This is the
Aegean Sea!
Polis:
 Greek City-State
 included a city and the
surrounding land and
villages
 Usually located on a
hill
Acropolis:
 fortified area on top of
a hill
 Below acropolis was
agora: an open area
where people could
meet
Acropolis of Athens
Theocracy
Etymology
• Theos = god
• Kratos = power
Meaning
• a religious body with
political power (god is the
ruler)
Monarchy
Etymology
• Monos = alone
• Arkhein = to rule
Meaning
• Rule of one
Oligarchy
Etymology
• Oligos= few
• Arkhein = to rule
Meaning
• Rule of a few
Democracy
Etymology
Meaning
• Demos = common people • Power to the People (rule
of many)
• Kratos = power
The Polis: Distinct CityStates…
• People felt strong
ties/loyalty to their
city-state
• bitter rivalries
between city-states
• led to continuous
fighting
• lead to Greece’s
down fall
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Ancient Greece was divided into city-states
with their own type of government.
Major city-states:
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Athens
Sparta
Megara
Corinth
Olympia
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Largest city-state
Named for the goddess
Athena
Emphasis: learning, art,
music, and politics
Wealthy received education
beginning at 7
Had a desire to control all
the land in Greece (eventually
led to war)
Women had limited rights
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Allowed citizens (adult, males, free) to participate
in government decisions.
Solon, Cleisthenes and Pericles all worked to
reform and strengthen Greek democracy at
different times to help balance the power
between rich and poor citizens.
Creation of juries, legislative debates, legislative
councilors were all created by the Greeks.
Direct Democracy – Citizens rule directly and
make their own laws rather than through
representatives.
Athenian Women
• Take care of home
• Raise the children
• Seldom allowed in
public
• No formal education
• Could not own
property
Direct Democracy
• Every male citizen had the
right to attend the Assembly
• There they participated in
the decision making process
and voted on all government
issues
• Athenians practiced
ostracism*
*a person could be banished from the
city for 10 years with 6,000 votes from
the government!
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Focus on military
Boys left home at 7 and lived in the military
barracks until they were 30
◦ Encouraged to steal
◦ Slept on benches, given little clothing, had to
hunt for food
Considered themselves the protectors of Greece
Women could own land, had more rights than
those in Athens
◦ Why? They ran the city-state while the men were
away fighting
The Persian Wars: Overview
Despite their
cultural ties, the
Greek city-states
were often in
conflict with one
another.
The threat of the
powerful Persian
empire united the
Greek city-states.
The Persian Wars: Overview
United, the city-states
defeated the Persians
and ended the threat of
Persian invasions.
Persian prisoners
Persian Wars:
The Outcome!
Results
•Athens increases
its status among
the city-states.
•Athens enters into
a Golden Age
•Athens formed the
Delian League: an
alliance of Greek
city-states with
them in charge
•Sparta is upset!
The Peloponnesian War:
The Alliance System Fails!
The Peloponnesian War: CAUSES
1. Many Greeks outside of
Athens resented
Athenian domination.
2. Sparta formed the
Peloponnesian League
to rival the Delian
League.
3. Sparta and Athens
rivaling for
supremacy…
A Mysterious Plague Hits Athens!
• During the war a plague
(disease) sweeps through
Athens
• Plague destroys 1/3 of
Athenian population
• Kills many Athenians
including Pericles
• This allows Sparta to win the
war!!!!!!!!!
The Peloponnesian War: Effects
1. All the Greek city- states
divided and in chaos!
2. Defeated democracy in
Greece
3. Greece would eventually
would be taken over by
Macedonia to the north
Greek Culture
Greek Mythology
• Mythology – the family of Greek gods and
goddesses that ruled on Mount Olympus
– Zeus - chief god
– Hades - god of the underworld
– Apollo - god of light (sun god)
– Athena - goddess of wisdom
Greek Religion
• Polytheistic – worship of many gods
• Greek stories or myths developed about their gods
Greek Gods
Left Top: Athena
Above: Zeus
Right Top: Hades
Right Bottom: Apollo
Olympics
• First held in 776
BC
• Held to honor
Zeus
• Athletes came
from all over the
world to compete
• Individual events
rather than team
• Women were not
allowed
Sports from the first Olympics in
776 BCE
Clockwise starting on the left: Wrestling, Horse
back riding, Chariot racing, Boxing, Discus,
Jumping, and Running
Center: Javelin