CityStates and Greek Culture Chapter 8 Lesson 2

City-States and Greek Culture Chapter 8 – Lesson 2

Vocabulary • Acropolis: It means “high city” in Greek.

• Agora: An open-air market and gathering place in many ancient Greek city-states.

• Oligarchy: A system in which a small group controls the government.

• Aristocracy: A wealthy ruling class

• Democracy: A governing system in which a countries people elect their leaders and ruled by the majority.

• Policy: A plan Action

• Barbarian: The name given by outsiders by the ancient Greeks and later by the ancient Romans.

Dark Ages (1, 100 to 750 B. C. ) • During 1, 100 B. C. Greece entered a period some historians call the Dark Ages. • Dark Ages is a time when many of the Aegean Civilizations were lost. • People remaining went back to living simpler lives. • Memories of the past was kept alive in songs, myths, & stories. • Dark Ages lasted until 750 B. C.

The Rise of City-States • After the Dark Ages, people began to once again live in small cities and trade with other culture. • These changes led to the rise of a new civilization that historians call Classical Greece.

The Rise of City-States Classical Greece started with the development of citystates. Why were City-States formed? • City-States were formed as people living in neighboring villages joined to protect themselves from outside dangers.

The Rise of City-States • Many groups built walled forts for safety. • Each fort was usually built on the hilltop. • These were called an Acropolis

The Rise of City-States • These newly developed villages with an acropolis grew into cities. – Houses – Public Buildings – An open-air market called and agora. • This all stood below the acropolis • Beyond the cities were farmlands and smaller villages. Agora

The Rise of City-States • Neighboring city-states often fought over the lands that remained between them. • As a result of this fighting over land, some citystates grew in size and importance – Best Known and most powerful Greek city states were Sparta & Athens. – Both city-states eventually developed different economies and governments.

Sparta : Location • Sparta had an inland location on the Peloponnesus peninsula. • Due to their location Spartan’s developed a military economy

Sparta : Culture • Spartan’s lived a simple life of hard work and physical activity. • 3 Classes in the Spartan Society

Sparta : Social Structure

Sparta : Social Structure • The lower classes in Sparta outnumbered the Spartan Citizens 10 to 1. • As a result the citizens feared the lower class. • Spartan Citizens were afraid of the lower class rebelling • They were afraid of attacks on Sparta from outsiders. • Because of these fears the Spartan Citizens focused on building a strong military.

Sparta : Culture • Spartan boys began military training to become soldiers from the age of 7. • There were 2 kings, each from different ruling families, that lead the Spartan army in times of war.

Sparta : Government Sparta used a government system known as Oligarchy.

Athens : Location • Located on Attica, a part of the Balkan Peninsula.

Athens : Government • After the “Dark Ages”, Athens was ruled by an aristocracy. • Leaders would struggle together for control of the city-state. • In 594 B. C. , Athenians asked a leader names Solon to make reforms in the government. • Solon divided the people of Athens into classes based on wealth instead of birth inheritance. • People with the most wealth became part of the ruling class.

Athens : Government • More reforms were made in 508 B. C. when Cleisthenes, one of the leaders, opened the government to all free men 18 years of age or older. • He created a new council. • Each year an election or draw was held to select a council of 500 male citizens. • This system of government was known as the first form of democracy. • Cleisnthenes’ reforms gave every adult male a chance to serve in the government.

Athens : Government

Athens : Government • Women had no voice in the government. • Women were allowed to become citizens. • Immigrant were not allowed to take part in the government.

To Be Greek • Each city-state was independent from each other. As a result they did not think of each other as a country. • Each city-state had a cultural identity that connected them with other city-states. • Greeks were set apart from the other people living in the Mediterranean region because the believed they were different from everyone else. . – Anyone who could not speak Greek was considered a Barbarian.

To Be Greek: Mythology • All the people of the different city-states shared common ancestor. – His name was Hellen – This is why they called there “country” the Hellas – The people called them selves Hellenes. *Known to us as Greeks* • The Hellenes believed that there god controlled events both in nature and in human life. – Zeus: Leader of the Gods – Athena: Goddess of wisdom and warfare – Aphrodite: Goddess of love and beauty. – Hermes: The messenger of Gods

To Be Greek: Olympics • Greeks were united by activities like the Olympics. • The Olympic Games were held every 4 years to honor Zeus. • The Hellenes believed that there god controlled events both in nature and in human life. – Zeus: Leader of the Gods – Athena: Goddess of wisdom and warfare – Aphrodite: Goddess of love and beauty. – Hermes: The messenger of Gods

To Be Greek Q: What common cultural identities brought the citystates together as Greeks? Answer: 1. Religion 2. Mythology 3. Language 4. Olympic Games