The Geography of Greece
Adapted from http://www.mitchellteachers.org/WorldHistory/AncientGreece
Assignment to hand in: Map of Greece
Step 1: Label and colore the blank Map of Greece with the following locations
and physical features (Create a Map Key for symbols you use):
Physical Features:
Island of Crete
Island of Thera
Island of Rhodes
Asia Minor
Macedonia
Mount Olympus
Pindus Mountains
Cities: Knossos, Mycenae, Sparta, Athens, Corinth, Thebes, Delphi, Troy
Bodies of Water: Sea of Crete, Mediterranean Sea, Ionian Sea, Adriatic
Sea, Aegean Sea, Gulf of Corinth
Atlas or Map Website Resources to Use:
Ancient Greece Flash Map (Zoom in for detail)
Ancient Greece Flash Map (Zoom in, but not as detailed)
Ancient Greece Map (PDF)
Map of Greece (Zoom once - Relief & Political Map)
Google Earth (Download the FREE software and zoom in for satellite pictures of
Greece)
Crete and Mycenae: Identifying the
Roots of Greek Civilization
Assignments to hand in: Note Chart on Minoan and Mycenaeans &
Comprehension Questions
Step 1: Introduction - Read the following text and look at the
pictures.
Crete is an island of 3,189 square miles located in the
Mediterranean Sea, halfway between mainland Greece and Asia Minor (AKA
Anatolia or modern-day Turkey). According to legend, Crete is the birthplace of
Zeus, the King of the Greek Gods. Mycenae (pronounced my-SEE-nee) is a city in
the northeast of the Peloponnesian Peninsula on the Greek mainland. Legend
states that Mycenae was founded by the Greek hero Perseus after he killed the
monster Medusa.
Minoan culture developed on the island of Crete in approximately
3,000 B.C.E. Minoan palace murals and painted pottery show us a bountiful
maritime culture, fueled by fishing, farming, and local arts. The Minoans were
master seafarers and set up long-distance trade routes with Spain, Egypt,
Canaan, and Asia Minor. Socially, the Minoans were an egalitarian culture, with
both men and women holding respected positions in the fields of religion,
agriculture, and craftwork. Recreation enjoyed by the Minoans included dancing
to music and song, "bull-leaping" - a boxing, complete with boxing gloves and
mouth guards. The remarkable peace-loving character of the Minoan civilization
is suggested by the lack of fortresses, war equipment, and painted battle scenes
among the remains of their settlements. The Minoan civilization is historically
important to Greece because it was the cultural model of the Myceneaean
(pronounced my-sih-NEE-in) civilization - considered the earliest developed
culture on mainland Greece.
Mycenae was settled in 2,700 B.C.E. Most of the myths about
ancient Greek heroes and their famous battles come to us from the Mycenaeans.
Later Greek poets such as Homer used these tales in their writings. The
Mycenaeans spoke an early form of the Greek language, and developed an
agricultural economy based on grains, grapes, and olives. Like the Minoans, they
traded by sea with Egypt and Asia Minor. Unlike the Minoans, the Mycenaeans
devoted most of their energies to developing a strong military. The circular royal
tombs of Mycenae reveal collections of decorated uniforms, elaborate helmets,
chariots, daggers, and axes. Horses were also extremely important to the
Mycenaeans, as they were the vehicles of war. Mycenaean documents suggest
that their society was hierarchical, with kings and soldiers in positions of power,
and prisoners of war enslaved to serve them. Apart from artwork depicting
religious festivals and musical performances, very few indications of recreational
entertainment were left by the Mycenaeans.
Step 2: Taking Notes - Fill out the CHART: Notes on Minoans and
Mycenaeans by looking at and reading about six artifacts from each civilization.
Minoan Artifacts
Mycenaean Artifacts
Step 3: Comprehension Questions - Answer the following
questions on a lined piece of paper (or Cut and Paste them into Word) in
paragraph form:
1. What did the Minoan and the Mycenaean civilizations have in common?
2. In what ways were the Minoan and the Mycenaean civilizations different?
3. Why do you think so many aspects of Minoan civilization are found at
Mycenae?
4. What other geographical areas, besides Mycenae, might Minoan civilization
have influenced?
5. What aspects of Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations would you expect to
have survived in later periods of Greek history?
Step 4: The End of Minoan and Mycenaean
Civilizations - Read the following text:
The Minoan civilizations of ancient Crete flourished for approximately
600 years, between 2000 and 1400 B.C.E. Cretan palaces and their
surrounding villages were almost destroyed in 1700 B.C.E., when a
series of severe earthquakes rocked the island. However, the Minoans
rebuilt their cities and renewed production of their trade goods in a
relatively short time. Within the next hundred years, the Minoans
established settlements - for trade rather than imperialistic purposes on neighboring islands of Thera, Kythera, Melos, and Rhodes. Minoan
and neighboring island cultures were mutually tolerant and supportive,
and the Minoans benefited from trade, and continued to create glorious
artwork and architecture.
Mycenaean invaders from the Greek mainland disrupted this placid
existence. It is unclear to scholars why the Mycenaeans began launching
invasive expeditions in the mid fifteenth century B.C.E. It is possible
that they wished to replenish supplies of copper and other ores - which
Mycenaean mines had stopped yielding - needed for their production of
weaponry. It is also possible that violent land-ownership disputes and
trade-route conflicts caused a massive Mycenaean exodus to Asia
Minor, leaving the Mycenaean economy in a weakened state. A third
possibility is that the Mycenaeans could no longer fend off hostility
from encroaching cultures on mainland Greece, and sought safer
settlements on Crete. Whatever the case, Linear B documents recovered
from Mycenae record an invasion of Crete in 1450 B.C.E., and the
peaceable Minoan civilization soon came to an end. Captive Minoan
architects and artists were sent to Mycenae to serve the Mycenaean
kings. Meanwhile, the Cretan palace of Knossos was occupied by
militaristic Mycenaean rulers. They introduced weapons, chariots, and
battles into Cretan mural painting, and added the burial of weapons
alongside military dead to Cretan funeral customs.
Approximately 350 years later, in 1100 B.C.E., the Dorian Greeks united tribes from northwestern Greece and Asia Minor - invaded the
settlements in the Peloponnesus, the southern Aegean islands, and
Crete. Their successful campaigns ended Mycenaean rule. However,
through the Dorians, elements of Minoan and Mycenaean cultures were
incorporated into the art, architecture, and literature of Classical Greece.
Supplemental Videos:
Crete (Minoan civilization)
Mycenae
Supplemental Websites:
Minoan Civilization
The Mycenaeans
The Odyssey Assignment
Assignments to hand in: Note Chart on Ancient Greek Values in The
Odyssey
&
Comprehension Questions
Introduction: Look at the picture below and read the following text:
The Odyssey is a 12,000-line Greek epic poem dating from the
eighth century B.C.E. An epic poem is a long poem divided into sections, or
"books," that focuses on the extraordinary deeds and adventures of a hero.
According to ancient Greek tradition, heroes were men who were born to one
divine and one human parent. The story of The Odyssey recounts the adventures
of the Greek hero Odysseus during his 10-year voyage home to Ithaca after the
end of the Trojan War in the thirteenth century B.C.E. Odysseus is considered the
ideal Greek hero: an aristocratic soldier of superior strength, intelligence, and
courage, favored by the Gods.
The poem is traditionally ascribed to Homer (circa 700 B.C.E.), who is considered
the earliest Greek poet. Little is known about Homer's life, but ancient Greek
playwrights referred to him as a "gifted blind poet." Some scholars believe that a
line from a choral song attributed to Homer confirms this description:
"If anyone should ask you whose song is sweetest, say: blind is the man and he
lives in rocky Chios."
Other scholars believe that "Homer" was the name given to a collective group of
bards who sang Mycenaean folktales to entertain the nobles of Ionia, located on
the west coast of Asia Minor.
It is generally believed that the exact author of The Odyssey is not as important
as the ancient Greek values it contains. By listening to the stories in the poem,
ancient Greeks learned standards of honorable behavior. These values, forged in
the "Age of Heroes" during the Mycenaean Period, became the foundations of
ancient Greek society.
Download and print the following handouts: Note Chart on Ancient Greek
Values in The Odyssey & Excerpts from The Odyssey
Interpreting Excerpts From The Odyssey: Fill out the Note Chart on
Ancient Greek Values in The Odyssey by following these steps:
1. Look at each PICTURE below.
2. Read the DESCRIPTION of the picture below and the description in the
EXCERPTS handout.
3. Listen to the AUDIO TRACK (Windows Media Player will do) and read along
with each passage on the Note Chart.
4. Fill out the column, "Greek Value Illustrated in Excerpt." Choose from the
following GREEK VALUES and explain why you chose the one you did. (You
may click on any of them for a definition of each value):
Athleticism
Hospitality
Ingenuity
Loyalty
Respect
Teamwork
Intuition
Justice
5. Draw a VISUAL that represents that Greek value in the corresponding column
on your Note Chart.
Excerpt A: In this picture we see a vase painting of Penelope seated
in front of her loom and next to her son Telemachus. Penelope's unfinished
weaving stretches across the top of the loom and is decorated with patterns and
fanciful creatures. This scene appears on a Red-Figure vase dating to the second
half of the fifth century B.C.E. (Audio Track)
Excerpt B: In this picture we see a vase painting or Odysseus and
one of his men blinding the Cyclops Polyphemus with a large branch. Odysseus
is the figure in the center. Polyphemus holds a wine cup, illustrating Odysseus's
plan to make the Cyclops drunk before attacking him. This scene appears on a
late-geometric vase dating to 670 B.C.E. (Audio Track)
Excerpt C: In this picture we see a vase painting of Circe
stirring the potion that turned Odysseus's men into animals. The men surround
Circe, who looks masculine herself, while Odysseus approaches at left with a
sword to stop her. This scene appears on a Black-Figure vase dating to 550 B.C.E.
(Audio Track)
Excerpt D: In this picture we see a vase painting of Odysseus
seated at the mouth of Hades, in front of the ghost of one of his men, Elpenor.
Odysseus has sacrificed two calves to the spirits of the dead so they will converse
with him. He speaks first with his dead shipmate Elpenor, while waiting to
speak with the prophet Tiresias. The figures appear to be floating because the
geographic features that were originally drawn around them have faded. This
scene appears on a Red-Figure vase dating to the second half of the fifth century
B.C.E. (Audio Track)
Excerpt E: In this picture we see a vase painting of Odysseus tied
to the mast of his ship as he listens to the song of the Sirens. One of the winged
Sirens swoops down in front of him, while two others are perched on cliffs in the
upper right and left corners. Odysseus's men, their ears plugged with wax, row
the boat oblivious to the charm of the Siren song. This scene appears on a RedFigure vase dating to 475 to 450 B.C.E. (Audio Track)
Excerpt F: In this picture we see a vase painting of two men, a pig,
and a piglet. The scene is commonly thought to represent Odysseus, left, and the
swineherd Eumaeus, who unknowingly put Odysseus up for a night before the
hero returned home to confront his wife's suitors. This scene appears on a RedFigure vase dating to 470 to 460 B.C.E. (Audio Track)
Excerpt G: In this picture we see a vase painting of a banquet scene
like the one Odysseus might have encountered on his return home. The male
guests hold drinking cups, recline on benches piled with striped cushions, and
listen to a female servant play a double pipe. This scene appears on a Red-Figure
vase dating to 450 B.C.E. (Audio Track)
Excerpt H: In this picture we see vase paintings that show
Odysseus using a bow and arrow to slay Penelope's suitors. Two female servants
stand behind him. Caught by surprise, one suitor is wounded and another hides
behind an overturned bench. These two paintings appear on opposite sides of a
Red-Figure vase dating to 450 to 440 B.C.E. (Audio Track)
Comprehension Questions - Answer the following questions on lined paper
in paragraph form:
1. What values seem to have been most important to the early Greeks?
2. Why do you think these values were so important?
3. Which Greek values do you think are similar to American values today? Which do you
think are different?
4. Why do you think the ancient Greeks illustrated their values through epic literature?
Supplemental Videos:
Mythology - Homer's Odyssey
Great Books - The Odyssey
The Odyssey Assignment
Assignments to hand in: Note Chart on Ancient Greek Values in The
Odyssey
&
Comprehension Questions
Introduction: Look at the picture below and read the following text:
The Odyssey is a 12,000-line Greek epic poem dating from the
eighth century B.C.E. An epic poem is a long poem divided into sections, or
"books," that focuses on the extraordinary deeds and adventures of a hero.
According to ancient Greek tradition, heroes were men who were born to one
divine and one human parent. The story of The Odyssey recounts the adventures
of the Greek hero Odysseus during his 10-year voyage home to Ithaca after the
end of the Trojan War in the thirteenth century B.C.E. Odysseus is considered the
ideal Greek hero: an aristocratic soldier of superior strength, intelligence, and
courage, favored by the Gods.
The poem is traditionally ascribed to Homer (circa 700 B.C.E.), who is considered
the earliest Greek poet. Little is known about Homer's life, but ancient Greek
playwrights referred to him as a "gifted blind poet." Some scholars believe that a
line from a choral song attributed to Homer confirms this description:
"If anyone should ask you whose song is sweetest, say: blind is the man and he
lives in rocky Chios."
Other scholars believe that "Homer" was the name given to a collective group of
bards who sang Mycenaean folktales to entertain the nobles of Ionia, located on
the west coast of Asia Minor.
It is generally believed that the exact author of The Odyssey is not as important
as the ancient Greek values it contains. By listening to the stories in the poem,
ancient Greeks learned standards of honorable behavior. These values, forged in
the "Age of Heroes" during the Mycenaean Period, became the foundations of
ancient Greek society.
Download and print the following handouts: Note Chart on Ancient Greek
Values in The Odyssey & Excerpts from The Odyssey
Interpreting Excerpts From The Odyssey: Fill out the Note Chart on
Ancient Greek Values in The Odyssey by following these steps:
1. Look at each PICTURE below.
2. Read the DESCRIPTION of the picture below and the description in the
EXCERPTS handout.
3. Listen to the AUDIO TRACK (Windows Media Player will do) and read along
with each passage on the Note Chart.
4. Fill out the column, "Greek Value Illustrated in Excerpt." Choose from the
following GREEK VALUES and explain why you chose the one you did. (You
may click on any of them for a definition of each value):
Athleticism
Hospitality
Ingenuity
Loyalty
Respect
Teamwork
Intuition
Justice
5. Draw a VISUAL that represents that Greek value in the corresponding column
on your Note Chart.
Excerpt A: In this picture we see a vase painting of Penelope seated
in front of her loom and next to her son Telemachus. Penelope's unfinished
weaving stretches across the top of the loom and is decorated with patterns and
fanciful creatures. This scene appears on a Red-Figure vase dating to the second
half of the fifth century B.C.E. (Audio Track)
Excerpt B: In this picture we see a vase painting or Odysseus and
one of his men blinding the Cyclops Polyphemus with a large branch. Odysseus
is the figure in the center. Polyphemus holds a wine cup, illustrating Odysseus's
plan to make the Cyclops drunk before attacking him. This scene appears on a
late-geometric vase dating to 670 B.C.E. (Audio Track)
Excerpt C: In this picture we see a vase painting of Circe
stirring the potion that turned Odysseus's men into animals. The men surround
Circe, who looks masculine herself, while Odysseus approaches at left with a
sword to stop her. This scene appears on a Black-Figure vase dating to 550 B.C.E.
(Audio Track)
Excerpt D: In this picture we see a vase painting of Odysseus
seated at the mouth of Hades, in front of the ghost of one of his men, Elpenor.
Odysseus has sacrificed two calves to the spirits of the dead so they will converse
with him. He speaks first with his dead shipmate Elpenor, while waiting to
speak with the prophet Tiresias. The figures appear to be floating because the
geographic features that were originally drawn around them have faded. This
scene appears on a Red-Figure vase dating to the second half of the fifth century
B.C.E. (Audio Track)
Excerpt E: In this picture we see a vase painting of Odysseus tied
to the mast of his ship as he listens to the song of the Sirens. One of the winged
Sirens swoops down in front of him, while two others are perched on cliffs in the
upper right and left corners. Odysseus's men, their ears plugged with wax, row
the boat oblivious to the charm of the Siren song. This scene appears on a RedFigure vase dating to 475 to 450 B.C.E. (Audio Track)
Excerpt F: In this picture we see a vase painting of two men, a pig,
and a piglet. The scene is commonly thought to represent Odysseus, left, and the
swineherd Eumaeus, who unknowingly put Odysseus up for a night before the
hero returned home to confront his wife's suitors. This scene appears on a RedFigure vase dating to 470 to 460 B.C.E. (Audio Track)
Excerpt G: In this picture we see a vase painting of a banquet scene
like the one Odysseus might have encountered on his return home. The male
guests hold drinking cups, recline on benches piled with striped cushions, and
listen to a female servant play a double pipe. This scene appears on a Red-Figure
vase dating to 450 B.C.E. (Audio Track)
Excerpt H: In this picture we see vase paintings that show
Odysseus using a bow and arrow to slay Penelope's suitors. Two female servants
stand behind him. Caught by surprise, one suitor is wounded and another hides
behind an overturned bench. These two paintings appear on opposite sides of a
Red-Figure vase dating to 450 to 440 B.C.E. (Audio Track)
Comprehension Questions - Answer the following questions on lined paper
in paragraph form:
1. What values seem to have been most important to the early Greeks?
2. Why do you think these values were so important?
3. Which Greek values do you think are similar to American values today? Which do you
think are different?
4. Why do you think the ancient Greeks illustrated their values through epic literature?
Supplemental Videos:
Mythology - Homer's Odyssey
Great Books - The Odyssey
Understanding the Persian War
Assignment to hand in: Summarizing Assignment of Your Choice (See below)
& Basketball Metaphor Activity
Step 1: Read the "Background" for each event discussed in the Persian War
below. Look at the corresponding picture and read the text that follows. Also,
click on the website links as well to better your understanding of each event.
Event A: The Expansion of the Persian Empire (Background for Event
A)
This is a picture of the Grand Palace at Persepolis, the capital of the
Persian Empire. Reliefs depicting Persian kings decorated the steps leading to the
entrance of the palace, such as the roof and lions shown in the drawing. The
courtyard and one of the smaller palaces that surrounded the main palace are
also shown.
Website Links:
Persia - Wikipedia (good overview of the empire)
Persepolis - Persia.org (Pictures and text)
The Forgotten Empire - The world of Ancient Persia (The British Museum Pictures, text, etc.)
Event B: The Ionian Revolt (Background for Event B)
This is a relief of the Persian king Darius I seated on a cushioned
throne and holding a staff and flower, two traditional symbols of royal power in
Persia. The subject approaching Darius to offer tribute stands behind two incense
burners, which were intended to keep visitors a respectful distance from the
king. Persian subjects like the one shown here were obligated to offer tribute to
the king annually. The Ionians revolted against Darius because they did not want
to observe this custom.
Website Links:
Ionian Revolt - Wikipedia (good overview)
Event C: The Battle of Marathon (Background for Event C)
This is a drawing of the Battle of Marathon with the Greeks
dressed in red, the Persians in blue. One of the warships that carried the Persians
to Greece is shown at left, and the battle field is visible at right. The confrontation
shown here took place after the Greek leader Militiades learned that the Persians
had sent their calvalry ahead to Athens, reducing their strategic advantage on the
flat, open battlefield.
Website Links:
Battle of Marathon - Wikipedia (good overview)
Battle of Marathon (some pictures and links)
Event D: The Battle of Thermopylae (Background for Event D)
This is a drawing of the Battle of Thermopylae with the Persians in
the foreground and the Greeks in the background. This drawing shows the
narrow pass that made it difficult for the larger Persian army to overwhelm the
Greeks early in the battle.
Website Links:
Battle of Thermopylae - Wikipedia (good overview)
History Channel - Battle of Thermopylae on YouTube (good documentary)
King Leonidas and the 300 Spartans of Thermopylae (many pictures using the
movie, "300.")
Supplemental Video:
The Last Stand of the 300
Event E: The Battle of Salamis (Background for Event E)
This is an engraving of the Battle of Salamis showing Greek
warships destroying Persian warships at close range.
Website Links:
Battle of Salamis - Wikipedia (good overview)
Salamis (good pictures and overview)
Supplemental Video:
History's Turning Points - Battle of Salamis
Greece After the Persian Wars: "Golden Age" of Greece
The Persian Wars were immensely important in the history of
ancient Greece. Working together to defeat a common foe reminded the Greek
city-states that they shared a common language, culture, and religion. After the
wars ended, Spartans, Athenians, and residents of other Greek city-states
referred to themselves collectively as "Greeks" more than they had in the past.
Additionally, victory over the mighty Persian Empire filled the Greeks with a
new level of confidence. At times, this confidence expressed itself as sheer
arrogance. For example, in Herodotus's history of the Persian Wars, he
repeatedly referred to the Persians as "barbarians." However, this newfound
confidence led to the development of stunning cultural achievements, especially
in the city-state of Athens. The Athenians were determined to rebuild their city
and make it one of the most spectacular in the ancient world. During the 40 years
following the Persian Wars, the achievements of the Athenians - in theater,
philosophy, sculpture, architecture, and government - were so numerous that
many have referred to the period as the "Golden Age" of Athens.
Step 2: Choose one of the following summarizing assignments:
1. Pretend you were a news reporter for a Greek or Persian newspaper during the
time of the Persian Wars. Write a 50-100 word news update for the Greek or
Persian people back home about each of the 5 events. Remember your audience.
2. Draw a cartoon history of each of the 5 events summarizing visually and with
captions.
3. Other? (Think of another way to summarize these events in a creative way and
approve it with your teacher.)
Touring Athens During the Golden
Age
Assignments to hand in: Notes About Athens During the Golden Age
Station Notes Packet & Illustrated Scrapbook
&
Step 1: Introduction - Look at the following pictures and
text below and complete the corresponding handout: Notes About Athens
During the Golden Age.
Athens is considered one of the most important ancient Greek citystates. Known as the birthplace of democracy, Athens also gave modern society
its foundations in art, literature, and philosophy. Athens is on the peninsula
landmass called Attica in southeast Greece. It sits on a plain about 4 miles from
the sea and is surrounded by mountains. Its location and mild Mediterranean
climate allowed farmers in Athens to grow various crops. However, the land was
not very fertile, and Athenians had to trade for many of their essential food
items.
Greek-speaking tribes first came to Athens around 2000 B.C.E., perhaps from
Asia Minor. They named the city after Athena, the Greek Goddess of wisdom
and military victory. During the Mycenaean Period (circa 1600 - 1200 B.C.E.),
Athens was a second-rank city, overshadowed by Mycenae, Thebes, and other
city-states. Over the next several hundred years, Athenians resisted invading
armies from other Greek city-states, and eventually united as a democracy
around 500 B.C.E. During the Golden Age that followed, Athens became the
center of Greek commercial and cultural power. By the late 400s B.C.E., the
Athenian population numbered approximately 150,000 people.
The physical layout of ancient Athens was dominated by
surrounding mountains and rocky coasts. Situated on a plain about 4 miles from
the Aegean Sea, Athens was a city enclosed by defensive walls. It was close
enough to the sea to have the advantages of a harbor, yet far enough from other
coastal settlements to discourage sudden naval invasion. The city's location has
always provided a strong defensible position, particularly because of its most
prominent geographic feature - the Acropolis, or high place in the city, an ovalshaped hill of rock that rises about 300 feet above the city. Over the centuries,
Athenians erected religious temples, altars, and statues at the top of the
Acropolis. At its highest point stands the Parthenon, the temple of the city's
special protector, or patron, the Goddess Athena. Two other important features
of Athens were the Theater Dionysus on the southeastern slope of the Acropolis,
and the marketplace, or Agora, located at the base of the Acropolis.
Athens was a densely populated city. Its narrow streets and alleyways were not
laid out in any formal plan, and wee often dirty and crowded. Outside the center
of the city were industrial suburbs. For example, the metalworking district was
located on a low hill west of the Agora. The potters' quarter was located
northwest of the Agora, outside of the city's gate, in an area known as the
Ceramicus. The graveyards of the aristocratic families were also located at the
outer edge of this neighborhood.
The Agora, or marketplace, was the center of Athenian life during
much of its Golden Age. Reconstructed after the end of the Persian Wars in 479
B.C.E., the Agora contained temples, government buildings, and several
columned buildings called stoas. On the walls of the most beautiful stoas, artists
depicted various historical vents, such as the Battle of Marathon, and religious
scenes.
On any given day the entire Agora was bustling with noisy activity. In the large,
open center, merchants sold their wares - haggling with customers over the
prices for everything from food, clothes, and animals to pottery, chariots, and
furniture. Public officials regularly patrolled the farm stalls and craft displays to
check the quality of the goods. Any merchant found to be selling inferior
merchandise was fined. Beautiful public buildings and temples lined two sides of
the Agora. Citizens used public buildings to debate and vote on important
political issues.
The Agora also served as a place for recreation. In the afternoons, men often
visited the outdoor sports complex, or gymnasium, to exercise. The gymnasium
consisted of a running track, a wrestling court, fields for throwing javelin, or
light spear, and discus, or flat circular plate, over long distances. There were also
rooms for changing and oiling down the body. In the evenings men remained in
the Agora to socialize. One popular gathering place for men was the barber shop.
Greek men went there for the latest hair styles, and to pick up the latest news
and gossip circulating through the busy city.
Step 2: Touring Stations of the Golden
Age of Ancient Greece - Complete the Station Notes
Packet by covering each Station below. Look at the visuals (mouse over each for
title and click to enlarge) and read the handouts provided for each station. Follow
all directions carefully!
Station A: Architecture (The Parthenon)
Informational Handout
(Architecture: The Parthenon)
Station B: Commerce and Trade (Shop in the Agora)
Informational Handout (Commerce & Trade)
Catalog
of Athenian Goods
Station C: Drama (Theater of Dionysus)
Informational Handout (Drama)
Excerpt from Hecuba by Euripides
Station D: Education (Gymnasium)
Informational Handout (Education) ..............Greek Poem
Station E: Law (Pnyx)
Informational Handout (Law)
Trial Against Socrates
Station F: Pottery
Informational Handout (Pottery)
Examples of Ancient Athens Pottery:
Example A: This is a Black-Figure vase dating to the mid fifth
century B.C.E. It shows four men holding musical instruments including a
double flute and a drum. This type of vase is called an amphora and was
typically used to store grain, oil, and wine.
Example B: This is a Geometric vase dating to 760 B.C.E. The vase
shows a stylized funeral scene in which funeral scene in which the deceased is
lying down, surrounded by other human figures. This type of vase, called a
funerary amphora, typically had a hole in the bottom so that relative of the
deceased could place the vase on top of the grave and pour offerings of water or
wine through the hole.
Example C: This is a Black-Figure vase dating to the late sixth or
early fifth century B.C.E. The vase shows a woman drawing water at a fountain
as the women behind her carry water jugs on their heads. This type of vase is
called a hydria and was often used to hold water.
Example D: This is a Red-Figure vase dating to the fifth century
B.C.E. It shows a groom leading a bride by the hand while another woman
adjusts the bride's clothes. This type of vase is called a pynxis and was often used
to store toilet articles such as women's cosmetics.
Example E: This is a Geometric vase dating to the late sixth
century B.C.E. and measuring about 18 inches tall and 9 1/2 inches wide. This
type of vase is called an oenochoe (pronounced EE-no-kee) and was typically
used as a wine jug.
Example F: This is a Red-Figure vase dating tothe mid fifth century
B.C.E. It shows several women presenting gifts to a bride on the day after her
wedding. This type of vase is called a lebes gamikos and was a typical wedding
gift for a wealthy bride. The bride, who is seated, holds a lebes gamikos on her
lap.
Station G: Religious Beliefs (Panathenaic Way)
Informational Handout (Religious Beliefs)
Panathenaic Procession (Description)
The
Play CD Track of Ancient Greek processional music
Station H: Sculpture (Marble Workshop)
Greek Marble Statues A & B
Informational Handout
(Sculpture)
Station I: Slaves
Informational Handout (Slaves) ............Silver Mine Setting
Station J: Women
Informational Handout (Women - Home of a wealthy family)
Step 3: Culminating Assignment - Creating an
Illustrated Scrapbook
Follow the directions given in the handout: Guidelines for Creating an
Illustrated Scrapbook
Supplemental Video:
The Parthenon - Design and Architecture
Greek Against Greek: Athens vs.
Sparta
Assignments to hand in: City-State Flag
Issue Handouts
& Critical Thinking Questions in
Step 1: Introduction - Look at the pictures below and read the text for
a background on this assignment.
Athens: Athens is located in south-central Greece, on the peninsula landmass
called Attica. It sits on a large plain surrounded by mountains, and lies about
four miles from the Aegean Sea. Because of Athens' proximity to the sea, it
developed strong trade relationships with other city-states, allowing it to become
powerful and prosperous. During the fifth century B.C.E., Athens secured its
powerful trade status by constructing the Long Walls. These two parallel walls
stretched for four miles, connecting Athens with its port city Piraeus, and thus
ensuring the safe transport of trade goods inland from the coast. Another major
Athenian economic asset was silver - obtained from the silver mine of Mt.
Laurium - which helped finance the Athenians' social and military programs.
By the early 500s B.C.E., Athens had become the most important Greek city-state,
primarily for two reasons: its democratic form of government, and its strong
encouragement of the arts. Most free male Athenian citizens could vote and hold
public office. Talented people from throughout Greece came to Athens to learn
and study in various artistic fields. the best artists, architects, and writers came
together in this unique, cosmopolitan city that became noted for its beauty and
splendor.
In the early fifth century B.C.E., invasions from the Persian Empire severely
threatened Athens' independence and prosperity. After defeating the Persians in
479 B.C.E., Athens put together an alliance - called the Delian League - of
numerous Greek city-states that would serve as a mutual defense pact against
future Persian aggression. Over time, as Athens grew more powerful, it became
the dominant member of the alliance. League members paid an annual tribute to
Athens in exchange for Athenian protection. Eventually, Athens used these
resources to crate a naval empire in the Aegean Sea and to fight its major enemy
during the latter part of the fifth century B.C.E. - Sparta.
Sparta: The city-state of Sparta was located in the southeastern part of the
Greek region known as the Peloponnesus. The city sat on the northern tip of a
plain, between high mountain regions to the east and west, and about 25 miles
from the sea. Sparta's location on a fertile and rain-nourished plain enabled it to
develop a strong farming economy. Though based on fertile land, this farming
economy was also a product of cheap forced labor. A large class of serfs called
helots (pronounced HEH-lots) farmed the land and allowed the free Spartans to
concentrate their efforts on other pursuits.
Sparta rose as a powerful city-state on the basis of its strong and stable oligarchic
government and its militaristic lifestyle. All male citizens were required to
perform full-time military service. This well-trained, full-time army enabled
Sparta to be the dominant military power in southern Greece for several hundred
years. In addition, it helped ensure that the helots would not rebel against the
Spartans. In contrast to Athenian society, the Spartans' lifestyle was rigid and
anti-intellectual. Spartans scorned wealth, splendor, and the arts: even during the
height of their prosperity, they continued to build only wooden houses, and
erected very few public monuments.
During the sixth century B.C.E., Sparta became the most prominent and
powerful city on the Peloponnesus. Around 550 the Spartans became leaders of
an alliance of Greek city-states that created a powerful, united force against all its
enemies. The alliance - called the Peloponnesian League - helped Athens defeat
Persia during the Persian Wars (490-479 B.C.E.). However, Athens' power and
prestige continued to rise throughout the fifth century B.C.E. Sparta began to fear
the spread of Athenian democracy to other city-states, which in turn might
encourage Sparta's own helot class to rebel against the Spartan government.
Thus, the Peloponnesian League began to seek ways to curb Athenian influence.
Step 2: Choose a City-State and Make a Flag - Read the
following Background Information on Neutral City-States, choose one and make
a flag on a blank piece of paper for it. Use the city-state's characteristics to draw
your flag. Consider the example below:
Example of possible Spartan flag:
Step 3: Choosing Allegiance - Below are four different issues of
Athenian and Spartan culture. Read the Handout and answer the Critical
Thinking Questions at the bottom for each of them (On a separate lined piece of
paper.). Look at the corresponding pictures and listen to the CD Tracks.
Issue
Government
(Handout)
Quality of
Life
(Handout)
Athens
Sparta
Engraving of the Agora,
Engraving of the
or marketplace, in
Athens. The Acropolis is Agora, or market place, in
Sparta.
in the background.
CD Track
CD Track
Engraving of an architect
showing a blueprint to
Pericles, as construction is
busily underway in Athens.
CD Track
Engraving of Spartans exercising in
the dromos, or physical training
court, in Sparta.
CD Track
Treatment of
Non-Citizens
(Handout)
Trade and
Prosperity
(Handout)
Engraving of Athenian
women at home washing
clothes, caring for children,
and embroidering fabric.
CD Track
Painting of Spartan women mixing
with men in public. The women in
the foreground holds her baby
while a man tries to determine
whether it is healthy.
CD Track
Engraving of the Athenian
harbor crowded with trade Engraving of Sparta situated in an
ships. Athens can be seen in agricultural valley.
CD Track
the background.
CD Track
Step 4: Conclusion - The Peloponnesian War
During the mid-fifth century B.C.E., the rivalry between Athens
and Sparta intensified. In an effort to curb the rise of Athenian influence, Sparta
issued Athens an ultimatum: Athens had to free all the cities under its control or
face a war. Athens refused, and in the year 431 B.C.E., the war began.
The war between Athens and Sparta - called the Peloponnesian War - lasted for
27 years. The war was primarily fought between the large forces of the Spartan
army and the powerful Athenian naval fleet. When the Spartan army invaded
the Athenian countryside in the second year of the war, most of the Athenian
population gathered inside the city's walls for protection. It was then that a
terrible plague struck Athens, spreading quickly through the overcrowded city.
Before it was over, one of every four Athenians had died.
The war continued for 26 more years, with both sides winning and losing many
battles and suffering many casualties. Finally, the Persians provided Sparta with
funds to build a stronger fleet, and this helped the Spartans seal the Athenian's
fate. The Persians hoped their assistance would prolong the war and result in the
destruction of key Greek city-states. In 404 B.C.E., with much of its fleet
destroyed and its population facing starvation, Athens surrendered. Victorious,
Sparta forced the Athenians to tear down the walls that surrounded their city.
After the war, Sparta ruled all of Greece for a short time. Then, in the early 300s
B.C.E., the city-state of Thebes - aided by Persia - emerged as the leader of
Greece. However, the other Greek city-states refused to accept Theban
leadership, and fighting continued. By the mid 300s, the weakened Greek citystates were vulnerable to conquest from an emerging power to the north: the
kingdom of Macedonia, led by King Philip II. In 338 B.C.E., Philip conquered
Greece and created one kingdom.
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Alexander the Great: Hero or Villian?
Assignments to hand in: Alexander the Great: Hero/Villain Graphic
Organizer & Persuasive Essay
Step 1: Introduction - Read the handout: Key Events in Alexander's
Military Career and look at the map below.
This is a map of the conquests of Alexander the Great. The map
shows the extent of Alexander's empire in 323 B.C.E. and indicates the major
towns he founded and the cities he conquered.
Step 2: Graphic Organizer - Complete the Alexander the Great:
Hero and Villain graphic organizer by looking at the pictures below and reading
the corresponding handouts.
Event A: Alexander in Thebes
This is Alexander the Great on horseback during his conquest of
Thebes. In the background, his soldiers are destroying one of the city's buildings.
The Thebans in the foreground are asking him for mercy. Although Alexander
destroyed much of Thebes and sold many of its citizens into slavery, he spared
some of its inhabitants, including the women kneeling by his horse in this image.
Alexander from different perspectives:
Conquered
As the Conqueror
&
As the
Event B: Alexander in Egypt
This is Alexander and his troops marching in front of the Sphinx in
Giza, after taking over Egypt. Prior to this conquest, Egypt was ruled by the
Persian Empire. The people in the foreground are Persians who have just lost
control of Egypt. They are chained to be taken away as captives by Alexander's
troops.
Alexander from different perspectives:
Conquered
As the Conqueror
&
As the
Event C: Alexander in Persia
This is part of a Roman mosaic showing Alexander and the Persian
king, Darius III, meeting in the battle of Issus. Alexander appears on the far left,
while Darius is shown in a chariot toward the center. Based on a Greek painting
that dates to the fourth century B.C.E., this first-century C.E. mosaic is believed
to be the most reliable representation of Alexander's appearance in existence.
Alexander's troops burning and looting the main palace in
Persepolis, the capital of Persian Empire. When Alexander conquered the
Persians, he burned many of the grand buildings in Persepolis and destroyed or
stole many of its royal treasures.
Alexander from different perspectives:
Conquered
Event D: Alexander in India
As the Conqueror
&
As the
Alexander the Great and his troops approaching the Indian king,
Porus, along the River Hydaspes in India. Porus is offering his sword to
Alexander as a gesture of surrender.
Alexander from different perspectives:
Conquered
As the Conqueror
&
As the
Step 3: Persuasive Essay - Write a 5 paragraph essay on whether
you believe Alexander was a Hero or a Villain. Use quotes and evidence to
back up your position.
Supplemental Videos:
Alexander the Great
Conquerors: Alexander the Great
Back to Ancient Greece Main Page
Recognizing Ancient Greek
Achievements in the Modern World
Assignment to hand in:
Notes About Ancient Greek Achievements
Step 1: Introduction - Look at the picture below and read the
following text:
The ancient Greeks made important contributions in many fields of
learning, including astronomy, mathematics, and medicine. Greek scholars were
extraordinarily successful in scientific fields for several reasons. First, Greek culture
encouraged the pursuit of knowledge. Secondly, many citizens in the Greek city-states
were wealthy. They had money to support academies and other centers of learning, and
free time to pursue academic interests. In addition, Greeks who lived along the Aegean
Sea traveled to and traded with other countries, such as Egypt and Babylonia. Through
contact with other ancient cultures, they discovered and then built upon the scientific
works of scholars from other parts of the ancient world.
Discoveries made by the ancient Greeks have influenced many aspects of modern life. Due
to the work of ancient Greek astronomers, we have knowledge of the universe that enables
us to explore distant planets. Several of the concepts we learn in mathematics rest upon
their discoveries. Many of our everyday items employ scientific principles that Greek
scholars first explained. For example, the cord mechanism we use to open and close
curtains applies principles that Greeks discovered about the operation of a pulley.
Seesaws, scissors, and fishing rods are just a few of many common objects that employ
principles of the lever, also first explained by the Greeks. Indeed, the world has benefited
greatly from the scientific discoveries made by the ancient Greeks.
Step 2: Fill out the Notes About Ancient Greek Achievements Chart
following the directions on the Information Handouts and below. The first
column in the chart, "Major Achievements" can be answered from the text in the
Information Handouts, the second column of the chart, "Station Findings" can
be answered from the Information Handouts and below. The third column,
"Modern Applications" can be answered by looking at the corresponding picture
and text that follows - read and answer the question at the end of each in green.
Architecture
Here we see historical buildings along the waterfront in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The buildings in the upper left corner, which sits on
a hill, is the Philadelphia Museum of Art. What ancient Greek achievements in
the field of architecture are shown in this modern image?
Information Handout
Greek Columns
Geography
Here we see a sailboat crew checking a nautical map in Prince
William Sound, Alaska. What ancient Greek achievements in the field of
geography are shown in this modern image?
Information Handout
Map of USA
Medicine
Here we see a doctor examining a young boy in a leg cast at a
children's hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. What ancient Greek
achievements in the field of medicine are shown in this modern image?
Information Handout
Hippocratic Oath
Astronomy
Here we see flight controllers at the Johnson Space Center in
Houston, Texas, celebrating the safe return of Apollo 13 from its mission to the
moon in 1970. What ancient Greek achievements in the field of astronomy are
shown in this modern image?
Informational Handout
Zoology
Here we see a zoologist examining the thighbones of animal
specimens. What ancient Greek achievements in the field of zoology are shown
in this modern image?
Informational Handout
Evolution of Horse
Engineering
Here we see two people playing on a seesaw in a village near
Seoul, South Korea. What ancient Greek achievements in the field of
engineering are shown in this modern image?
Informational Handout
Video 1 - Levers
Video 2 - Levers (Answer the
question: Why are levers so important to us today?)
Mathematics
Here we see a math teacher explaining geometry concepts to
students with the aid of three-dimensional models. What ancient Greek
achievements in the field of mathematics are shown in this modern image?
Informational Handout
Video: Pythagorean Theorem (Draw a diagram on
how the Pythagorean Theorem is used)
Physics
Here we see a gigantic column of water rising from the explosion
of an atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll, an island in the southwestern part of the
Pacific Ocean. What ancient Greek achievements in the field of physics are
shown in this modern image?
Informational Handout
Website: PBS - Electricity (Answer the question:
What is the difference between AC and DC current?)
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