Greece

1
Greece

• The Birthplace of Democracy

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Geography affected Greece
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Geography

• ¾ of land is covered by mountains
• Many peninsulas, islands, coastlines and inlets
• No navigable rivers
• Made transportation and travel difficult
• People could not form one united government so
  they created many city-states.

4
Three early civilizations

• Minoans
• Mycenaeans
• Dorians

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Minoans

• Lived on the island of Crete
• Equality for women
• Advanced society
• Seafaring

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Mycenaeans

• Used bronzed weapons and tools
• Warriors
• Trojan War

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Dorians

• Less advanced
• Illiterate (Dark Ages)
• Oral tradition
• Homer, The Odyssey
• Epic poems

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Greek Religion

• Polytheistic
• Gods took human form and emotions were immortal
• Myths taught to understand mysteries of
  nature/life

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Greek city-states

• City-state a city and its surrounding areas
  (polis)
• Citizens (free adult males) served the polis
• Citizen armies
• Public meetings held in the agora (market place)
  and acropolis (fortified hilltop)

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Contrasting two major city states Athens and
Sparta

• Athens
• Government
• Created democracy
• Values
• Life based on education and culture
• Women had few rights

• Sparta
• Government
• Dual monarchy / military oligarchy
• Values
• Life based around military
• Women enjoyed more rights

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Athenian democracy

• Direct democracy laws voted on and proposed
  directly by assembly of all citizens
• Citizens male, 18 years of age, born of citizen
  parents
• Executive branch composed of council of 500 men

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The Persian Wars

• 490-479 B.C.
• Persia versus Greece
• Persia invaded Athens and the Athenians won
• Athens emerged as the most powerful city-state
• Athens became the leader of the Delian League

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Golden Age of Greece

• Classical culture flourished.
• Pericles, a hero from the Persian Wars, became
  leader of Athens.
• Strengthened democracy
• Increased wealth and power of Athens
• Beautified Athens

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Contributions of the Golden Age

• Architecture The Parthenon
• Sculpture figures show grade, strength and
  serenity / bodies in motion / ideal beauty
  (classical art)
• Greeks invent drama (tragedy and comedy)

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Peloponnesian Wars

• 431-404, B.C.
• Sparta versus Athens
• Sparta won
• Ends the Golden Age

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Greek philosophers

• Socrates
• First great Western philosopher
• Questioned authority
• Socratic Method
• Plato
• Teacher at The Academy
• Taught through dialogues
• Aristotle
• Teacher at the Lyceum
• Taught by use of logic

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Alexander the Great

• From Macedonia
• Son of King Philip II
• Became king at age 20
• Student of Aristotle
• Invaded Greece, Mesopotamia and India
• Wanted to create single empire
• Admired other cultures

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Hellenism

• Mixture of Greek and Eastern cultures
• Koine common language spoken in Hellenistic
  cities, dialect of Greek
• Alexandria (in Egypt) became center of
  Hellenistic culture
• Port city, good for trade
• Statues of Greek gods, a beautiful palace, and
  the famous lighthouse
• Center for learning and education
• Many contributions in science, math,
  architecture, art and philosophy