Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Section 1: Geography
and the Early Greeks
Essential Question:
The Big Idea:
What factors shaped
______________ in
Greece?
Greece’s geography and its nearness to the sea
strongly influenced the development of ________
and the growth of ____________-_____________ .
If you were there…You live on the rocky coast on a bright blue sea.
Across from the water you see dozens of islands and points of land jutting
into the sea. Rugged mountains rise steeply behind your village. It is hard to
travel across the mountains in order to visit other villages or towns. Near your
home is a sheltered cove where its easy to anchor a boat.
What could you do to make a living here?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Main Ideas
 _______________ helped shape early Greek civilization.
 ________________________develop in the Minoan and
Mycenaean civilizations.
 The Greeks created city-states for _________________
and ______________________.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Greece Physical Map
What bodies of water surround Greece?
_________________________ Sea and
the ___________________________Sea
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Geography Shapes and Greek Up Civilization
The Greeks lived on rocky, mountainous land surrounded by water. The
mainland of Greece is a _______________________, and the area of land that is
surrounded by ________________________________________________.
Mountains and Settlements
Because of the mountains farming was very difficult. Travel across the mountains was
also very difficult. People in ancient Greece ____________________________
_____________________________________ in the mountains. They spoke the same
language.
Sea and Ships
Because travel was very difficult in ancient Greece, the early Greek turned to the seas.
To the west was the _________________ (eye-OH-nee-uhn) Sea and to the east was the
_____________________________ (ee-JEE-uhn) Sea.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
The Minoans
The Minoans traded ___________________, _______________,
___________________ all around the eastern Mediterranean for gold,
silver, and jewels. Sometime in the mid 1600s BC a huge volcano erupted
and created a huge wave that flooded much of _________________This
eruption might have led to the end of the Minoan civilization.
The Mycenaeans
The Mycenaeans were the first culture to speak the ________________________________.
They built great fortresses and set up colonies in northern Greece and Italy. The Mycenaeans
did not always conduct trade peacefully. They often attacked other kingdoms. Some
historians believe the Mycenaeans attacked the city of ______________, possibly starting the
legendary Trojan War. In the 1200s BC invaders from Europe swept into Greece. At a time
when earthquakes were destroying cities in Greece, the culture slid into a period of warfare
and disorder called the _______________________________.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Greeks Create City-States
After the Mycenaean's (my-suh-NEE-unhs) civilization crumbled in 300
years, the Greeks joined together in small groups for ______________ and
__________________. These groups set up independent city-states.
The Greek word for city state is
_______________ (PAH-luhs). The creation of citystates marked the beginning of the Greece’s
classical age. A __________________________
is one that is marked by great achievements.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Life in a City-State
Greek cities were built high hills surrounded by a
great fortress, or fort. The fortress stood high on a hill
called the ____________________________.
The acropolis was surrounded by __________________________________. Life in the city
often focused on the Greek marketplace. Farmers brought their crops to the market place
to trade for goods made by ________________________. The market place also acted as a
meeting place. The city-state became the foundation of Greek civilization. As years passes
life in Greece became more settled. People no longer had to fear raiders swooping down on
their cities. The population grew the Greeks established ____________________ in distant
lands. These colonies set up their own independent polis. Among these city-states were
Istanbul in Turkey, Naples in Italy, and Marseille in France. Although the city-states were
independent they often traded with one another. They would trade metals such as iron and
copper for olive oil and wine.
Reading Check-did the Greeks develop city-states?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Section 2: Government
Essential Question:
What factors shaped
government in
______________?
in Athens
The Big Idea:
The people of Athens tried many different
forms of government before creating a
________________________.
If you were there…For many years your city has been ruled by a
_____________________________________________. The have generally been good
leaders. They have built new buildings and protected the city from enemies. But now a new
leader wants to let all free men run the government. It won’t matter whether they are rich
or poor. Some people worry about giving power to ordinary people.
What do you think of this new government?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Main Ideas
 _________________________and ________________ ruled
early Athens.
 Athens created the world’s ____________________________
________________________ .
 Ancient democracy was different than
___________________________________.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Aristocrats and Tyrants Rule
Greece is the birthplace of _______________, a type of government in which
________________________________________________________.
The word democracy comes from the Greek words, ____________________________
______________________.
Rule by a Few People
The Athens, the city where democracy was born, started with a different kind of
government.
A rich group of land owners, called, took ____________ and ____________________aristocrats.
A government in which only a few people have power is called
an______________________________ (AH-luh-gar-kee).
Reading Check-did the Greeks develop city-states?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Aristocrats and Tyrants Rule
The aristocrats dominated Athenian society. They ran the city. They served as judges
and generals.
In the 600’s BC a group or rebels tried to _________________________
_______________________and failed. A man named
__________________created a new set of laws that very harsh. For example,
minor crimes such as loitering became punishable by death.
In the 590’s BC a man named Solon created laws that were much fairer. He gave rights
to non aristocrats.
Men living in Athens became _____________________, or people that had the right to
participate in government.
Reading Check-Did the Greeks develop city-states?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
The Rise of Tyrants
In 546 BC, a man named ______________________________ (py-sis-truth-uhs)
overthrew the oligarchy. He became the ruler of Athens.
He was called a _____________________________, which meant a leader that held
power through the use of force.
Peisistratus brought peace and prosperity to Athens.
He built _______________________and began new
policies that unified the city. He built temples and
large monuments. Many aristocrats attacked the
tyrants and took power back from the city.
Reading Check- What is a tyrant?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Athens Creates Democracy
_______________________________(KLYS-thuh-neez), a new leader, did
not want the aristocrats to dominate Athenian society. He thought they
had too much _______________ and influence. He called upon the
support of the people to overthrow the government and establish
_________________________ of government. He developed the first
democracy, so he became known as the father of democracy.
Democracy Under Cleisthenes
Under Cleisthenes, all citizens of Athens could participate in the__________________,
gathering of citizens, and the creation of laws. The new government encouraged
___________________ and _____________________ by the people. Voting was done by
a show of hands or sometimes they held secret votes. Because the assembly was so
large, it sometimes made it hard to make decisions. In this case sometimes a special
council was set up to make decisions.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Changes in Athenian Democracy
As time passed, citizens gained more power, they served on
________________________ to decide on cases. Most juries had from 200 to
6,000 people. Most juries had an odd number of members to prevent ties. Today
our modern juries have only __________________________________________.
Athens remained a democracy for 170 years. It reached its
height under _______________________ (PER-uh-kleez).
Pericles led the government from 460 BC until his death in
429 BC. Pericles believed participating in government was
just as important as defending the Athens in war. He began to
pay people who served on juries and he
__________________________________into other parts of
Greece.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Representative Democracy
The democracy created by the founders of the United States is a
______________________ ___________________________or a ___________________.
In a republic, citizens elect officials to represent them in government. These
elected officials _____________________________________________for the
country and enforce them.
For example, Americans elect senators and
representatives to ___________________, a body
that makes our county’s laws. Americans don’t
vote on each law that Congress passes but trust
their chosen representative to vote for them.
Reading Check- How are direct democracy and representative democracy different?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Section 3: Greek
Essential Question:
Mythology and Literature
The Big Idea:
What ______________
shaped government in
Greece?
The ancient Greeks created ____________ and
_________________________________that
influence the way we speak and write today.
If you were there… As a farmer in ancient Greece, your way of
life depends of events in nature. The crops you grow the sunshine and rain,
though thunder and lightning scare you. When you look up at the night sky,
you wonder about the twinkling lights you see there. You know that at certain
times of the year, the weather will turn cold and gray of plants will die. Then,
a few months later, green plants will grow again.
How might you explain these natural events?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Main Ideas
 The ___________________________ explain the world.
 Ancient ______________________provides some of
the world’s greatest _____________ and ___________.
 ________________________________ lives on in
influences our world even today.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Myths Explain the World
Ancient Greece believed in many gods.
These gods or the center of _________________________________body
of stories about gods and heroes that tried to explain how the world
works.
Greek Gods
People today have scientific explanations for
events like thunder and earthquakes. The ancient
Greeks did not. They believe their gods caused
these events to happen, and they created myths to
__________________________________________
_________________________________.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
The Greek Gods
The Olympian Gods
____________________- king of the gods
Hera- queen of the gods
Poseidon- __________________________
Hades-god of the underworld
Athena- goddess of wisdom
_____________________- god of the sun
Ares- god of war
Aphrodite-god of love
Demeter-goddess of agriculture
Hephaestus-god of craftsman and blacksmiths
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
The Greek Gods
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Gods and Mythology
The Greeks saw of the work of the gods in all the events around them. For example, if
the Greek people had a ____________________________________they would tell
stories about their gods to explain the eruption. They would tell stories about the god,
____________________________ (hi-FES-tuhs), who lived underground. The fire and lava
that poured out of the volcanoes, the Greeks said, came from huge fires in the god’s
forge. At this forge he created weapons and armor for other gods
Greek people believed the gods caused daily events. For example, they believed the goddess of
agriculture, ________________________ (di-MEE-tuhr), created the seasons. Demeter had a
daughter who was kidnapped by another god. The desperate goddess begged the god to let her
daughter go, and eventually he agreed to let a return to her mother for six months every year.
During the winter, Demeter is separated from her daughter and misses her. In her grief, she
doesn’t let plants grow. When a guy comes home, if the goddess is happy, and summer comes to
Greece. To the Greeks this explains why _______________________________comes every year.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Gods and
Mythology
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Heroes and Mythology
Not all Greek _______________________________________________. Many were
about the adventures of great heroes. Some of the heroes were real people, others were
not. Geek people loved to ______________________________. Every city had their
favorite hero.
For example, the people of Athens told stories about the hero, ____________________.
According to legend. He travel to Crete and killed the Minotaur, a terrible monster
that was _____________________________________________. Greece told myths of
the Jason and how we sailed across the seas in search of great treasure, fighting
enemies the whole way.
Reading Check-How did the Greeks use myths to explain the
world around them?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Ancient Greek Literature
Because the Greeks loved myths and stories, it was no surprise if they
created great works of literature.
Homer and a Epic Poetry
Among the earliest Greek writings are two great epic poems, the
____________________________________ , by a poet named __________________.
The Iliad tells the story of the last years of the Trojan war. The Odyssey describe the
challenges that Greek hero _______________________ (oh-DI-sec-uhs) faced on his
way home from the war. For 10 years Odysseus tries to get home, but many obstacles
stand in his way. He has to fight his way past terrible monsters, powerful magicians,
and even angry gods.
Both the Iliad and the Odyssey are great tales of adventure. They were both taught in
ancient Greek schools. Homer’s poems influence later writers. Homers poems are
considered some of the greatest literary works ever produced.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Lyric Poetry
Other poets wrote poems set to music. During a performance a
poet would play a stringed instrument called a____________.
These poets were called ___________________________after the
instrument they played.
Most poets were men. The most famous lyric
poet was a woman called
_____________(SAF-oh). Most of her poems
were about love and relationships. They were
beautiful and emotional.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Fables
Other Greeks told stories to teach people important lessons.
________________ (EE-sahp), was famous for his fables. ________ are
_________________ that teach the reader lessons about life or give advice on
how
to live.
In most
of Aesop’s fables animals are the main characters. A famous fable by
Aesop was “The ______________ and the ______________,” teaches us that
is better to work slowly and carefully than to hurry and make mistakes. In
“The Boy Who _________________________” Aesop warns the reader not to
play pranks on people.
Reading Check- Why did the Greeks tell fables?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Greek Literature Lives
Greek literature has influenced _______________________ and _________________.
Some of the words you use and some stories you hear come from ancient Greece.
Language
Many modern words and expressions come from ancient Greece. For example, we call
a long journey an “____________________”. The word “__________________”, which
means very large and powerful, comes from ancient Greece.
Literature and the Arts
Greek myths have inspired artists for centuries. Artists and sculptors have used Greek
gods as subjects for their works. _____________________, for example, has been the
subject of many films ranging from classic to Disney cartoons.
Reading Check- How did the Greek myths influence later language and art?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.