ANCIENT GREECE: ATHENS
Ancient Greece was divided into hundreds of poleis, meaning “city-states.” Each citystate was like its own country. Athens was the greatest city-state in ancient Greece.
Athens was the center of power, art, science, and philosophy in the world. Recorded
history of the city goes back over 3400 years. Athens was the birthplace of
democracy and the heart of the ancient Greek civilization. Athens was named after the
Greek goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom, war, and civilization. There was a wall
that circled the entire city of Athens to protect it from invaders. Around twenty gates
allowed people and vehicles to pass.
AGORA
The center of commerce and government in Ancient Athens was
called the Agora, a large open rectangular area where meetings
were held. People met there to discuss on philosophy and
government. This is where the democracy of ancient Greece came
to life. The Agora was surrounded by buildings, such as temples, the
Mint, the record building, and the Strategeion. Temples were built to
honor Zeus, Hephaestus, and Apollo. Ten military leaders, the
Strategoi, met at the Strategeion. Vendors set up stands on the
Agora to sell fruits, vegetables, and other goods. The philosopher
Socrates often taught his followers in the Agora.
ACROPOLIS
CURRENCY
In ancient Greece, people could use coins to trade with other
cities. Most of the coins had pictures to make them identifiable to a certain
city-state. Athens’ coins were imprinted with an owl, the symbol of the
goddess Athena and a symbol of wisdom. Coins were made at the Mint.
©Teaching to the Middle
The Acropolis was built on a hill in the middle of
Athens and surrounded by stone walls. It was
originally built as a citadel and fortress where Greeks
could retreat when the city was attacked. Temples
and buildings were later built there to overlook the
city. The Parthenon, dedicated to the Athena, was
located at the center of the Acropolis. It was used to store gold. There were other
temples in the Acropolis too, such as the Temple of Athena, Nike, and the Erchtheum.
Plays and festivals were celebrated on the slope of the Acropolis. The largest of these
was the Theatre of Dionysus, god of wine and patron of the theatre. Competitions were
held here to see who had written the best play. The theatre was built so well that up to
25,000 people could hear and see the play well.
GOVERNMENT
Each city-state in Greece had their own form of government. Most were
ruled by kings, but Athens was ruled by a direct democracy, or “rule by
the people” for about 100 years starting in the early 500s BC. Athens is
often called the birthplace of democracy because they came up with the
“one man-one vote” type of government. “One man” meant exactly that
though. All citizens- men and women- can vote in most democracies
today. Citizenship in ancient Greece was limited to freeborn men who
were over the age of 18 or 21. Around 5 to 10 percent of the Greek
population were considered citizens, so even though they had the “one
man, one vote,” the government was in hands of a small group of people.
Enslaved people and foreigners were not allowed to be citizens either.
AGE OF PERICLES
Ancient Athens reached its peak during the leadership of
Pericles from 461 to 429 BC. Pericles promoted democracy,
the arts, and literature. Many of the city’s great structures
were built during this time, including rebuilding much of the
Acropolis. The Parthenon was built to store gold. It was
dedicated to the goddess Athena.
LAW
Athens did not have a police force like today, but any victim of a crime could arrest the
criminal and bring him or her to justice in front of a judge. If the person could not make
the arrest, the judge could. Anyone could request legal action and a trial would take
place. Trials in ancient Athens only lasted one day. Citizens over thirty years old served
as the jury. People were never imprisoned if they were found guilty in ancient Greece.
They were usually fined or exiled (sent away). They could also lose part of their
citizenship. People who were found guilty of more serious crimes, like murder, were
executed. Some crimes were considered so serious that after execution the criminal’s
body was not buried but was tossed into a rocky pit called the barathron. By refusing
burial, the Greeks were condemning the dead person to walk up and down the banks of
the River Styx forever, never to be granted entrance to Hades, the Underworld of the
spirits.
Education in Athens was extremely important. Girls learned how to cook, sew,
run a home and be a good wife and mother. A few girls from wealthy families
were taught to read and write. Boys went to school where they memorized
poetry and learned to play a musical instrument, usually the lyre. Other topics of study
were public speaking, drama, reading, and writing. Students wrote with a stylus on
reusable wax tablets. They also used a reed pen dipped in ink to write on papyrus
scrolls. At age 15, boys went on to gymnasium, where they focused on athletics. Most
poor children did not receive an education.
©Teaching to the Middle
EDUCATION
Name____________________________________________________
ANCIENT GREECE: ATHENS
MATCHING: Match each term with its description.
1. _____ Pericles
A. Center of commerce and government in Athens
2. _____ democracy
B. Most Athenian boys learned to play this instrument
3. _____ Strategoi
C. Where coins were made in Ancient Greece
4. _____ Athena
D. Temple built to honor Athena
5. _____ Parthenon
E. Ancient Athens reached its peak under this leader
6. _____ Agora
F. Athens was the birthplace of this government type
7. _____ lyre
G. Ten military leaders
8. _____ mint
H. Athens was named after this Greek goddess
TRUE OR FALSE?: Place a check in the correct column.
STATEMENT
T
F
9. Girls in Ancient Greece usually attended school.
10. Citizens could arrest criminals and take them to trial in Greece.
11. All males were considered citizens in ancient Athens.
12. The Acropolis was rebuilt under the rule of Pericles.
14. All Ancient Greek city-states were ruled by democracies.
15. Temples were built throughout in Athens to honor their gods.
©Teaching to the Middle
13. Plays were performed at the Acropolis.
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.
16.
A.
B.
C.
D.
What was the main role of girls in ancient Athens?
They attended school to get an education and lead their city.
They learned to become good mothers and wives.
They learned to read and write on papyrus.
They learned to play musical instruments and perform in cities.
17.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which of the following were considered citizens in ancient Greece?
Women
Enslaved people
Foreigners
Freeborn Men
19.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Why were temples built throughout ancient Athens?
To honor Greek gods
To hold plays
To have a place to discuss politics
To entertain citizens
20.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which of the following did not happen under Pericles’ rule?
Ancient Athens reached its peak
Pericles promoted democracy
The Acropolis was built for the first time
The Parthenon was built
21. Which statement is accurate about the Parthenon?
A. It was dedicated to the god, Zeus.
B. It was used as a theatre.
C. It was used to store gold.
D. It was outside the city’s walls.
©Teaching to the Middle
18. Which of the following would be the LEAST necessary to include in a
summary of the city ancient Athens?
A. Ancient Athens was the center of power, art, science, and philosophy in the
world.
B. Ancient Athens was the birthplace of democracy.
C. Trials in ancient Athens only lasted one day.
D. Education was extremely important in ancient Athens.
ANCIENT GREECE: ATHENS
Ancient Greece was divided into hundreds of poleis, meaning “city-states.” Each citystate was like its own country. Athens was the greatest city-state in ancient Greece.
Athens was the center of power, art, science, and philosophy in the world. Recorded
history of the city goes back over 3400 years. Athens was the birthplace of
democracy and the heart of the ancient Greek civilization. Athens was named after the
Greek goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom, war, and civilization. There was a wall
that circled the entire city of Athens to protect it from invaders. Around twenty gates
allowed people and vehicles to pass.
AGORA
The center of commerce and government in Ancient Athens was
called the Agora, a large open rectangular area where meetings
were held. People met there to discuss on philosophy and
government. This is where the democracy of ancient Greece came
to life. The Agora was surrounded by buildings, such as temples, the
Mint, the record building, and the Strategeion. Temples were built to
honor Zeus, Hephaestus, and Apollo. Ten military leaders, the
Strategoi, met at the Strategeion. Vendors set up stands on the
Agora to sell fruits, vegetables, and other goods. The philosopher
Socrates often taught his followers in the Agora.
ACROPOLIS
CURRENCY
In ancient Greece, people could use coins to trade with other
cities. Most of the coins had pictures to make them identifiable to a certain
city-state. Athens’ coins were imprinted with an owl, the symbol of the
goddess Athena and a symbol of wisdom. Coins were made at the Mint.
©Teaching to the Middle
The Acropolis was built on a hill in the middle of
Athens and surrounded by stone walls. It was
originally built as a citadel and fortress where Greeks
could retreat when the city was attacked. Temples
and buildings were later built there to overlook the
city. The Parthenon, dedicated to the Athena, was
located at the center of the Acropolis. It was used to store gold. There were other
temples in the Acropolis too, such as the Temple of Athena, Nike, and the Erchtheum.
Plays and festivals were celebrated on the slope of the Acropolis. The largest of these
was the Theatre of Dionysus, god of wine and patron of the theatre. Competitions were
held here to see who had written the best play. The theatre was built so well that up to
25,000 people could hear and see the play well.
GOVERNMENT
Each city-state in Greece had their own form of government. Most were
ruled by kings, but Athens was ruled by a direct democracy, or “rule by
the people” for about 100 years starting in the early 500s BC. Athens is
often called the birthplace of democracy because they came up with the
“one man-one vote” type of government. “One man” meant exactly that
though. All citizens- men and women- can vote in most democracies
today. Citizenship in ancient Greece was limited to freeborn men who
were over the age of 18 or 21. Around 5 to 10 percent of the Greek
population were considered citizens, so even though they had the “one
man, one vote,” the government was in hands of a small group of people.
Enslaved people and foreigners were not allowed to be citizens either.
AGE OF PERICLES
Ancient Athens reached its peak during the leadership of
Pericles from 461 to 429 BC. Pericles promoted democracy,
the arts, and literature. Many of the city’s great structures
were built during this time, including rebuilding much of the
Acropolis. The Parthenon was built to store gold. It was
dedicated to the goddess Athena.
LAW
Athens did not have a police force like today, but any victim of a crime could arrest the
criminal and bring him or her to justice in front of a judge. If the person could not make
the arrest, the judge could. Anyone could request legal action and a trial would take
place. Trials in ancient Athens only lasted one day. Citizens over thirty years old served
as the jury. People were never imprisoned if they were found guilty in ancient Greece.
They were usually fined or exiled (sent away). They could also lose part of their
citizenship. People who were found guilty of more serious crimes, like murder, were
executed. Some crimes were considered so serious that after execution the criminal’s
body was not buried but was tossed into a rocky pit called the barathron. By refusing
burial, the Greeks were condemning the dead person to walk up and down the banks of
the River Styx forever, never to be granted entrance to Hades, the Underworld of the
spirits.
Education in Athens was extremely important. Girls learned how to cook, sew,
run a home and be a good wife and mother. A few girls from wealthy families
were taught to read and write. Boys went to school where they memorized
poetry and learned to play a musical instrument, usually the lyre. Other topics of study
were public speaking, drama, reading, and writing. Students wrote with a stylus on
reusable wax tablets. They also used a reed pen dipped in ink to write on papyrus
scrolls. At age 15, boys went on to gymnasium, where they focused on athletics. Most
poor children did not receive an education.
©Teaching to the Middle
EDUCATION
Name____________________________________________________
ANCIENT GREECE: ATHENS
MATCHING: Match each term with its description.
1. _____ Pericles
A. Center of commerce and government in Athens
2. _____ democracy
B. Most Athenian boys learned to play this instrument
3. _____ Strategoi
C. Where coins were made in Ancient Greece
4. _____ Athena
D. Temple built to honor Athena
5. _____ Parthenon
E. Ancient Athens reached its peak under this leader
6. _____ Agora
F. Athens was the birthplace of this government type
7. _____ lyre
G. Ten military leaders
8. _____ mint
H. Athens was named after this Greek goddess
TRUE OR FALSE?: Place a check in the correct column.
STATEMENT
T
F
9. Girls in Ancient Greece usually attended school.
10. Citizens could arrest criminals and take them to trial in Greece.
11. All males were considered citizens in ancient Athens.
12. The Acropolis was rebuilt under the rule of Pericles.
14. All Ancient Greek city-states were ruled by democracies.
15. Temples were built throughout in Athens to honor their gods.
©Teaching to the Middle
13. Plays were performed at the Acropolis.
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.
16.
A.
B.
C.
D.
What was the main role of girls in ancient Athens?
They attended school to get an education and lead their city.
They learned to become good mothers and wives.
They learned to read and write on papyrus.
They learned to play musical instruments and perform in cities.
17.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which of the following were considered citizens in ancient Greece?
Women
Enslaved people
Foreigners
Freeborn Men
19.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Why were temples built throughout ancient Athens?
To honor Greek gods
To hold plays
To have a place to discuss politics
To entertain citizens
20.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which of the following did not happen under Pericles’ rule?
Ancient Athens reached its peak
Pericles promoted democracy
The Acropolis was built for the first time
The Parthenon was built
21. Which statement is accurate about the Parthenon?
A. It was dedicated to the god, Zeus.
B. It was used as a theatre.
C. It was used to store gold.
D. It was outside the city’s walls.
©Teaching to the Middle
18. Which of the following would be the LEAST necessary to include in a
summary of the city ancient Athens?
A. Ancient Athens was the center of power, art, science, and philosophy in the
world.
B. Ancient Athens was the birthplace of democracy.
C. Trials in ancient Athens only lasted one day.
D. Education was extremely important in ancient Athens.
Name____________________________________________________
ANCIENT GREECE: ATHENS
MATCHING: Match each term with its description.
1. ___E__ Pericles
A. Center of commerce and government in Athens
2. __F___ democracy
B. Most Athenian boys learned to play this instrument
3. __G___ Strategoi
C. Where coins were made in Ancient Greece
4. ___H__ Athena
D. Temple built to honor Athena
5. ___D__ Parthenon
E. Ancient Athens reached its peak under this leader
6. ___A__ Agora
F. Athens was the birthplace of this government type
7. ___B__ lyre
G. Ten military leaders
8. ___C__ mint
H. Athens was named after this Greek goddess
TRUE OR FALSE?: Place a check in the correct column.
T
X
9. Girls in Ancient Greece usually attended school.
10. Citizens could arrest criminals and take them to trial in Greece.
X
X
11. All males were considered citizens in ancient Athens.
12. The Acropolis was rebuilt under the rule of Pericles.
X
13. Plays were performed at the Acropolis.
X
X
14. All Ancient Greek city-states were ruled by democracies.
15. Temples were built throughout in Athens to honor their gods.
F
X
©Teaching to the Middle
STATEMENT
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.
16.
A.
B.
C.
D.
What was the main role of girls in ancient Athens?
They attended school to get an education and lead their city.
They learned to become good mothers and wives.
They learned to read and write on papyrus.
They learned to play musical instruments and perform in cities.
17.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which of the following were considered citizens in ancient Greece?
Women
Enslaved people
Foreigners
Freeborn Men
19.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Why were temples built throughout ancient Athens?
To honor Greek gods
To hold plays
To have a place to discuss politics
To entertain citizens
20.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which of the following did not happen under Pericles’ rule?
Ancient Athens reached its peak
Pericles promoted democracy
The Acropolis was built for the first time
The Parthenon was built
21. Which statement is accurate about the Parthenon?
A. It was dedicated to the god, Zeus.
B. It was used as a theatre.
C. It was used to store gold.
D. It was outside the city’s walls.
©Teaching to the Middle
18. Which of the following would be the LEAST necessary to include in a
summary of the city ancient Athens?
A. Ancient Athens was the center of power, art, science, and philosophy in the
world.
B. Ancient Athens was the birthplace of democracy.
C. Trials in ancient Athens only lasted one day.
D. Education was extremely important in ancient Athens.
Thank you!
©Teaching to the Middle
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