Ancient Greece
Minoan Trade in the Mediterranean
 2000-1400 B.C.
 Crete – island on
edge of Aegean Sea
 Traded fine pottery,
swords, precious
metals
 “Stepping stone for
cultural exchange
in Mediterranean
 Knossos – capital city
 Peaceful city – no fortifications
 King Minos – owned a Minotaur (half man – half bull)
 Wall Paintings – display graceful/athletic people
•
- loved nature & beautiful objects
 Sports – boxing, wrestling, bull leaping
The Palace at Knossos
Minotaur
Bull Leapers of Knossos
 Sport?
Fun Activity? Warrior Initiation? Religious?
 ALL OF THESE THINGS!!!
Minoan Fresco
Mysterious End
 1200 B.C. End of
civilization
 Not sure why –
- possible
earthquake
- maybe invaders
- tidal wave
- volcanic ash
The Mycenaean World
The Mycenaean World
• First rulers of Greece
• Government wealth through force
• Said to have fought in the legendary
Trojan War
Mycenaean Trade
The Trojan War
• 10 year war against
Troy
• Fought because
Trojan man stole
wife of a
Mycenaean king
• Destroyed Troy with
“Trojan Horse”
– Greeks built a “gift”
for the Trojans
– The Greeks hid
inside and at night
when the horse was
taken inside, the
Greeks came out and
destroyed Troy
How do they decline:
Invasion of Dorians
• Invaded
Greece from the
north
• Myceanaeans
weakened by
infighting
• Dorians easily
won using iron
weapons
• After this Greece enters a period of
the Dark ages…...
The Geography of Greece
G
eography
Geography
• Mountains
– 75% of Greek
mainland
– protected and
isolated
– limited contact
between
communities
– Effect: Greece
never unites w/
one govt.
Geography (Cont.)
• Natural Harbors
– no place
more than 50
miles from
the coast
– Effect: many
make living
from the
seas
Rules and Order in Greek City-States
•
Because of geography Greeks did not
develop political unity
 Created polis (city-states)
 Most city-states covered 50 to
500 square miles
 Home to fewer than 10,000
residents
 Acropolis – gathering place to
discuss city government
The Acropolis Today
Greek Polis
•
Types of Rule in City-States
 Rule by a king (Monarchy)
 Rule by a small group of people
(Aristocracy)
 Rule by a few powerful people
(Oligarchy)
 Rule by a tyrant- powerful
individuals who work for the
interests of ordinary people
Two most important city states!!!
Athens
Athens Builds a Limited Democracy
•
•
621 B.C. – Draco ruled all
Athenians equal under the
law
O
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I
T
C
A
L
594 B.C. – Solon
establishes democracy

All citizens
participate in
government

Only males were
citizens

Outlawed slavery

Created 4 social
classes
 top 3 could hold
office
P
Solon
ATHENS: Yesterday & Today
Athens-Democracy (Continued)
•
500 B.C. – Cleisthenes
organized citizens in 10
groups

Created council
of 500

Council members
chosen at random

Only free adult
male property
owners born in
Athens were
citizens

Women, slaves,
foreigners
excluded
I
N
T
E
L
L
E
C
T
U
A
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Athenian Education
Athenian Males

Sons of wealthy got formal education at age 7

Two years of military service at age 18

Active service is called hoplites (infantry)

Right to speak and vote in the Assembly

At age 30, could serve in the Council of 500

Women, very little to do outside of family life
Sparta Builds a Military State
$
2nd Most Important City-State
$
Located near the Gulf of Corinth
$
Very different from Athens
$
Built a military state

Conquered Laconia & Messenia

Slaves became known as Helots
$
Didn’t care about Democracy & Arts
$
“Spartan” means highly self-disciplined
SPARTANS
Spartan Government & Society
•
•
Council of Elders

30 yr. old citizens: proposed laws

5 elected officials carried out laws
Oligarchy

•
S
2 kings ruled Sparta’s military force
Social Order

Original inhabitants

Noncitizens: worked in
commerce/industry

Helots: field & house servants
ocial
P
O
L
I
T
C
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Council of Elders
SPARTA
Helots  Messenians enslaved by the
Spartans.
Spartan Daily Life
S
•
607-371 B.C. Most Powerful Army
•
Individual expression discouraged
•
Men served in Army until age 60
•
Women physically conditioned to be healthy
mothers
•
ocial

ran- wrestled- played sports

Women told men, “ come back with your
shield or on it”

had more independence than Athenian
women
Greeks admired Spartan discipline but didn’t want
to live like them
Spartan Women
S
ocial
(Write on the Bottom of Notes)
• Conflict #1 : Persian Wars!!!
Cause 1
Cause 2
Persian
Wars
Effect 1
__?_ v. __?__
Effect 2
Effect 3
Persian Wars: 499 B.C. – 480 B.C.
The Persian Wars
•
Persians control all of Middle East
•
Greek cities in Asia Minor rebel against Persians

•
Athens sent ship to help them
Battle of Marathon – 546 B.C.

Darius (King of Persia) decides to conquer
Greece and punish Athens

10,000 Athenians defeat 25,000 Persians
 lined themselves in phalanxes

Messenger sent 26 miles to deliver news
of victory to Athens
The Battle of Marathon
The Phalanx
Battle of Thermopylae
•
Xerxes, son of Darius, attacks
Greece in 480 B.C.
•
Persians overwhelm Spartans at
Thermopylae
 300 Spartans at the
Mountain pass fought 3 days
•
Persians capture Athens
 Set fire to Athens
Battle of Thermopylae
Pass at Thermopylae
Athenians Fight Back
•
Defeat Persians at Salamis (naval battle)
•
Athenians create Delian League
 Loose alliance of city-states: 200
of them
 Delos: island in the Aegean Sea
•
Athens becomes headquarters and the
dominant power in Greece
•
Athens enters the Golden Age
The Acropolis Today