Beginnings of Greece

Chapter 6 Notes: Ancient Greece

Geography and Trojan War: Beginnings of Greece
Greece is a peninsula, mts. make up most of the islands
Not good for growing crops (only 1/5 of land)
Became good traders and sailors by using the Med. Sea
Mts. cut off small communities from each other, so ancient Greek communites thought of themselves as different countries or city-states (a lot of fighting among themselves)

- Trojan War-Greeks trace beginnings back to stories and myths, famous stories or epics about the Trojan War (Iliad and the Odyssey) - see handout

Dark Ages:

Greek civilization collapsed, poverty was everywhere, writing disappeared and so did the civilization

Greek Government:

early gov’t was ruled by aristocracy (rich and powerful families)
next came tyrants- ruler seizes power by force, support of working class
lastly democracy- citizens govern themselves (Athens)

Arts, Philosophy and Literature
Golden Age- amazing achievements in arts, literature, philosophy
architecture (built Parthenon- temple to Goddess Athena)
philosophers (explained things through reason, not nature) Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
Greeks were first people to write dramas or plays known as tragedies, and performed comedies as well
City-states may have fought, but all part of Greek culture, one example is they began Olympic Games (wrestling, javelin, discus, running)

Greek Religion, Mythology

- polytheistic religion, honor their gods and try to please their gods

Greek religion explained nature (similar to Egyptian religion)
See mythology in our world today (literature, art, advertising)
see handout, chart on Gods, Goddesses, description, and symbols

Daily Life of Ancient Greeks (Athens)
Acropolis (center of Athens' religious life), Agora (center of public life), the public market, shops with food, wool, tools, books, cloth, etc.
Life at home- homes centered around a courtyard, had bathrooms, food consisted of cheese, olives, breads, fruit, fish, cakes
Women spent days in the home (could not take part in politics, or own property), in charge of weaving, children, cooking
Slaves-almost no rights, did all the work men should do, allowed men to be in gov’t and arts

Athens and Sparta
Athens- citizens free and open
Sparta- life was harsh and cruel, life was in the hands of the gov't, focused on military, Always put needs of city before your own
Boys training began at age 7, official soldier by age 20
Girls allowed to train and fight (to have healthy children), women much greater role (own land, business)
Spartans no interest in arts, wealth or trade, not allowed to travel
Persians invade Greece, (landed at Marathon 25 miles north of Athens) Athens defeated Persians by rushing at them over the 25 miles
Athens became powerful, acted unfairly towards other city-states,
Sparta went to war with Athens (lasted 27 years- Peloponnesian War), Athens struck by a plague, lost to Sparta

Spread of Greek Culture
King Philip conquers and unites all city-states of Greece, Alexander the Great takes over at 20
Expanded the empire, genius conqueror
Wanted new lands to mix with Greek culture (Hellenistic)
Alexandria new capital of Egypt, math and science flourished
Learned about pulleys and levers (mathmetician named Archimedes)

Source: http://www.gstboces.org/toolbox/home/2870/Chp_%206%20Greece%20Notes.doc

Web site to visit: http://www.gstboces.org/

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Beginnings of Greece

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