The The AncienAncien

t t GreeksGreeks

In the beginning…In the beginning…The island of Crete- The island of Crete- Minoans Minoans (1750 (1750 B.C.B.C.))

Contact with Egypt and Contact with Egypt and Mesopotamia…shared ideasMesopotamia…shared ideas

Vanished about 1400 Vanished about 1400 B.C.B.C. Volcano? Tidal wave? Invaders?Volcano? Tidal wave? Invaders?

In the beginning…In the beginning… Mycenaeans- take over Crete, but Mycenaeans- take over Crete, but

also controlled the mainlandalso controlled the mainland First Greek-speaking peopleFirst Greek-speaking people Lived in separate city-states, each Lived in separate city-states, each

with own warrior-king and fortresswith own warrior-king and fortress

TROJAN WARTROJAN WAR

HomerHomer““Every man make up his mind to fightEvery man make up his mind to fight

And move on his enemy! Strong as I amAnd move on his enemy! Strong as I am

It’s hard for me to face so many men It’s hard for me to face so many men

And fight with all at once. . . . And fight with all at once. . . .

And yet I will!”And yet I will!” Homer, Homer, IliadIliad

The The IliadIliad and the and the OdysseyOdyssey reveal reveal many of the values ofmany of the values of ancient ancient Greeks.Greeks.

GeographGeographyy

GeographyGeographyIncludes the southern Includes the southern part of Europe’s part of Europe’s Balkan PeninsulaBalkan Peninsula

Hundreds of rocky Hundreds of rocky islandsislands

GeographyGeography Not in a river valley!!Not in a river valley!! Mountains divided the peninsula Mountains divided the peninsula

into isolated valleysinto isolated valleys Seas were vital link to the Seas were vital link to the

outside worldoutside world Hundreds of bays and harborsHundreds of bays and harbors Became skilled sailorsBecame skilled sailors Trading goods and Trading goods and ideasideas

GovernmenGovernmentt

GovernmentGovernment

Farmed the valleys or settled Farmed the valleys or settled on scattered islands - NO on scattered islands - NO LARGE EMPIRE – instead…LARGE EMPIRE – instead…

They formed small They formed small city-statescity-states Isolated from each other by Isolated from each other by

mountains or watermountains or water

GovernmentGovernment

A Greek city-state is called a…A Greek city-state is called a…

POLISPOLIS(this is their basic political unit)(this is their basic political unit)

Includes city and surrounding Includes city and surrounding landland

GovernmentGovernment

The city is built on two levels:The city is built on two levels: The part on the top of a hill is The part on the top of a hill is

called the…called the…

ACROPOLISACROPOLIS(geographic term for polis)(geographic term for polis)

Location of temples, and place Location of temples, and place of refugeof refuge

GovernmentGovernment

The rest of the city is on The rest of the city is on lower groundlower groundagora (marketplace), agora (marketplace), public buildings, theater, public buildings, theater, and homesand homes

GovernmentGovernment The citizens that participated in The citizens that participated in

the polis government made up a the polis government made up a MINORITY of the populationMINORITY of the population

Women: Women: nono political or legal rights political or legal rights

Citizens had Citizens had rightsrights and and responsibilitiesresponsibilities

GovernmentGovernment

Rights and ResponsibilitiesRights and Responsibilitiesvotevoteown propertyown propertyhold public officehold public officespeak for themselves in speak for themselves in courtcourt

Geography & Geography & GovernmentGovernment

Seas Seas Trade/Travel Trade/Travel Colonies around the Colonies around the Mediterranean (Spain to Mediterranean (Spain to Egypt)Egypt)What is happening now??What is happening now??

Geography & Geography & GovernmentGovernment

Scarce farmland on mainland Scarce farmland on mainland most farmers move to most farmers move to colonies with good landcolonies with good land

So…people on the mainland So…people on the mainland move to cities move to cities increase in increase in “manufactured” goods“manufactured” goods

Geography & Geography & GovernmentGovernment

NOW…trade can exist NOW…trade can exist throughout all of the throughout all of the

Mediterranean between Mediterranean between the coloniesthe colonies

Governing the city-Governing the city-statesstates

1.1. First, ruler was a king = First, ruler was a king = monarchymonarchy

2.2. Then, ruled by landholding, noble Then, ruled by landholding, noble elite = elite = aristocracyaristocracy

3.3. Next, ruled by small, business Next, ruled by small, business class elite = class elite = oligarchyoligarchy

Governing the city-Governing the city-statesstates

As Athens prospered, ordinary people As Athens prospered, ordinary people grew unhappy with their lack of grew unhappy with their lack of power…power…

Slowly moved toward government by Slowly moved toward government by the people = the people = democracydemocracy

Athenian democracy was very limitedAthenian democracy was very limited

Two Main City-Two Main City-statesstates

ATHENS and ATHENS and SPARTASPARTA

AthensAthens

Limited Limited democracydemocracy CleisthenesCleisthenes set up legislative set up legislative

assembly (open to citizens)assembly (open to citizens) Men over 30 were citizensMen over 30 were citizens

Debt slavery outlawed Debt slavery outlawed (slavery still (slavery still there)there)

Encouraged tradeEncouraged trade and travel and travel

AthensAthens

Boys received Boys received broad educationbroad education and military trainingand military training

Girls received no educationGirls received no education Women were inferiorWomen were inferior, lived , lived

secluded livessecluded lives

SpartaSparta OligarchyOligarchy Complete military societyComplete military society Native-bornNative-born men over 30 were men over 30 were

citizenscitizens

Conquered people became slaves Conquered people became slaves = helots= helots

Prohibited tradeProhibited trade and traveland travel

SpartaSparta Unhealthy infants were abandoned Unhealthy infants were abandoned

((infanticideinfanticide)) All boys began All boys began military trainingmilitary training at at

age 7age 7 Girls raised to be mothers of soldiersGirls raised to be mothers of soldiers Women obeyed menWomen obeyed men, but had right , but had right

to inherit property, could be in publicto inherit property, could be in public

Athens and SpartaAthens and Sparta Religion (gods, festivals)Religion (gods, festivals) HeroesHeroes Olympic gamesOlympic games LanguageLanguage

Both felt superior to non-Greeks Both felt superior to non-Greeks (“barbaroi”)(“barbaroi”)