Chapter 13.2
The Rise of the
City-States
Anticipatory Set
• When I was little, I always
used to play pretend.
• In my pretend world I
always was the ruler of a
huge empire or city. I
would do anything to
make my citizens happy
and the world would be
bliss
• City-states arose in
Greece where the
thoughts of the people
became important
Standards
• H-SS 6.4.1
• Discuss the connections between geography and
the development of city-states in the region of the
Aegean Sea, including patterns of trade and
commerce among the Greek city-states and within
the wider Mediterranean region.
• E-LA Reading 6.1.3
• Recognize the origins and meanings of frequently
used foreign words in English and use these words
accurately in speaking and writing.
Language of the Discipline
• Monarchy
• Agamemnon
• Homer
• Politics
• Acropolis
• Aristocrat
Early History of Greece
(Input)
• Greek speaking people began to migrate into
the Greek Peninsula from the north
• Over time small kingdoms began to arise cross
Greece
• The most important of the new kingdoms was
Mycenae on the Peloponnesian Peninsula. It
was the first civilization in mainland Greece
The Mycenaean's (Input)
• In 1600 B.C. the Mycenaean civilization developed
and were ruled by monarchies, or governments
headed by a king or queen.
• They left written records and preserved many.
• One of the leaders was Agamemnon, a great
Mycenaean king.
• The people lived mainly by trade
• Fine bronze weapons
• Painted pottery
Agamemnon (Input)
The Mycenaean’s (Input)
• Goods were traded for
• Copper
• Ivory
• Luxury goods
• They also raided other lands for gold and other
goods
• Kingdoms eventually grew weak and Dorian
invaders destroyed much of the Mycenaean cities
The Dark Age (Input)
• The Dorians also spoke Greek but their culture
was less advanced
• Under the Dorians the Greek went into the Dark
Age and the Greeks were left without a strong
government
• Not all Mycenaean culture was lost, but some of
them fled to the shore of the Aegean Sea in a
place called Ionia
• The effect of migration turned the Aegean Sea in
to a transportation system
The Trojan War
• The Greeks at Ionia preserved stories about the
Mycenaeans
• The most famous legends were about the Trojan War
• The war began with a prince named Paris from the Ionian city
of Troy
• Paris kidnapped a beautiful queen from Sparta known as
Helen of Troy
• This angered the Greeks and Agamemnon led a 10 year war
against Troy
• Legends of this war were kept alive by Homer, a blind poet.
• He traveled from town to town, singing ancient stories that
were written down in the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Tales of Troy (Input)
• Homer’s Iliad tells the story of Achilles.
• A Greek hero who was almost destroyed the Greek cause
when he was treated unfairly and refused to to fight.
• Other poets tell about the Trojan horse
• A huge wooden horse built by the Greeks to trick the
Trojans
• The Greeks pretended to sail away from Troy leaving the
horse behind as a gift.
• The Greek soldiers were hiding in the horse while Troy
slept
• They crept out, opened the city gates, and destroyed Troy
• The Odyssey describes the adventures of Odysseus on his
journey after the war.
The Trojan War (Input)
The Impact of Homer
(Input)
• The Iliad and the Odyssey has a huge impact on Greek
culture
• The values of the stories became a part of Greek identity
• Greek values include
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Courage
Honor
Family
Loyalty
Cleverness
Ambition
Bravery
Strength
The Greek City-States
(Input)
• When Homer’s poems were written down, Greece came out
of the Dark Age
• New city-states were emerging and kings were lost after
people migrated to Ionia.
• Independent cities began to be run by ordinary citizens
• The Greek city-state was called polis (derives from politics)
• Politics is the art of practice of government
• It is based of off the Greek notion that the people who live in a
place can work together and make decisions on key issues
that affect them
• This made Greek society unique
The Greek City-States
(Input)
Features of the Polis
(Input)
• The polis consisted of a main city and its surrounding
villages and countryside
• The area and population of polis was definitely small
which helped made group decisions possible
• The Polis was built on two levels
• On the high hill stood the acropolis, or upper part of
the city
• Public buildings and marble temples were located here
• People gathered to discuss
• Public affair
• Protection during attack
Features of the Polis
(Input)
• The government was based on a code of laws from
the community
• Not everyone participated in making laws but women,
slaves, and foreigners, were all excluded from decision
making.
• Wealthy aristocrats held the most power
• At first the ruler of a polis was a king but power began
to move to the aristocrats
• Aristocracy means “rule by the best people”
• Aristocrats who ran the city-states were mostly upper
class, wealthy landowners.
Power in the Polis
(Input)
• The pride and loyalty that citizens felt toward their
city
• Greek identity reflected the values of honor and
manhood
• The Greek believed that a “good” man should be
willing to sacrifice for his city, defend its interest,
and die for polis if necessary.
• Greeks identified themselves with their city.
• “The polis was the framework of Greek life”
Check for Understanding
• Please determine the BEST answer for the
following question.
• Please write your answer on your white
boards and wait for the teacher’s signal.
• On the teacher’s signal, hold up your white
boards.
Checking for
Understanding #1
•What type of government did the
Mycenaean's kingdoms rule by?
•Monarchies
Checking for
Understanding #2
•What is the name of the famous war
the Ionians preserved as a legend?
•The Trojan War
Checking for
Understanding #3
•What was different in a polis than a
monarchy?
•The citizens came together and
made decisions
Guided
Practice/Independent
Practice
• Guided Practice
• Complete questions 1 and 2 on the reading comprehension
worksheet.
• Raise your hand and wait to get stamped.
• If you received an “R” go to the back table with Ms. Graham.
• Independent Practice
• Once you have been stamped moved to independent practice
and complete numbers 3 and 4 on the reading comprehension
worksheet.
• Homework
• Note-taking guide on the reverse side.