.