Europe

Ancient Governments and Empires

Ancient Government/Society

• Greeks– Society• Originated from the Minoans and Mycenaean's• City states called Polis• Homer: Famous storyteller (Iliad and Odyssey)• Olympic Games: Athletic Events to please Gods• Athens (Thinkers) vs. Sparta (Warriors)• Greeks vs. Persians • Peloponnesian War: Athens vs. Sparta (winner)

Ancient Government/Society

• Greeks– Government• Began as Aristocracy (city states controlled by nobles)• Hoplite: New soldier that helped decrease noble power• Tyrants: Transition leaders that brought change (over

time they grew brutal)• Popular Government: Idea that people should and could

rule themselves (began in some parts of Greece)• Democracy: Govt. in which the citizens take part

– Athens became one; not all places followed suit– It was only to those that were male full citizens

Ancient Government/Society

• Greeks– Philosophers• Philosophy: Study of reality and human existence• Socrates: One of the first, people should think for

themselves, executed for his beliefs• Plato: Socrates student, founded a school called the

Academy that taught the works of Socrates. Taught in dialogues. • Aristotle: Plato’s student, things should be studied

logically . A lot of his works are used in modern science and medicine.

Ancient Government and Society

• Greeks– Philosophers• Pythagoras: World could be explained by math• Hippocrates: Founder of medical science• Herodotus: First western historian

– Theater• Drama: Plays containing action, dialogue, emotion

– Tragedies: Main character struggles against fate– Comedies: Made fun of people or ideas

Ancient Governments/Society

• Greek Empire– Alexander the Great• Son of Phillip II of Macedon• Conquered most of middle east, parts of Asia and Africa• Hellenistic Culture: Combination of Greek, Mediterranean,

and Asian ways of life. • Greeks ruled this area for around 200 years.

Ancient Government and Society

• Romans– Society• Originated with Latin's and Etruscans

– Government• Republic: Government where voters elect officials to

run the state.• 3 Parts of Roman Republic

– Senate: Most influential and powerful, $ and War– Magistrates: Elected officials (Controlled day to day)– Assemblies: Voted on Laws, watched over other 2 branches

Ancient Governments and Society

• Romans– Government terms used today• Veto: Refuse to Approve • Checks and Balances: Prevents one part of the

government from becoming too powerful

– Republic Growth• Rome won 3 Wars with rival Carthage (Punic Wars)• Rome began to get too big, republic was not working• Transitioned into the Roman Empire

Ancient Governments and Society

• Romans– Empire• Many different groups fighting each other for control• Julius Caesar: very popular, named dictator for life.

Killed by people close to him (jealous senators)• Octavian: “Augustus” was a relative of Caesar, called

himself the first citizen. Greatly expanded the size of Rome’s Empire.• Eventually the Roman Empire fell apart

– Invaders (Goths, Vandals, Franks, Huns)– Political/Military Weakness, Economic Decline, Social Change

Ancient Governments and Society

• Franks– Empire• Next Empire after the Romans• Middle Ages/Medieval Period (400-1500)• Clovis: First King of the Franks, invaded into present

day France• Charlemagne: Ruled from 768-814; built a huge empire

that spread Christianity. Advanced the way of life throughout Europe. (Education, government, etc)• Fell apart due to his son (Louis) and invasions (Vikings)