Chapter 5
Section 1
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Polis
Acropolis
Agora
Helots
Hoplites
Hubris
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Civilization
developed in 3000 BC
Traded throughout
the Aegean Sea
Traded between
colonies and Crete
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Knossos-Minoan city
Buildings had
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Private rooms
Basic plumbing
Brightly colored
artwork on the walls
Artwork helped to
tell their history
Women were priests
and played a major
role in society
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Played dangerous
games of leaping
charging bulls
Linear A –writing
system cannot be read
Language not related
to mainland Greece
Civilization fell apart
rapidly
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Settled on Greek
mainland 2000 BC
Located in southern
Greece
Mycenae leading city
Protective wall 20 feet
thick
Warrior kings ruled
1600-1100 BC
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Possible causes
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Volcano
Weather patterns
May have weakened
society
Conquered by the
Mycenaeans
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1500 BC came in
contact
Mycenaeans trade
throughout the
Mediterranean
Mycenaeans adopted
Minoan writing
Formed core of Greek
religion, art, politics,
literature
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Society dominated by
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Intense competition
Frequent warfare
Powerful kings
Mycenaeans taxed
trade and farming for
building projects
Lions Gate at
Mycenae showed
strength
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1200 BC 10 year war
against Troy
Trojan prince
kidnapped Helen wife
of a Greek king
Troy discovered in
1870
One of the last
Mycenaean’s battle
campaigns
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Mycenaean culture
collapses in 1200 BC
Dorians moved into
war torn countryside
Spoke dialect of Greek
Less advanced
Lost art of writing
No written record for
400 years
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800 BC life become
stable
Polis-city-state, the
basic political unit
Each polis
independent
Each had own
government, laws,
customs
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Center of daily life
Philosopher defined a
person as one who
live in a polis
Fiercely loyal to the
polis
Did not think of
themselves as Greeks
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Acropolis- high area
of building and
fortification
Temples for gods and
public ceremonies
Agora- marketplace,
discuss politics
Gyms, public baths
Wall surrounds the
polis
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Each had its own
political system
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Corinth-oligarchy
(ruled by a few)
Athens-birthplace of
democracy
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One of the mightiest
city states
Located on
Peloponnesus
(southern Greece)
Conquered Messenia
Helots were slaves
from Messenia
Did Spartan manual
labor
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Citizens spent free
time training for war
Thought only way to
keep order in society
Helots outnumbered
Spartans 7-1
Demanded toughness
and strength from
boys and girls
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If child unhealthy at
birth it was left to die
Boys raised by family
till 7
Entered school to rain
for combat
Toughen boys for
what they would face
in war
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End of training sent
into wilderness with
no food or tools
Age 20 become
hoplites
Hoplites-foot soldiers
Remained in the army
for ten years
Could leave and
become citizens
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Women played an
important role in
society
Trained in fitness and
gymnastics
Fit women bear fit
children
Right to own property
forbidden to most
Greek women
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Led by two kings
Decisions later fell to
elected council of
elders
Considered an honor
to have a seat on
council
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Gods had human
qualities
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Love, hate jealousy
Gods quarreled
Lived forever
Zeus-ruler of the gods
Hera his wife
Athena-goddess of
wisdom and cities
Lived on Mount
Olympus
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Apollo- controlled the
sun
Artemis- the moon
Poseidon-god of the
sea
12 gods were the most
important
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Delphi-where
priestess of Apollo
had visions of the
future
Olympia- every four
years city-states
gathered for games
Compete against each
other to honor the
gods
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Stories of heroes
taught Greeks where
they came from
Who they should try
to be
Hercules-strength
know throughout
Greece
Theseus- killed the
Minotaur
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Heroes
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Killed monsters
Founded cities
Talked to the gods
Inspire people and
whole city states
Hubris- great pride,
brought many heroes
to a tragic end
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Do not overstretch
your abilities