Ancient Greece Geography Greece is part of the

Ancient Greece Geography

• Greece is part of the Balkan Peninsula. • Surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea. • Rugged coast with large mountains dividing the area • Many islands off of its coast

Balkan Peninsula

Results • Ancient Greece was not a large continuous empire like Egypt. • Individual city-states were created. • These city-states were isolated from one another due to mountains separating areas and the sea. • Citizens of individual city-states were fiercely loyal and there were frequent wars.

Economy • Due to its irregular coastline, Greece had many natural ports and safe harbors. • The Greeks (especially the Athenians) became expert sailors and trade was a staple in their economy. • Due to trade, cultural diffusion took place.

Cultural Diffusion The spread of cultural elements from one culture to another.

The Polis • A Polis is a Greek city-state. • They were built in two levels. 1. Above the main city an acropolis was built. An acropolis was the symbolic center of a Greek city-state, bringing together its most important sacred and civic buildings. 2. The lower level contained the walled main city.

The acropolis in Athens The Parthenon

The Changing Polis 750 -500 B. C. • Early city-states were a monarchy • This later evolved into an aristocracy which is a society run by an upper-class of wealthy landowners • As trade progressed, a new middleclass developed. It consisted of merchants, artisans and farmers. This form of government is called an oligarchy.

The Persian Wars • Greek city-states in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) were conquered by the Persians. • The Persian Empire was larger and was significantly stronger militarily. • The Greek city-states rebelled against the Persians. • They went to Sparta for help and were turned away

Persian Empire

Persian Wars Continued • Athens however, promised 20 ships • The Athenians helped defeat the Persians in these city states in 498 B. C. • By 495 B. C. the Athenians grew bored and returned to Athens • The Persians marched in and quickly regained control of the citystates

• • Marathon 490 B. C. The Persians were angry at Athens for interfering. The emperor Darius sent a large army across the Aegean Sea to Marathon. The Athenians were outnumbered 2 to 1 yet managed to cause a Persian retreat. Victorious, the Athenians sent Pheidippides to run to Athens and report the victory.

Marathon Continued…. • The distance was 26. 2 miles and he ran at a full sprint • Upon arriving he announced; “Rejoice, we conquer!” and then fell to the ground dead. • Modern Marathon runners cover 26. 2 mile to this day.

Persia Attacks Again (480 B. C. ) (Second Persian War) • Xerxes (son of Darius) sends a larger to defeat the Athenians. • The Athenians had now convinced the Spartans to aid them. • Their combined efforts, Sparta’s land army and the Athenian navy defeated the Persians.

Thermopylae • “ 300” • 2 nd Mountain pass in Greece – only 60 feet wide. • Leonidas vs Xerxes • Ephialtes- Betrayed the army and told Persians about a mountain pass.

Results of the Persian Wars • Athens became the most powerful citystate. • It organized the Delian League, an alliance of Greek city-states that united to defend against the Persians. • As time went on Athens forced their will on other members of the Delian League. This created the Athenian Empire • This also caused Sparta to fear Athenian Power and to not trust Athenian intentions.

The Two Greek Powerhouses

Two Different Governments Athens Sparta • Democratic- a • Totalitarian- A political system in which the political system supreme power based on absolute lies in a body of power of a single citizens who can party or dictator. elect people to represent them

The Golden Age of Athens

Pericles • Was a great Athenian leader, 460 BC 429 BC. He was a strong believer in democracy - Everyone from all classes could serve. "Government in the hands of the many, not of the few. " The Athenians had freedom of speech and thought. • Created the environment for the golden age

Art Advances in: • Sculpture- Lifelike but idealistic characters, (gods and goddesses) • Painting- only surviving relics are on pottery. Depict everyday life. • Architecture- great marvels of engineering. Known mostly by their column style. • All reflect mans ability to achieve!!!!

The Great Greek Philosophers • Socrates • Plato • Aristotle http: //www. arts. uwaterloo. ca/PHIL/cpshelle/Gallery/Greek/aristotle. jpg

Socrates (469 -399 BCE) Greenblatt, Lemmo. Human Heritage. Glencoe, Mc. Graw-Hill 1995 http: //www. btinternet. com/~socratic/ • Stonemason, spent time arguing with assembly • Taught: Question everything, use step-by -step questioning to final conclusion (Socaratic Method) • Executed for denying gods, corrupting youth, and trying to overthrow gov.

Plato (427 -347 BCE) • Pupil of Socrates • Recorded speeches of Socrates • Father of Political Science • Founded The Academy to train government leaders • Wrote The Republic & The Dialogues http: //plato. evansville. edu/

Aristotle (384 -322 BCE) Plato • Pupil of Plato at The Academy • Trained in Medicine • “Master of Them That Know” • First to classify plants & animals • Developed final steps Aristotle in scientific method (Hypothesis and Test) http: //www. ucmp. berkeley. edu/history/aristotle. html

Math • Pythagoras • Euclid- elements of geometry

Hippocrates • known as the founder of medicine and was regarded as the greatest physician of his time. • Hippocratic Oath- DO NO HARM!!!!

• • Alexander the Great and Hellenistic Culture Macedonia-small nation north of Greece thought they were uncivilized Ruled by Phillip Many City States make alliances and eventually Phillip takes over all of Greece

Alexander • Takes the thrown after Phillips murder at age 20 • Attempts to live his fathers dream and take over the Persian Empire • He does this and keeps going all the way through modern day India • Dies suddenly and does not name a successor

Legacy Hellenistic Culture • Married a Persian woman and encouraged his men to do the same • Spread Greek culture • Hellenistic culture= cultural diffusion included elements of Greek , Indian, Persian, and Egyptian cultures and beliefs