Ancient Greece

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Ancient Greece
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I. Earliest Greek PeoplesA. The Minoan
civilization was on the island of Crete 1. Named
for mythological king Minos 2. Farmed and
traded, known for ship building 3. Probably
destroyed by natural disastersB. The Mycenaean
civilization 1. The setting of much of ancient
Greek literature and myth a. The epics of Homer
(Iliad and Odyssey) 2. Destroyed by invaders
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II. City States A. Greek word for City-State is
Polis B. Developed around a fort
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C. Each city state was independent, but they were
all Greek and united by the following
factors 1. Spoke same language 2. Non-Greek
speakers were considered uncivilized 3. Same
religion 4. Great festivals brought them
together
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III. Athens and Sparta A. Two leading city
states that were very different B. Both had 3
levels of class society C. Athens was more
concerned with art and education D. Sparta was
a warrior society
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IV. Prominent Athenians A. Draco strict and
harsh law, today strict laws are called
Draconian B. Cleisthenes established
democratic system in Athens
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V. Persian Wars A. Caused by Greek resistance to
Persian expansion 1. Cyrus the Great took over
Greece and appointed tyrants to rule each of
the city-states. B. Spanned several
decades C. Persian kings who fought against
Greece were Darius and Xerxes D. Key
battles 1. Marathon 2. Thermopylae
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VI. Pericles becomes leader of Athens A. Great
general, orator, and statesman B. Ruled Greece
during its Golden Age, between the Persian and
Peloponnesian Wars C. Promoted Greek art,
architecture, and literature D. Democracy
reached its height under Pericles
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• VII. The Delian League
• A. An association of Greek city-states united
  under Athens
• B. Wanted to continue fighting Persia in the
  Persian war
• C. Athens began to cause conflict with other
  city-states
• Delian league dissolved
• Peloponnesian war began between Athens and the
  Peloponnesian League (led by Sparta)

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VIII. The Peloponnesian Wars A. Conflict between
Athens and Sparta in post Persian War
era B. Lasted almost 30 years C. Sparta won,
and became dominate Greek power until Macedonia
from the north gained power D. Democracy in
Athens dissolved after their defeat, Sparta put
the Thirty Tyrants in power, an oligarchy.
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IX. Alexander the Great of Macedon A. Military
and classical education B. Conquered most of
known world 1. Mesopotamia 2. Syria 3. Egy
pt 4. Asia Minor
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C. Defeated PersiaD. Spread Hellenism (Greek
Culture) to Africa, Middle East, and parts of
India E. Died at age 32 fever F. Empire
divided into three parts upon death, Greek
influence tapered
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X. Social and Gender Structures A. Early
Greece 1. Patriarchal 2. Male dominated, even
with child training 3. Greeks were defined by
their city-state B. Hellenistic
Greece 1. Remained Patriarchal 2. Learning
and Commerce 3. Rise of middle class 4. Women
won new property rights, appeared more often
in public
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XI. Trade A. Traded with east via Silk
Road B. Traded with Africa via Mediterranean
Sea
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XII. Philosophy A. Leading philosophers
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle B. Schools of
thought 1. Cynicism Diogenes --Live a
simple life, avoid materialism 2 Skepticism
Pyrrho --Dont believe anything until you
have proof 3. Stoicism Zeno
--Destructive emotions are a result of bad
judgment 4. Epicureanism Epicurus
--Seek pleasure and avoid pain
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XIII. Mathematics and physics A. Euclid-
Elements of geometry B. Archimedes- Concept of
? Ratio of circumference to diameter Levers
C. Archimedes screw
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XIV. Medicine anatomyXV. Astronomy and
geography A. Aristarchus astronomy
B. Eratosthenes father of geography
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XVI. ReligionA. Polytheistic- Many gods and
goddessesB. Behaved like humans, very
emotionalC. Were not all-powerfulD. Animal
sacrifices to appease gods were commonE. Greek
religion was adapted later on by the Romans