Greece
(750-500 BC)
I. Early History & Daily Life
•
• In General
•
• Geography & Women
•
II. Religion & Activities
•
A. Gods & Myths
•
B. Worship
•
•
III. Sparta
•
• Totalitarianism
•
IV. Athens
•
A. Demokratia
•
B. Limits
•
•
Key Terms
Polis
Acropolis
Agora
Kyrios
Polis
Zeus
Hera
Persephone
Athena
Olympic Games
Helots & Equals
Assembly
Council of 500
Ancient Greece
Their impact on us today…
• System of government, theater, arts, sports, etc.
• Alphabet-modified the 30 character alphabet &
spread it throughout Mediterranean world
Daily Life-Food
• Olives were an important crop
• Grains & fish were common;
meat was mostly for
celebrations; goats & sheep =
dairy & wool; honey
• Figs & grapes were grown;
grapes were used for wine
Geography & Polis
• Polis is often defined as “city-state.”
• Organization of each was very similar:
• Acropolis-(high city) located on a hill
• Agora-public places for a market or public
meetings
Women’s Roles
• A woman was always under the control of her
“Kyrios” (her master) & marriage was arranged.
• A wife’s duties:
– Manage the household
– Provide a male heir
• Women were supposed to remain inside the
home.
Religion For The Greeks
Polytheists: They worshiped many different gods
and goddesses. Who lived at…..
Role Of Greek Religion/Mythology
1. Promoted acceptable behavior: modesty,
intelligence, heroism, patriotism. Sometimes they
intervened in people’s lives.
2. Answered some questions about nature.
Zeus
Father of the gods
Hera
(Romans-Juno)
Wife of Zeus; goddess of
marriage and childbirth
Poseidon
Brother of Zeus; god of
seas and earthquakes
Hades
Brother of Zeus; god of
the underworld
Percy = Similar to Perseus
Demeter
Sister of Zeus; goddess of
agriculture and fertility
Persephone
Daughter of Zeus & Demeter;
wife of Hades; influenced
cycle of seasons
Pictured here as queen of
the Underworld
Apollo
Son of Zeus; god of prophesy,
poetry, music, and healing.
Temple At Delphi
(In Honor Of Apollo)
Athena
Daughter of Zeus; goddess of
wisdom and arts/crafts; born
from the head of Zeus.
Olympic Games
• Held in honor of Zeus.
• Celebrated human
heroism & perfection.
• Winners received only
a small prize, but
returned home as
heroes.
Sparta
• All aspects of life were controlled by the
state; VERY militaristic:
1. Upon birth, children were
inspected for health
2. At age 7 male citizens began
military training; from age 2060 male citizens served in
military
3. Male citizens lived in
barracks until age 30
• To eliminate tie to family
and replace it with a tie to
King Leonidas in
polis of Sparta
“300”
Sparta: The Bottom Line
A Totalitarian State
Sparta
(Politics = Oligarchy/Rule by a few)
• Power was held by the Council; 30 male citizens
over age 60
• Council members = elected for life by a vote of
male citizens
• Council members choose two Kings among
themselves
Helots & Equals
Greek Slaves
• Equals: Adult male
citizens
• Helots: slaves who
cultivated the land (Greeks
had a prejudice against
manual labor)
• Helots outnumbered
citizens 7 to 1
Women In Sparta
• Had more authority
than in many other
Greek city-states
– Often spoke openly
about politics; could
own & inherit
property in their own
right
Queen Gorgo of Sparta
Contrast to Sparta--Women’s Roles
Women in “Domestic
Sphere”
• A woman was always under
the control of her “Kyrios”
(her master) & marriage
was arranged
• A wife’s duties:
– Manage the household
– Provide a male heir
• Women were supposed to
remain inside the home
Athens
(Politics = Democracy/rule by many)
• Famous for its
democracy:
– Political power was
held by the Assembly
Assembly Of Athens
• Assembly = included all adult male citizens who
passed all laws
• Council of 500 (members of Assembly) = Power
1. Set the Assembly’s agenda
2. Made recommendations
How To Join The Council of 500
• Most male citizens would serve at least one
term:
– Each district sent 50 representatives chosen
at random
– Minimum age of 30; two term limit for each
during one’s lifetime
• Each day’s leader was chosen at random
How To Join The Council of 500
• Most male citizens would
serve at least one term:
– Each district sent 50
representatives chosen
at random
– Minimum age of 30; two
term limit for each during
one’s lifetime
• Each day’s leader was
chosen at random
Council Members Discuss
Policy
Court System & Juries
• Jury Pool-6,000 adult
male citizen volunteers
• Of those, 501 were
chosen at random to
serve as jurors
Justice is “balanced”
Ostracism
• Athenians voted for
“man most dangerous”
• If one received 6,000
votes he “won”
• “Winner” was exiled for
10 years
Ostracism Ballot (Themistocles)
Limits To Demokratia
1. Ostracism
2. Only adult male
citizens had power;
44,000 out of 350,000
in Athens (440 BC)
3. Women had no
political power
4. Slavery existed
Role/Function Of Laws/Religion
Region
Religion
Laws
Misc.
Mesopotamia Religion explains natural
events; Laws are written &
provide ethics-but Church
/State are one
Polytheistic;
uncertainty &
instability
Palestine
(Judaism)
Some natural
Written
events, ethical
down
behavior (Ten
Commandments)
First to
worship a
single God
Greece
(Athens =
Democracy)
(Sparta =
Totalitarian)
Promoted
acceptable
behavior; natural
events;
patriotism
Polytheistic;
involved in
people’s
lives
Written &
posted in
public;
limited
democracy
Greece
(750-500 BC)
I. Early History & Daily Life
•
• In General
•
• Geography & Women
•
II. Religion & Activities
•
A. Gods & Myths
•
B. Worship
•
•
III. Sparta
•
• Totalitarianism
•
IV. Athens
•
A. Demokratia
•
B. Limits
•
•
Key Terms
Polis
Acropolis
Agora
Kyrios
Polis
Zeus
Hera
Persephone
Athena
Olympic Games
Helots & Equals
Assembly
Council of 500