Ancient GreeceGeography, Government, and Culture

Geography• Greece is a peninsula

• Peninsula: land surrounded by three sides of water.

• Mainly mountainous, little farmland on the coast and river valleys

• Mountains and seas isolated settlements from each other

• These settlements viewed themselves as their own country or city-states

Geography

• South of Greece is Mediterranean Sea

• West is the Ionian Sea

• East is the Aegean Sea

• Seas are major source of food and trade

• Greeks were known for shipbuilding and sailing from Greece to Egypt and Asia Minor (Modern-day Turkey)

Minoans• 2000-1400 BCE

• Best shipbuilders who traded wood, olive oil, and pottery throughout Mediterranean

• Located in Crete• Great location for trade• Dangerous because of volcano

• Erupted in 1600 BCE and may have led to its decline

• ‘Fake Greeks’• Didn’t speak Greek

Myceneans • 1600 – 1200 BCE

• Myceneans first to speak Greek

• Built fortresses all over the Greek mainland• Most powerful fortress is Mycenae

• As Minoans declined, the Myceneans took over Crete and became major traders in eastern Mediterranean Sea.

• Set up colonies in Northern Greece and Italy

• Warfare was common and believed to be the conquerors of Troy.

• Myceneans fell after invaders defeated them.• This caused a period of chaos and war known as the Dark Age

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzFCbUC4c7s

From Dark to Light: Classical Age

•After 300 years the Greek peoples created communities and set up their own polis.•Polis: City-state

•This was the start of the Greek’s classical age.•Classical Age: An age of marked by great achievements.

City-State• Greek cities are built around a strong fortress

• The fortress is located on an acropolis.• Acropolis: High hill

• City or town around the acropolis is surrounded by walls for protection.• Farmers and others of the same trade lived outside the city’s walls.

• Most city life occurred in the agora.• Agora: Marketplace• Designed as an open space for both traders and meeting place

• The population did not consider themselves as Greeks but by their city’s name.

Colonization •Caused by overpopulation and desire to trade.

• Eventually colonies became their own polis.

• Some new polis created their own colonies and so forth.

• Expanded from Greece all the way to Spain, France, Italy, and Asia Minor, Egypt

Athens and its Government• Athens used to be ruled by kings.

• Afterwards aristocrats gained control of Athens.• Aristocrats: Rich landowners

• Athens became an oligarchy:• Oligarchy: Type of government in which a few people rule.

• These men controlled Athen’s economy, military, and politics.

• Around 600 BCE a rebellion rose but failed. This caused a new set of strict laws.

• In 590s a man named Solon softened the laws and all non-aristocrats became known as citizens.• Citizens: People who had the right to participate in government.

Tyrants rule them all• A noble named Peisistratus overthrows oligarchy and became a

tyrant• Tyrant: Leader who holds power by force

• Tyrants maintained control because of their strong armies and support of the people.

• Peisistratus built temples, city monuments, and created festivals to unite Athens.

• After his death, his son took over. The aristocrats regained control with the help of a rival city-state.

Birth of Democracy•Around 500 BCE Cleisthenes became ruler of Athens.

•He led the people to overthrow aristocrats and formed the world’s first democracy.• Democracy: Type of government in which people rule themselves

•Citizens had to right to participate in assemblies. End of every assembly people voted.

•6,000 citizens were required for major policies.

Pericles•460 BCE to 429 BCE

• Inspired Athenians to be involved with government as if to defend the city in wartime.

•He paid people to serve in public office or on juries.

•Paid people to spread idea of democracy to other parts of Greece.

Athenian Democracy’s demise•330s BCE Athens was conquered by Macedon.

•Macedonian king ruled as a dictator.

•Athens had very limited democracy until the second king took over and eliminated democracy.

Direct Democracy v. Representative Democracy

Direct Democracy Representative Democracy

• All citizens would group up and debate and vote on issue directly

• No separation of powers. Citizens created, enforced, and acted as judges.

• Only men were allowed to vote. Not women and slaves

• Citizens elect representatives to debate and vote on issues for them

• There is a separation of powers. Three branches of government represent the citizens. (Legislative, Executive, Judicial)

• Men and women who are citizens have right to vote.

Mythology•Mythology: Body of stories about gods and heroes that try to

explain how the world works

•Greeks believed events and natural causes were orchestrated by the gods.

•Greeks built and worshipped gods to keep them happy. In return expected help from them.

•Oracles were spokespersons of the gods

Mythological Heroes• Some heroes were historically real and some were not

• Examples: Ajax, Achilles, Hercules, Odysseus, Perseus

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzFCbUC4c7s

Ancient Greek Literature•Homer wrote Iliad and Odyssey.

• Iliad is about the last years of the Trojan War.

•Odyssey is about Odysseus ten year journey home.

•Homer’s writings were essential to Greek education for history, writing, and ideas.

Lyric Poetry•Greeks used to read poems as they played lyres. Hence the

word lyric comes from.

• Sappho: Famous for writing beautiful and emotion poems about family, friendships, and intimate relationships.

Fables•Aesop was famous for writing fables.

• Fables: Short stories that teach the reader lessons about life or give advice on how to live.

• Most of his fables had animals act and speak like humans.• Examples: “Tortoise and the Hare”, “The Boy who cried Wolf”

Greek Literature’s Impact on Today• Language

•City names

• Sport Teams

•Walt Disney Movies

• Logos