Early Greece
Chapter 5 Section 1
Pages 127-132
3 Major Periods of Ancient Greece Civilizations
1. Early Civilizations: Minoans (Crete) and
Mycenae (mi se ne)
2. Classical Greece (flourishing of arts,
literature, philosophy; domination by Sparta
and Athens)
3. Hellenistic Age: Macedonia Empire and
Alexander the Great
Crash Course
The Persians & Greeks: Crash Course
World History #5 - YouTube
Early Greece
Main Idea
The earliest cultures in Greece, the Minoans and the
Mycenaean's, were trading societies, but both disappeared
and were replaced by Greek city-states.
Reading Focus
• What were Minoan and Mycenaean cultures like?
• What were the common characteristics of Greek citystates?
• What role did stories of gods and heroes play in Greek
culture?
What are the characteristics of Ancient Greece’s geography?
Geographic Features
1.Sea: heavy influence on physical environment of
Greece (Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea)
2.Mountains (with narrow valleys): cover more than ¾ of
Greece’s surface area and islands: more than 2000 islands
(Crete being the largest)
3.No major rivers on Greek mainland but fertile soil
4.Climate: winter= mild climate; summer= hot climate with
rainfall from October to March = long growing season
Resources and Crops
RESOURCES
• grain
• fine cheese made of goat’s milk
• timber
• wild game
• wool of sheep = cloth
MOST IMPORTANT CROPS
• olives = oil
• grapes = wine
• grain
• clay = pottery
Effects of Geography
• Seafaring tradition: reliance on navy and fleets for
power and protection
• Sea provided link to trade and cultural exchange with
Mediterranean communities
• Isolationism: protection but lack of effective
communication
• Greece was organized into polis (independent city
states) separated by seas and rugged mountains
• Emergence of dominant city states (Athens, Sparta)
Ancient Greece
Minoans and Mycenaeans
Many parts of early Greek history are still a mystery, but
we do know that two distinct cultures developed in early
Greece.
The Minoans of Crete
• Minoan civilization developed
as early as 3000 BC
• Lasted nearly 2,000 years
• Minoan ships sailed over
Aegean Sea, possibly farther
Excavations at Knossos
• Much of Minoan life
revealed by excavations
– Solidly constructed
buildings
– Private rooms
• Colonies established on
dozens of Aegean islands
– Basic plumbing
• Ships filled with trade goods
sailed back and forth between
Crete and her colonies
– Artwork shows life tied to
sea, women as priests,
dangerous games
– Brightly colored artwork
Palace of Minos at Knossos
(K-NOSS-oss)
• Knossos-most powerful monarch for Minoans
• Palaces controlled all agricultural goods and products by storing in
large storerooms
• Palaces became the centres of exchange for Minoan economy
• Palaces had dozens of interconnecting rectangular rooms on two or
more storeys
which were grouped around a large open courtyard (administrative
and religious)
Minoan Culture
• • Art work (drawings, murals or frescoes) at
Knossos shows dangerous sports such as leaping
over the backs of charging bulls as well as
dancing, athletics, and festivals
Myth of the Minotaur
• Minoan Myth of King Minos at Knossos
• Theseus defeats the Minotaur (half man half
bull) and escapes from the maze like structure
called the labyrinth, saving the youth of
Athens
Speculation
• Much history of Minoan civilization result of guesswork,
speculation
– Historians cannot read Minoans’ writing, Linear A.
– Does not appear to be related to languages of mainland
Greece
• Until writing deciphered, most knowledge will come from art,
objects
Rapid Decline
• Minoan civilization fell apart rather suddenly, possibly from disaster.
– Large eruption of volcanic island near Crete may have affected
worldwide weather patterns.
– Damage to Minoan ports, crops may have weakened society
• Minoans conquered by warlike Mycenaeans
THEORIES FOR DECLINE OF MINOANS
• 1750 BCE- earthquake destroys Minoan palaces
• 1628 BCE- volcano erupts at Thera
• 1400 BCE- War between Minoans and Myceaneans led to
decline of power
Enter the Mycenaeans
c. 1700 – 600 BCE
• 1490 BCE- Minoan palaces had been rebuilt however all were
destroyed except at Knossos by Mycenaean warriors
• Mycenaeans took control of Crete at Knossos by 1500 BCE
• Myceneans controlled mainland Greece = main political centre
was Mycenae
• More interested in war as pottery and grave sites reflect
hunting, weapons, armour and war as well as fortified palace
walls
• Slowly Minoan culture and traditions disappeared
Mycenaeans
The Mycenaean States
First Greeks
• Mycenaeans built small
kingdoms, often fought with
each other
• Mycenaeans considered first
Greeks, spoke form of Greek
language
• Name comes from fortress,
Mycenae
• Earliest kingdoms owed
much to Minoans
Minoan Influences
• Mycenaeans traded with
Minoans, copied writing
Mycenaean Differences
• Became great traders
• Society dominated by
intense competition, frequent
warfare, powerful kings
• Trade increased after they
conquered Crete
• Kings taxed trade, farming to
build palaces, high walls
Mycenaean Strengths and Downfall
Mycenaean Strength
• To show off strength, Mycenaeans built great monuments like Lion’s
Gate
• Kings’ constant quest for power, glory inspired legends
• Most famous, story of Trojan War
Trojan War
• War supposedly involved early Greeks, led by Mycenae, who fought
powerful city called Troy, in what is now Turkey
• War may not have happened, but ruins of city believed to be Troy
Downfall
• War played part in end of Mycenaean civilization, as did drought,
famine
• By end of 1100s BC, Mycenaean cities mostly in ruins; dark age
followed
• Greek civilization almost disappeared
Taxes build Monuments
Lions Gate
THEORIES FOR DECLINE OF MYCEANEANS
(Dark Ages)
• Shift in climate leading to drought forcing Myceanans to
migrate to more fertile lands.
• Increased fighting amongst Myceaneans cities.
• Tribe of nomadic warriors from north of Greece (Dorians)
destroyed Mycenaeans
• Lost use of writing.
• Greek civilization will almost disappear.
Compare and Contrast
How were Minoan and Mycenaean cultures
similar? How were they different?
Answer(s): similar—both were trading states;
different—Mycenaean writing has been translated;
Mycenaeans had frequent wars
Greek City-States
A new type of society emerged in Greece in the 800s BC. The
society was centered on the polis, or city-state. Each polis
developed independently, with its own form of government, laws and
customs.
Life in the Polis
• Polis, center of
daily life, culture
• Greeks fiercely
loyal to their polis
• Did not think of
selves as Greeks,
but as residents
of their particular
city-state
Infrastructure
Other Attributes
• Polis built around
high area, called
acropolis
• Shops, houses,
temples near
agora
• Acropolis used as
fortification
• Gymnasium,
athletes’ training
grounds, public
bath
• Included temples,
ceremonial
spaces
• Agora, public
marketplace,
below
• Sturdy wall for
defense
surrounded polis
Political Systems of Greek City-States
Each major polis had a different political system that
developed over time.
•
Corinth, an oligarchy, ruled by a few individuals
•
Athens, birthplace of democracy
•
Sparta, one of mightiest city-states, but least typical
The Might of Sparta
Beginnings
• Sparta located on Peloponnesus, large peninsula of southern
Greece
• First surrounded by smaller towns; over time Sparta seized control
of towns
• After conquering town of Messenia, Spartans made Messenians
into helots
Helots
• Helots were state slaves given to Spartan citizens to work on farms
so citizens did not have to perform manual labor.
• As result, Spartan citizens free to spend time training for war
War
• Spartan emphasis on war not due to fondness for fighting, but as
way to keep order in society
• Helots outnumbered Spartans seven to one, kept in check by
strong army
Spartan Government:
Democratic Timocratic Monarchial Oligarchy
• Government ruled by a Council= made up of 2 kings
(aristocracy) and 28 nobles (over age of 60) who made most
political decisions and foreign policy and was supreme criminal
court
• Assembly of the Spartiate (democracy)- Spartan males over the
age of 30 who could veto and approve decisions made by Kings
and Council
• 5 Ephors (oligarchy)- led the council, ran the military and
educational system and could veto any ruling made by the
Council or Assembly
• •Spartan government was considered one of the most stable in
all of Ancient Greece = led to a warrior and military state (state
above individual)
• Aries- God of war was a patron god of the city, of wars, battles,
and warriors, and also of fearlessness in battle.
Daily Life in Sparta
MEN
• At 30 men became citizens and could vote in Assembly, marry, own a house
• Educated in reading, fitness and use of weapons
• Boys started military training at the age of 7; joined military at age of 20;
end of military service at the age of 60
• Soldiers given land which was farmed by the helots
\WOMEN
• Girls taught reading and writing
• Participated in running and wresting, foot races, staged battles
• Wives of Spartan soldiers supervised farms
• Expected and driven to produce strong and healthy children and be loyal to
the state
• Spartan women could own and control property but held no political rights
SLAVES
• •Slaves were called helots (agricultural slaves / peasants) made up 2/3 of
population = defeated Messenian peoples
Militaristic State
To support their military lifestyle, the Spartans demanded strength and
toughness. All babies were examined after birth and unhealthy children
were left in the wild to die.
Combat School
• Boys taught physical, mental
toughness by mothers until age
7
• Entered combat school to
toughen for hardships of being
soldier
• At age 20 boys became
hoplites, foot soldiers;
remained in army 10 years
before becoming citizens
Women in Society
• Unusual among Greek citystates
• Women played important role
• Trained in gymnastics for
physical fitness, to bear strong
children
• Women had right to own
property, unlike women in most
of Greece
Sparta was led by two kings who served as military commanders.
Decision-making was largely left to an elected council of elders.
Identify Cause and Effect
Why did Sparta’s political system develop?
Answer(s): Because of Sparta's emphasis on
war; it was led politically by two kings who served
as military commanders.
Gods and Heroes
Legends and Myths
The Gods of Olympus
• Much of what is known about
early Greece comes from
studying Greeks’ legends,
myths
• Ancient Greeks believed in
hundreds of gods,
goddesses; each governed
one aspect of nature, life
• Myths, stories told to explain
natural phenomena, events
of distant past
• Example: Apollo controlled
movement of sun; sister
Artemis did same for moon
• Greek myths explained
where they came from, how
they should live, cope with
uncertain world
• Greeks believed gods would
protect them, city-states in
exchange for proper rituals,
sacrifices
Mount Olympus
• 12 gods, goddesses were particularly influential in Greek lives
• These 12 lived together on Mount Olympus, highest mountain in
Greece
• Olympian gods thought to have great power, though not perfect
• Myths say gods flawed, often unpredictable—loved, hated, argued,
made mistakes, got jealous, played tricks on each other
Worship
• Almost all Greeks
worshipped same gods
• Each polis claimed one god,
goddess as special protector
• Example: Athens sacred to
Athena
• Some locations considered
sacred by all Greeks
Sacred Locations
• Delphi sacred to all
Greeks—priestesses of
Apollo were thought to
receive visions of future
• Olympia—every four years
Greeks assembled there for
Olympic Games; athletes
competed against each other
to honor gods
Myths about Heroes
Hercules and Theseus
• Greeks also told myths
about heroes, used to teach
Greeks where they came
from, what kind of people
they should be
• Some heroes, like Hercules,
who had godlike strength,
renowned through all Greece
• Others, like Theseus, who
killed Minotaur of Crete,
famous chiefly in home cities
Lessons
• Heroes killed monsters,
made discoveries, founded
cities, talked with gods on
equal terms
• Examples inspired
individuals, whole city-states,
to achieve great things
• Hubris, great pride, brought
many heroes to tragic ends
• Served as lessons not to
overstretch abilities
Describe
What role did mythology play in Greek
culture?
Answer(s): explained natural phenomena; taught
Greeks where they came from and how to act
Grog 5.1 (5 Points)
Using your notes, fill in the interactive
graphic organizer by listing details
about the Greek polis, its typical
features, its government, and its role
in Greek society.
The Classical Age
Chapter 5 Section 2
Pages 134-141
The Classical Age
Main Idea
The Classical Age of ancient Greece was marked by great
achievements, including the development of democracy,
and by ferocious wars.
Reading Focus
• What were the characteristics of Athenian democracy?
• How did the Greeks manage to win the Persian Wars?
• What advances were made in the golden age of Athens?
• What led to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War?
Bell Ringer 5.2 (5 Points)
Write a short paragraph-length
legend about a hero, real or
imaginary. As you write, think
about what kind of life lesson
readers could learn from your
legend
Athenian Democracy
The prosperity of Athens was due in large part to its stable and
effective government. That government was the world’s first
democracy, a form of government run by the people.
Beginnings
Reform
• Athens,
birthplace of
democracy
• Most Athenians
poor, had little
power over lives
• Not always
democratic city
• Gap between
rich, poor led to
conflict
• First ruled by
kings
• Later ruled by
aristocrats who
had money and
power
• Official named
Draco reformed
laws
Draconian Laws
• Draco thought
way to end unrest
was through
harsh punishment
• Belief reflected in
Draco’s laws
• Harshness of
laws worsened
dispute between
classes
Solon and Peisistratus
Revision of Draconian Laws
Peisistratus
• 590s BC, lawmaker Solon
revised laws again, overturned
Draco’s harshest laws
• Solon’s laws relieved tension for
a time, did not resolve it
• Tensions flared again after a few
decades
• 541 BC, politician Peisistratus
took advantage of conflict,
seized power
• Peisistratus a tyrant
• Claimed to rule for good of
people
• Violent but popular
• People liked fact that he pushed
aristocrats out, increased trade
• Outlawed debt slavery; tried to
reduce poverty by encouraging
trade
• Allowed all Athenian men to
take part in assembly that
governed city, serve on juries
• Only wealthy men could run for,
hold political office
Cleisthenes
Cleisthenes took over Athens after Peisistratus
• Reforms set stage for Athenian democracy
• Cleisthenes broke up power of noble families
– Divided Athens into 10 tribes based on where people lived
– Made tribes, not families, social groups, basis for elections
– Each tribe elected 50 men to serve on Council of 500,
proposed laws
– Each tribe elected one general to lead Athenian army
The Nature of Athenian Democracy
• As democracy, Athens ruled by the people, but not all people
able to take part in government; only about 10 percent of total
population
• Only free male Athenians over age 20 who had completed
military training allowed to vote
• Women, immigrants, children, slaves had no role in
government
Athenian Government
• Those allowed to take part in government expected to:
– Vote in all elections
– Serve in office if elected
– Serve on juries
– Serve in military during war
Height of Democracy
Three Main Bodies
• Athenian democracy
consisted of three main
bodies—
• Assembly
• Council of 500
• Courts
Council of 500
• Created by Cleisthenes
• Wrote laws to be voted on by
full assembly
Assembly
• Included everyone eligible to
serve in government
• All present voted on laws, all
important decisions
• Called direct democracy
•
•
•
•
Courts
Complex series of courts
Members could number up
to 6,000
Chosen from the assembly
Heard trials, sentenced
criminals
Special Roles
Elected Officials
• Most governing done by
assembly
• Some elected officials had
special roles
• Among elected officials,
generals who led city in war
• Another elected official, the
archon
Archon
• The archon acted as head of
both assembly, Council of
500
• Archons elected for term of
one year, but could be reelected many times
• Public servant, could be
removed from office,
punished if failed to serve
people well
How effective was Athenian Democracy?
• Ancient Athens is often referred to as the cradle of
democracy
• Democracy flourished during the Golden Age of Athens
(4th Century BCE) under Pericles Direct Democracy= All the
male citizens would gather, discussed the issues, and then
voted on them.
• However, Athenian democracy was flawed. Only male citizens
were allowed to take part in running the government (made
up approx. 10% of population). Women, slaves, and
foreigners were excluded from public affairs. The policy of
ostracism also created some instability as the Assembly could
exile a speaker / leader by vote if they feel they are too
powerful
Analyze
What were the key features of Athenian
democracy?
Answer(s): direct democracy; only certain men
could vote; consisted of assembly, Council of 500,
and court system
Athens vs. Sparta
Extra Credit
Slide 46-60
Read all slides
Complete Slide 49(Athens Vs Sparta chart)
Use this chart to help you answer 3 of the 5 questions on Slide 60.
Turn in chart and 3 answers on 1 piece of paper.
1 Test point for each question. Do all four and get 5 points
How would people describe your country’s…
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•
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•
•
•
•
Government
Education
Social Structure
Allies
Military Strength
Lifestyle
Cultural Achievement
Comparison Activity
• In groups you will complete a chart comparing different
features of Athens and Sparta
• In groups of 2 you will create a chart comparing:
–
–
–
–
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–
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–
–
–
–
Location
Government
Education
Social Structure
Allies
Military Strength
Lifestyle
Cultural Achievement
Role of Women
Food
Population
Athens
Sparta
Population /
Location
Government
Social Structure
Allies/Military
Lifestyle/Values
Education
Role of Women
Cultural
Achievement
Food
Population
Athens
By 432 B.C. largest citystate
– 150,000 Athenians
– 50,000 aliens and 100,000
slaves
Sparta
• 8,000 adult males
• Over 100,000 slaves and
semi-enslaved people
Government
Athens
• Direct democracy
• Elected officials
including 10 generals,
magistrates
• Council of 500:
administer decision
made by Assembly
• Assembly: all male
citizens; passed laws
• Trial by jury
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sparta
Oligarchy: rule by few
Combination of different
forms of gov.
Two kings: led army
5 Overseers: ran day-to-day
operations of Sparta; had
veto power
Senate: 28 men over 60;
elected for life; acted as
judges; proposed legislation
Assembly: all Spartan males
Social Structure
Athens
• Freemen: all male citizens
• Upper: Aristocrats
– Land owners
– Naval captains and military
leaders
•
•
•
•
Middle: small farmers
Lower: craftsman
Metics: foreigners
Slaves: treated less harshly
than other Greek city-states
Sparta
• Spartiates: Land owning
military professionals
• Perioeci: foreigners who
were craftsman, artisans
• Helots: serfs (farmers) who
worked on the Spartiates
land
– Gave 1/2 of all their produce to
Spartiates / military
Allies/Military
Sparta
Athens
• Delian League: collection • Peloponnesian League:
• Superior army on land
of city-states that
pledged loyalty to Athens • Entire culture was focused
on the art of war
– Athens taxed them for
protection
• Athens had very strong
navy
Peloponnesian War
Lifestyle / Values
•
•
•
•
•
Athens
Democratic values
Participation in
government a civic
responsibility
Many religious holidays
Theatre / sporting events
Trading empire brought
contact with many other
cultures
Sparta
• Militaristic values
• Citizens were not
permitted to own
luxuries
• Children were taught to
respect elderly, women,
and warriors
Education
•
•
•
•
Athens
Schools taught reading,
writing and mathematics,
music, poetry, sport and
gymnastics
Ages 5-14 (wealthy went until
18)
Academies were set up to
study philosophy, rhetoric,
and ethics
Girls were taught
homemaking skills
Sparta
• Boys: at age 7 they were
taken from their parents and
taught the art of war
– Had to steal to survive
– At age 20 they entered the
military
– At age 20 they were able to
marry
• Girls: at age 7 they were
reading and writing,
gymnastics, athletics and
survival skills
Role of Women
Athens
• Women were kept at
home
• Could not participate in
athletics
• Some women held high
posts at religious
ceremonies
Sparta
• Girls were educated
• Could participate in sports
• Goal was to produce
healthy babies
• Married at 18
• Enjoyed a great deal of
freedom
• Could own and control
their property
• Expected to protect land
while husband was at war
Cultural Achievement
Athens
• Art
– Sculptures
– Pottery
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Architecture
Drama
Literature
Philosophy
Science
Medicine
Mathematics
Democracy
Sparta
• Military supremacy
• Simple lifestyle
• “ideal” community
Food
Athens
• Enjoyed food from all
over the empire
• Trade brought goods
from all over the
Mediterranean region
Sparta
• Spartan Broth: pork,
blood, salt, vinegar
• Trained to dislike
luxuries and fancy food
• Men lived separate from
wives for much of the
time
Discussion
•
•
•
•
•
If you were a young teenage girl of the citizen
class, in which city-state would you rather live?
Why?
If you were a slave, in which would you rather live?
Why?
If you were a boy of the citizen class, in which
would you rather live? Why?
If you were a young soldier, in which would you
rather live? Why?
If you were a very wealthy person of the citizen
class, in which would you rather live? Why?
The Persian Wars
In the early 400s BC, the Greek city-states came into conflict
with the vast Persian Empire, a larger, stronger opponent.
Causes of the Conflict
Revenge
• Roots of Persian Wars lay in
region of Ionia, in what is
now Turkey
• Ionian Greeks asked fellow
Greeks for help
• Ionian city-states founded
as Greek colonies, fell
under Persian rule, 500s BC
• Persians put down revolt
– Ionian Greeks unhappy
with Persian rule
– Wanted independence
– Rebelled, 499 BC
• Athens sent aid, ships
– Revolt made Persian
emperor Darius angry
enough to seek revenge
– Planned to punish
Ionians’ allies, especially
Athens, by attacking
Greek mainland
Why did the Persians invade Greece?
In 519 B.C. the Persians
conquered a group of people who
lived in Asia Minor called the
Ionian Greeks.
In 499 B.C. the Ionian
Greeks asked the mainland
Greeks to help them rebel
against the Persians.
AGH!
Those Greeks
will pay for
this
We’re on
the way
Help!
Athens sent warships to help
them, but they were not strong
enough to defeat the Persian
army.
The made the Persian King, Darius, very angry
with Greece.
First Invasion
The First Persian Invasion
• 490 BC, Persians set out to fulfill Darius’s plans for revenge
• Fleet carrying tens of thousands of Persian troops set out for Greece
• Came ashore near town of Marathon, not far from Athens
Persian Retreat
• Warned in advance, Greeks arrived at Marathon, caught Persians
unloading ships, charged in phalanx, tight rectangle formation
• Persians counterattacked, more Greeks closed in, Persians
retreated
Marathon
• Legend says Athenian messenger ran from Marathon to
Athens after battle to announce Greek victory; died from
exhaustion after delivering message
• Legend inspired modern marathon, 26-mile race
commemorating dedication, athleticism
In 490 B.C. Darius sent 600 ships and thousands of soldiers to invade
Greece. He wanted to punish the Athenians for helping the rebels.
The Persian army
landed at Marathon,
north of Athens, in
490 B.C.
The Persians greatly
outnumbered the
Greeks.
The Persians were
amazed at the strong
will of the small
Athenian force.
They had no horses
or archers, only
fierce foot soldiers.
After a few days,
the Persians decided
to attack Athens by
sea.
Persian
Empire
Athens
Marathon
Sparta
While they were loading their ships, the
Athenians attacked and defeated them.
The Persians Retreated.
Phalanx
Marathon
The Greeks sent their fastest runner Pheidippides
to carry home news of the victory.
He sprinted 26.2 miles from the battle site to the
city-state of Athens.
He arrived and said, “Rejoice, we conquer,” and
died from exhaustion
The Marathon race is named after this event.
Preparations for a Second Invasion
•
•
•
•
•
Greek victory at Marathon shocked both Greeks, Persians
Athenians could not believe they had defeated stronger foe
Persians humiliated, furious
Darius planned second invasion, but died before invasion launched
Son Xerxes vowed revenge, continued to plan attack on Greece
Xerxes
• 480 BC, 10 years after first
invasion, Xerxes set out for
Greece
• Hundreds of thousands of
soldiers, sailors, animals,
weapons, supplies
• Greek accounts say Persian
army so huge took week to
cross bridge built into Greece
Athenians
• Faced with invasion, Athenians
called on other Greek citystates to help fight off Persians
• Athens, bitter rival, agreed to
help
• Had recently built large navy,
took charge of Greek fighting
ships
• Sparta took charge of Greek
armies
What Happened at Thermopylae?
The Greek ruler Themistocles knew this was a temporary victory.
He encouraged the Athenians to build up their fleet and prepare for
battle with the Persians.
In 480 B.C. Darius’ son Xerxes sent a
larger force to conquer Greece.
He sent 200,000 soldiers and nearly 1,000
ships.
By this time Athens had convinced Sparta
to join them in battle. Twenty Greek citystates joined together to meet the
Persian invaders.
Sparta took charge of the army.
Persia Invades Greece
The Persian army had little trouble as it moved through
northern Greece.
It came to a narrow mountain pass called Thermopylae,
there 7,000 Greeks waited for the Persians.
For several days they stopped the Persian army from
moving forward
Someone led the Persians behind the Greek army, the
Spartan soldier began to retreat to their ships as the
Persians marched forward.
A Small Spartan force of about 300 men commanded by King
Leonidas, guarded the mountain pass of Thermopylae.
They held out heroically against he enormous Persian force for
three days.
They were betrayed when someone told the Persians how to get in
behind the army.
They were defeated, but won valuable time for the rest of the
Greeks.
Who won at Salamis?
The Persians marched
south after their
victory at
Thermopylae and
destroyed the city of
Athens.
Thermopylae
The Athenians had
already moved to
Salamis, a small
nearby island.
More than
800 Persian
ships attacked
the Athenian
navy near the
island.
Salamis
Athens
The large Persian ships could not maneuver in the
water. The smaller Greek ships destroyed them.
Second Invasion and Aftermath
The Greeks worried that they would not have time to prepare
their troops for battle. To slow down the Persians, a group of
Spartans and their allies gathered in a mountain pass at
Thermopylae, through which the Persians would pass to get into
Greece.
The Second Persian Invasion
• Spartans held off entire
Persian army for several days
• Persians shown alternate path
through mountains; were able
to surround, kill Spartans
• Spartans’ sacrifice bought time
for Greeks’ defense
After Thermopylae
• Persians marched south to
Athens, attacked, burned city;
needed fleet to bring additional
supplies
• Athenian commander lured fleet
into narrow strait
• Greek warships cut them to
pieces
Persian army was no longer a match for the Greeks; and within a
year the Greeks had won the Persian Wars.
Sequence
What events led to the Greek victory in the
Persian Wars?
Answer(s): Athens and Sparta allied to fight the
Persians; Spartans held off the Persians at
Thermopylae, allowing Athens to prepare; Persian
supplies were cut off when the Greek fleet
destroyed their ships; Spartans led the Greek army
to defeat the Persians at Plataea
The Golden Age of Athens
As leaders in the Persian Wars, Athens and Sparta became the two
most powerful, influential city-states in Greece. After the wars,
Athens entered a golden age as the center of Greek culture and
politics.
Alliance
• After Persian
Wars city-states
banded together
to defend each
other, punish
Persia
• Largest, richest of
alliance members
was Athens
Delian League
Increased Influence
• Alliance’s
treasury kept on
islands of Delos
• Some members
resented Athenian
dominance
• Alliance known
as Delian League
• Members who tried
to quit attacked by
league fleet, forced
back into alliance
• Athens controlled
ships, money
• League grew in
membership,
power
• League became
Athenian empire
Rebuilding Athens
A City in Ruins
• People wanted to rebuild Athens after Persian Wars
• Some money for rebuilding came from within Athens
• Substantial amount came from treasury of Delian League
Collective Funds to Rebuild
• Other members of League not happy Athenians used collective
funds to rebuild city, but none powerful enough to stop Athens
• Rebuilding began at top, with acropolis, series of grand temples
Height of Culture
• Grandest temple, Parthenon, dedicated to goddess Athena
• Athenians expanded port, built new roads, constructed high walls
around city
• Rebuilt Athens considered height of Greek culture, sophistication
The Age of Pericles
Much of the rebuilding of Athens was due to one man—
Pericles, a skilled politician and gifted public speaker.
Pericles
• 460s, elected one of Athens’
generals, became Athens’
most influential politician
• Great champion of
democracy
– Introduced payment for
those who served in
public offices, on juries
– Encouraged Athenians
to introduce democracy
elsewhere
Patron of the Arts
• Commissioned building
Parthenon, other
monuments
– Hired artists, sculptors
to decorate them
• Wanted Athens to be most
glorious city in Greece
– Believed it had best
government, noblest
people, monuments to
prove superiority
Life in the Golden Age
Trade brought great wealth to Athens.
•
Merchants from other parts of world moved to city,
bringing own foods, customs
•
Athens very cosmopolitan as result
–
Grand festivals, public celebrations, events
–
Athletic games and city theaters
–
Athens was the heart of Greek culture
Draw Conclusions
What made the 400s a golden age in
Athens?
Answer(s): trade brought great wealth;
cosmopolitan city; city rebuilt; center of Greek
culture and politics
The Peloponnesian War
As the leader of the Delian League, Athens was the richest, mightiest
polis in Greece. Being rich and mighty brought many powerful rivals, the
greatest of which was Sparta, which wanted to end its dominance.
Peloponnesian
League
• Sparta head of
Peloponnesian
League, allied
city-states
• Formed 500s BC,
to provide
protection,
security for
members
Tension Built
Tensions built
between Delian,
Peloponnesian
Leagues
• Mutual fear led to
war between
Athens, Sparta
War
• Athens feared
military might of
another league
• Sparta feared loss
of trading
• 431 BC, the two
declared war
• Lasted many years
The Course of War
War in Greece
• Initially neither side gained much advantage
• Sparta, allies dominated land; Athens, allies dominated sea
• Athenians avoided land battles; neither side won more than
minor victories
Plague and Peace
• 430, 429 BC, plague struck Athens, changed course of war
• Pericles, Athens’ leader through beginning of war, among dead
• After plague, fighting heated up until truce in 421 BC
Sparta’s Victory
• 415 BC, war broke out again; Sparta took to sea as well as
land, destroyed Athenian fleet; Athens surrendered 404 BC
• Peloponnesian War almost destroyed Athens; Sparta also
exhausted by war
Cycle of Warfare
After victory, Sparta’s army tried to act as Greece’s dominant
power
• Sparta’s wealth, resources badly strained, power worn down
• Spartans could not keep control of Greece
• City-state of Thebes defeated Sparta, could not maintain
control either
• Struggle for power led to long cycle of warfare that left all
Greece vulnerable to attack
• 340s BC, Macedonia, Greek-speaking kingdom to north, swept
in, took control of all Greece
Identify Cause and Effect
What caused the Peloponnesian War?
Answer(s): mutual fear; Sparta feared Athens
would stop it from trading, Athens feared the
military might of the Peloponnesian League
Grog 5.2 (5 Points)
Using your notes, fill in the interactive
graphic organizer by identifying the
causes and effects of the Persian
Wars.
Greek Achievement
Chapter 5 Section 3
Pages 142-148
Greek Achievements
Main Idea
The ancient Greeks made great achievements in philosophy,
literature, art, and architecture that influenced the development
of later cultures and ideas.
Reading Focus
• How did Greek philosophy influence later thinking?
• What types of literature did the Greeks create?
• What were the aims of Greek art and architecture?
Bell Ringer 5.3 (5 Points)
Write an obituary such as you might
find in a newspaper remembering the
life of Pericles. The obituary should
give a few facts about his life and
detail his major accomplishments.
Greek Philosophy
Despite their condemnation of Socrates, the people of ancient
Greece were great believers in philosophy. The word
philosophy itself comes from the Greek word philosophia,
meaning “the love of wisdom.”
Background
Socrates
• Earliest
philosophy traced
to 500s BC
• First great
Athenian
philosopher
• Reached height
in Athens during
400s, 300s BC
• Little known of his
personal life
• Inspired by
greatest
philosophers—
Socrates, Plato,
Aristotle
• Students’
writings, including
Plato’s, put forth
his ideas
Broad Concepts
• Writings give
clear picture of
Socrates’s
thoughts and how
he taught
• Socrates
interested in
broad concepts of
human life—truth,
justice, virtue
Philosophy of Socrates
Asking Questions
• Socrates believed
philosophers could learn
what made good people,
societies by asking
questions
• Started with basic questions,
like “What is truth?”
• Socrates followed up with
more questions
Socratic Method
• By working through series of
questions, Socrates thought
people could discover basic
nature of life
• Method of learning through
questions called the Socratic
method
Socrates Cup of Death
Plato
• One of Socrates’ students, became great philosopher in own
right
• Left behind great number of writings that record ideas on wide
variety of topics, from nature of truth to ideal form of
government
• The Republic argues that government should be led by
philosophers
Theory of Government
• Philosophers most qualified to make good decisions
• Did not support Athenian democracy in which all men could
take part
• Plato wanted to make philosopher’s education more formal
• Founded the Academy, which in Plato’s lifetime became most
important site for Greek philosophers to do their work
Aristotle
The Third Philosopher
• Aristotle was among students who studied at the Academy
• More concerned with nature of world that surrounded him
• Tried to apply philosophical principles to every kind of knowledge
Emphasis on Reason and Logic
• Emphasis on reason, logic
• Reason, clear and ordered thinking; use reason to learn about
world
• Observe carefully, think rationally about what one has seen
Inferring New Facts
• Aristotle also helped develop field of logic, process of making
inferences
• Example: birds have feathers, lay eggs; owls have feathers, lay
eggs; therefore, owl must be a type of bird
Identify
Who were the greatest philosophers of
ancient Greece?
Answer(s): Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
Greek Literature
Other Greek literature remains, with a great many works still
popular today. Greeks excelled in poetry—both epics and other
forms—history, and drama.
Homer’s Epics
• Most famous works are
some of earliest
• Epic poems of great events
and heroes
• The Iliad and the Odyssey,
attributed to poet Homer, tell
stories of Trojan War
Iliad and Odyssey
• Iliad tells story of last year of
war, two heroes—Achilles
and Hector
• Odyssey tells story of heroes
from the war, with Odysseus
who was forced to wander
the sea
These two works became basis for the Greek education system.
Other Forms of Poetry
Greeks wrote many types of poetry besides epics
• Hesiod wrote descriptive poetry about works of gods, lives of
peasants
• Greeks also created lyric poetry
– Named after the lyre, musical instrument often played to
accompany reading of poems
– Lyric poems do not tell stories, but deal with emotions,
desires
• Lyric poets
– Sappho, one of few Greek women to gain fame as writer;
dealt with daily life, marriage, love
– Pindar, late 500s, early 400s; poems commemorated
public events, like Olympic Games
History
•
•
•
•
Among fields for which Greeks best known
Greek authors wrote about and analyzed own past
First major Greek historian, Herodotus
Lived in Greece during wars with Persia; described battles and
public debates in The Histories
Primary Sources
• Thucydides lived during
Peloponnesian War, wrote
about it
• Included primary sources, like
speeches he heard delivered
• Looked at sources critically,
ignored unreliable, irrelevant
ones
Describing Famous Men
• Another early historian,
Xenophon fought in Persia
after Persian Wars
• Concentrated less on sources,
debates, more on describing
famous men; had less critical
style
• Work has helped us learn what
life was like in 300s BC Greece
Drama
While the Greeks wrote histories to preserve the past, they
created a new form of writing for entertainment—drama, the art
of playwriting.
Athenian Roots
Development
• Earliest dramas part of
festivals
• Dramas became more
complex
• Dionysus, god of wine and
celebration
• Individual actors took on
roles of specific characters
in stories
• Group of actors called a
chorus
• Recited stories
• Two distinct forms of
dramas developed, tragedy
and comedy
Distinct Forms
Tragedies
Comedies
• Focused on hardships faced
by Greek heroes
• Many comedies were satires,
plays written to expose flaws
of society
• Three great writers
– Aeschylus, Greek myths
– Sophocles, suffering
people brought on selves
– Wrote play about
Oedipus
– Euripides, tragedy
brought on by chance,
behavior
• Aristophanes greatest
Greek comedy writer
• Plays poke fun at aspects of
Athenian society, from
government to treatment of
women
Find the Main Idea
In what forms of writing did the Greeks
excel?
Answer(s): epics, history, poetry, drama
Greek Architecture and Art
Beauty
• Athenians enjoyed beauty,
both written and visual
• Expressed love of written
beauty through literature;
visual beauty through
architecture, art
Enhancements
Architecture
• Athenians wanted their city
to be most beautiful in
Greece
• Built magnificent temples,
theatres, public buildings
Parthenon
• To enhance appearance of
buildings, added fine works
of art, painted and sculpted
• Most magnificent on
acropolis
• Grandest buildings built on
acropolis, at city’s center
• Begun by Pericles, 447 BC
• Massive temple to Athena
• Took 14 years to build
Greek Architecture and Art
Parthenon impressive not for sheer size, but for proportion
• Designers careful not to make too tall, too wide
• Parthenon more than 200 feet long, 100 feet wide
– Had doors, no windows
– Surrounded by tall, graceful columns
– Above columns, slabs of marble carved with scenes from myths
– Ruins appear white today, but parts originally painted in vivid
hues
– Huge gold, ivory statue of Athena stood inside Parthenon
Parthenon
Sculpture
Human Forms
• Greek sculptors among finest world has ever known
• Particularly adept at sculpting human form; studied people at rest,
moving
• Tried to re-create what they saw, paid particular attention to
muscles
Lifelike, Not Realistic
• Greeks wanted statues to look lifelike, active, not necessarily
realistic
• Portrayed subjects as physically perfect, without blemishes,
imperfections
• Greek statues almost all depict figures of great beauty, grace
Poseidon
Sculpture
Roman Copies
• Few original works remain; most copies made a few
hundred years later
• Roman artists made many copies of greatest Greek
statues
• Many copies survived even after original statues
destroyed
Painting
• Only a few original Greek paintings survive
• Best preserved are paintings on vases, plates, other vessels
• Scenes from everyday life, or from myths, legends
• Most use only red, black; still convey movement, depth
Larger Paintings
• Little evidence of larger works; written sources say Greeks
created murals in many public buildings
• Often included scenes from Iliad, Odyssey; showed aftermath
of battles, rather than battle itself
• Themes similar to tragic drama popular with Athenians
Make Generalizations
What were some characteristics of Greek
architecture and art?
Answer(s): architecture—proportion, columns,
vivid colors; art—idealistic sculpture depicting the
human form; red and black vessels with scenes
conveying movement and depth; murals and wall
paintings
Grog 5.3 (5 Points)
Using your notes, fill in the interactive graphic
organizer by writing a description of each of
the listed literary forms and then listing a few
Greek writers who used each form
Alexander the Great and
His Legacy
Chapter 5 Section 4
Pages 150-155
Alexander the Great and His Legacy
Main Idea
Alexander the Great formed a huge empire, spread Greek
culture into Egypt and many parts of Asia, and paved the way for
a new civilization to develop in those areas.
Reading Focus
• How did Alexander the Great rise to power?
• What was life like in the culture called the Hellenistic world that
developed after Alexander’s death?
• What were some significant Hellenistic achievements?
Bell Ringer 5.4 (5 Points)
Write a short letter to Plato in which
you either agree or disagree with his
belief that philosophers should rule
cities. Whichever position you take,
use evidence to support your
argument.
Alexander the Great
Macedonia rose to power and took control of Greece in
the years that followed the Peloponnesian War.
The Rise of Macedonia
• Most Greeks considered
Macedonians backward
– Lived in villages, not
cities
– Spoke form of Greek
unintelligible to other
Greeks
• 359 BC, Macedonia’s
fortune changed when
Philip II took throne
Army Reorganization
• One of Philip’s first actions
as king
• Adopted phalanx system,
but gave soldiers longer
spears
• Included larger bodies of
cavalry and more archers
• Set out to conquer Greece
– Faced little opposition
– Quickly crushed armies
– Conquered all but Sparta
Alexander Becomes King
• Philip’s conquests might have continued, but he was
assassinated
• Title, plans for conquests fell to son, Alexander the Great
• Alexander only 20, but had been trained to rule almost from
birth
• Learned warfare and politics from father, mother, and Aristotle
Alexander’s Conquests
• Alexander faced almost immediately with revolts in Greece
• Set out to reestablish control
• Used harsh measures to show rebellion not tolerated
• Crushed Theban army and sold people into slavery, burned
city
Empire Building
Empire
• With Greece under control,
Alexander decided to build
empire
• 334 BC, led army into Asia to
take on Persians
• Army relatively small, but
well trained, fiercely loyal
• Persian army huge,
disorganized
Campaigns
• Within year Alexander’s
army had won victory
against Persians in Asia
Minor
• Moved south to Phoenicia,
Egypt; welcomed as
liberator, named new
pharaoh
• Next destroyed Persian army
near Gaugamela, in what is
now Iraq; caused Emperor
Darius III to flee
Expanding the Empire
With defeat of Darius, Alexander the master of Persian world
• Troops marched to Persepolis, a Persian capital, burned it to
ground as sign of victory
• But Alexander not satisfied with size of empire
– Led army deeper into Asia, winning more victories
– Led army to the Indus, perhaps to conquer India
– Soldiers had had enough, refused to proceed farther from
home
– Alexander forced to turn back to west
End of the Empire
Death at Early Age
Power Struggle
• Alexander’s empire largest
world had ever seen
• Generals fought each other
for power
• Did not rule very long
• In the end, the empire was
divided among three most
powerful generals
• 323 BC, Alexander fell ill
while in Babylon
• Died a few days later at age
33
• Alexander died without
naming heir
• Called themselves kings
– Antigonus became king of
Macedonia and Greece
– Seleucus ruled Persian
Empire
– Ptolemy ruled Egypt
Alexander's Empire broke up into kingdoms
Summarize
Why did Alexander’s empire break apart
after his death?
Answer(s): He did not name an heir, so the
empire was divided among three powerful
generals.
The Hellenistic World
By bringing together a number of diverse peoples in his empire,
Alexander helped create a new type of culture. It was no longer
purely Greek, or Hellenic, but Hellenistic, or Greeklike.
Blending Cultures
• Alexander made
conscious effort
to bring people,
ideas together
• Married two
Persian
princesses
• Encouraged
soldiers to marry
Persians as well
New Cities
• Appointed officials
from various cultures
to help rule
• Built dozens of new
cities, encouraged
Greek settlers to
move into them
• Most new cities
named Alexandria
Most Famous City
• Alexandria, Egypt
• Located at mouth
of Nile, where it
met Mediterranean
• Ideal location for
trade
• Harbor once
busiest in world
Alexandria and Beyond
Center of Culture
• With trade money, Alexandrians built great palaces, streets lined
with monuments; city was home to centers of culture, learning
• The Museum, temple to spirit of creativity, home to many works of
art
Center of Learning
• Library of Alexandria contained works on philosophy, literature,
history, sciences
• Alexandria remained center of culture, learning long after Hellenistic
period
Trading Centers
• Alexandria one of largest trading centers, but not only one in
Hellenistic world
• Cities in Egypt, Persia, Central Asia trading centers for Africa,
Arabia, India
• Traders brought back goods, new ideas like teachings of Judaism
Life in the Hellenistic World
Drastic Changes
Life for Women
• Shift from Hellenic Greece to
Hellenistic world brought
drastic changes to lives
• Lives of women also
changed significantly in
Hellenistic Period
• Most obvious change, how
people were governed
• Women had few rights in
earlier Greek city-states
• City-state no longer main
political unit, replaced by
kingdom
• Lives began to improve after
Alexander, though women
still not equal to men
• Traditional Greek democracy
gave way to monarchy
• Gained rights to receive
education, own property
Explain
How did society change in the Hellenistic
age?
Answer(s): different cultures blended;
government changed; women gained more rights
Hellenistic Achievements
• Blending of cultures brought significant changes
• Exchange of ideas from different cultures
• New advances in philosophy, literature and science
Philosophy
• New schools of philosophy
developed in Alexander’s
empire
• One called Cynicism; students
rejected pleasure, wealth,
social responsibility
• People live according to nature
Epicureans
• People should seek pleasure,
considered good; try to avoid
pain, considered evil
• To find pleasure, develop close
friendships with people who
share similar ideas
The most influential new school was Stoicism, with emphasis on
reason, self-discipline, emotional control and personal morality. Stoics
believed people should find their proper role in society and fulfill it.
Art and Literature
Art and literature also changed during Hellenistic Period
• Hellenistic artists learned to convey emotion, movement in
works, especially sculpture
• Women became much more common as subject of art,
literature
– Most earlier Greek statues had depicted men
– Love stories became popular form for first time
– Earlier literature dealt with actions of gods
– Hellenistic writings focused on common events in people’s
everyday lives
Science and Technology
• Tremendous advances in science, technology during this
period
• Among great Egyptian scholars, Euclid formulated many
ideas about geometry we still learn about today
• Egypt also home of Eratosthenes, who calculated size of the
world
• Other Hellenistic scientists studied the movement of the stars;
the makeup and inner workings of the human body
Science and Technology
Inventors
• Archimedes, one of world’s
greatest inventors, used
knowledge of math, physics to
create devices
• Developed compound pulley to
lift heavy loads; also invented
mechanical screw to draw
water out of ship’s hold, out of
deep well
Mechanics
• Other inventors not as
ambitious as Archimedes, but
clever in own right
• One built tiny steam engine,
used to power mechanical toys
• Such devices representative of
Hellenistic fascination with
mechanics, technology
Analyze
What advances did Hellenistic scholars
make in science and technology?
Answer(s): geometry; calculating the
circumference of the globe; study of the
movement of the stars; study of the human body;
new inventions
Grog 5.4 (5 Points)
Using your notes, fill in the interactive
graphic organizer by writing one
sentence in each box to summarize
Alexander's life, career, and legacy.