Ancient Greece
2000-700 BCE
Ancient and Classical Greece Timeline
2000 BCE 1500 BCE
Minoan
Civilization
prospers
Mycenae
thrives
About
1200 BCE
Trojan
War
Takes
place
750 BCE
City-states
flourish
479 BCE
Greece
wins
Persian
War
431BCE
334BCE
Peloponnesian
Wars
(Sparta &
Athens)
Homer composes
The Iliad and The Odyssey
Alexander begins to build
Empire by conquering Persian
Empire
Mycenae and
Troy were
civilizations that
thrived before
Sparta and
Athens became
powerful city
states within
Greece.
Mycenae and
Troy are most
known because
of the writings of
Homer, a blind
storyteller from
Mycenae.
Minoan
and
Mycenaean
Civilizations
and
the city
of Troy
Crete
Minoan civilization
Homer wrote
two epic
poems, The
Iliad and the
Odyssey.
What does
“epic” mean?
Both poems
were about the
Trojan War.
What do you
already know
about the
Trojan War?
Talk to your
neighbor.
The Trojan War is believed
to have occurred around
1200 BC.
The Greeks fought Troy for ten years.
Historians believe that the war was over
control of the Aegean Sea.
Homer’s Iliad recounts the
story:
Helen is the most beautiful
woman in the world and the wife
of the king of Sparta.
Helen falls in love with Paris, the
prince of Troy, as he is in Sparta
negotiating a peace treaty.
Helen is kidnapped by Paris and
taken to Troy.
This sparks a war between the
Greeks and the Trojans as the
Greeks attempted to invade Troy.
The walls of Troy were
impenetrable.
So the Greeks built a
huge horse
(hidden inside were
soldiers) and left
it at the gates of troy
as a gift.
After the Trojans
opened the gates
And pulled the horse
inside,
the Greeks attacked
and burned
the city to the ground.
Why are these stories important?
Because they reveal so much about
Greek culture, civilization and their
values of honor, heroism and courage.
Both stories reveal much about Greek Mythology.
What do you already know about Greek Mythology?
Is it polytheistic or monotheistic?
How did Greek mythology affect culture, politics
and art?
•Festivals were held to honor the gods
and goddesses
•Each city state had a patron god or
goddess that the Greeks believed
protected it.
•Politically, governments consulted
the Gods and goddesses through the
Oracle of Delphi
•The gods and goddesses were the
subject
of classical art
How did it help explain the natural world
and human behavior?
It helped explain geographic features and natural
phenomenon as well as emotions such as jealousy
and anger.
It was believed that the Greek gods and
goddesses lived on Mt. Olympus
The Oracle at Delphi, a mystical priestess
was believed to
be able to speak to the gods and
goddesses.
Who were the most important Greek gods and goddesses?
Zeus
Hera
Apollo
Artemis
Athena
Aphrodite
Homeric Quotes about Greek Mythology
“It was built
against the
will of the
immortal gods
So it did not last
for long.”
The Iliad
Park Row building in New York
“You will certainly
not be able to take
the lead in all
things yourself, for
to one man a god
has given deeds
of war, and to
another the
dance, to another
lyre and song, and
to another wide
sounding Zeus
puts a good
mind.”
The Iliad
National Archives Building, Washington DC
“Thus, have the gods spun the thread from
wretched mortals that live in grief while
they themselves are without cares; for two
jars stand on the floor of Zeus of the gifts
which he gives, one of evils and another of
blessings.”
The Iliad
U.S. Dept. of Justice
“The gods, likening
themselves
To all kinds of
strangers, go in
various disguises
From city to city,
observing the
wrongdoing and the
righteousness of
men.”
The Odyssey
Manhattan Bridge, NYC