TOPIC 6 ANCIENT GREECE 2000 BCE 300 BCE

TOPIC 6 ANCIENT GREECE 2000 BCE – 300 BCE

PART I LESSONS 1 THROUGH 5

THE EARLY YEARS OF GREEK CIVILIZATION Lesson 1

How Did Geography Shape The Greek World? • At first, not unified country • Instead, scattered islands in Mediterranean Sea • Travelers/traders from Asia & Europe passed through • Modern Greece = peninsulas in Med. Sea • Largest is Peloponnesian Peninsula • Greek-speaking peoples entered lands from north (2000 BCE) • Also islands in Aegean Sea

• Mainland = mountains • Farming villages started in lowland valleys/plains • Less than ¼ of land could be farmed • Geography isolated cities independent and usually at war • Sea brought contact w/ wider world • Skillful sailors and merchants

• Climate… • Mild, wet winters • Hot, dry summers • Lack of rain no shallowrooted crops like grain (need a lot of rain) • Good for deep-rooted plants like olive trees and grape vines • Traded/sold olive oil and wine

Who Influenced the Greeks? The Minoans • From Crete • Highly advanced – writing system & huge stone palaces w/ running water • Traded through Med. Sea • 1450 BCE – palaces/town mysteriously destroyed • Historians believe it was the Greeks The Mycenaeans • 1600 BCE on mainland Greece • Governed by monarchy – rulers lived in stone fortress on hilltops overlooking towns • Made fine bronze weapons/pottery • Traded & raided for other goods • Eventually weakened destroyed by northern Dorians 1100 BCE

• Greek culture declined • People lost ability to read and write • 1100 – 750 BCE = “the dark age” • Greeks began migrating • Sang songs and told legends from “heroic age”

The Trojan War • Mycenaeans vs. city of Troy • 10 -year-long war ended when Greeks tricked Trojans into accepting “gift” of large wooden horse • Horse held Greek soldiers who crept out, opened gates • Allowed Greek army to enter and burn Troy down • https: //youtu. be/Td 1 u. Pq 9 K--E

• Eventually, Greeks developed alphabet based on Phoenicians began writing down stories/legends • Homer wrote Trojan War into epic poem called the Iliad • Also wrote the Odyssey – about hero Odysseus’s journey home after the war • Poems shaped Greek culture/identity (bravery, strength, honor)

Emergence of City-States • Each community organized into a polis (city-state) • Important feature of Greek culture • Settled mostly along coast • Cut off from one another by mountains/water • Huge empires didn’t grow, but each flourished independently • each had own system of commerce, gov. , culture • Seas allowed to trade unique products w/ each other • Gov. of polis ruled city and surrounding villages

• Marketplace and gov. center • Citizens (members of city-state who held legal rights) would meet to make laws/discuss issues in community • On the hill stood the acropolis (“high city”) • Public buildings, marble temples, and fortress in times of danger • Lower city = homes, shops, farms, agora (marketplace where people discussed public affairs)

• Polis politics (the art and practice of government) • Each city-state had its own government • Some monarchies (rule by king) • Some aristocracy (hereditary class of rulers) – “rule by the best people” • In some, citizens governed themselves (unique for ancient world) • Women, slaves, foreigners excluded • Strong pride and loyalty to polis

Classwork – Trojan Horse • Answer all the questions (does not need to be in complete sentences) • Draw the scene on the back • Make sure to draw surroundings and contents of Trojan Horse • MUST BE IN COLOR

DEMOCRACY IN ATHENS Lesson 2

Experimenting with Forms of Government • Oligarchy: type of government where political power is held by a small group of people • Usually council leaders belonging to aristocracy • Shift in power may have been caused by a change in the way Greek armies were organized • 700 BCE – phalanx introduced • Formation of heavily armed foot soldiers who moved together in a unit • Soldiers lined up to form a row of overlapping shields – protected each other (shield in left, weapon on right) • As phalanx became more popular/effective, these citizen soldiers became more powerful • Did not have to be rich to buy these weapons

• Tyrants emerged to champion the interests of ordinary citizens • Tyranny: government run by a strong ruler • Others could not play a role in government, but were not all bad leaders • Some governed fairly and improved life for ordinary people • Others ruled harshly

The World’s First Democracy • Democracy: “rule by the people” • 594 BCE – Solon chosen to lead the polis of Athens • Ended practice of selling into slavery poor people who could not pay debts • Also gave some non-aristocratic men the right to vote for officials • 508 BCE leader named Cleisthenes made several reforms that reduced power of the rich • Increased number of citizens who could vote (new voters from lower class) • Increased power of assembly – included all male citizens • 461 BCE Athens created citizen juries (legal decisions in the hands of the people)

• 450 s BCE under Pericles • Pay citizens for participating in jury service and other civic duties • Now poor people could participate in government • The idea of citizenship encouraged democracy • Membership in a community • Greeks gave ordinary people the right to help make government decisions • Education promoted growth of democracy • Education designed to produce well-rounded citizens • Mostly for boys • 420 s BCE higher education also available • Lecturer taught subjects like math and public speaking

How Did Athenian Democracy Work? • Main political body of Athens was the assembly • All free adult male citizens had the right to attend • Everyone who attended had the right to speak • Second key component of Athenian government = boule (500 person council) • Helped decide what issues should come before the assembly • Members chosen at random from citizens every male citizen had a chance at serving on the council • Third component = court system • Different courts decided different cases • Juries made up of citizens decided cases by majority rule • Hundreds or thousands could serve on a jury

• Limitations: • Women could not vote or hold office • Foreigners could not be citizens/had no voice in government • Slaves had no rights • Direct democracy: a political system in which citizens participate directly in decision-making • It worked in Athens because population of the city-state was small • And because of the commitment and hard work of citizens • Representative democracy: citizens elect others to represent them in government; the representatives then make the decisions and pass laws on behalf of all the people • Better for large, modern counties like the United States

OLIGARCHY IN SPARTA Lesson 3

The Spartan State: A Contrast to Athens • Decisions were made for you in Sparta • If you were a boy taken from your family at age 7, and trained for and served in a professional army • If you were a girl raised for the sole purpose of bearing strong children for the state • Government was a combination of monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy • Emphasis on military power • On Peloponnesian Peninsula – inland, so not a sea power • Ruled by two kings who served as military leaders • Headed Sparta’s governing body, the Council of Elders (28 men over the age of 60) • Oligarchy was true government of Sparta

• Did have democratic assembly made up of some free males • Could pass laws, but council had to approve them • One important power = electing five ephors • Responsible for day-to-day operations of government • Made sure kings and council acted within limits of Spartan law • Could remove king who broke the law • Sparta turned to conquest for resources • Conquered people became a kind of slave called a helot • Belong to the polis, not individuals • Forced to farm to feed Spartans and treated harshly • In the early 400 s BCE – the helots revolted • Spartans put down revolt but were worried because they were outnumbered

• Choice: Give up control of helots and food OR strengthen control by turning into a military state • A society organized for the purpose of waging war • Picked option 2 • More emphasis on military • Ruled helots through terror • Every year, ephors declared war on helots Spartans could kill helots w/o fear of punishment • And helots watched by secret police

Military Training in Sparta • At seven, boys were taken away from their homes to live together in barracks (military housing) • Did not receive a well-rounded education spent most of their time exercising, hunting, and training • Were taught to obey, not think for themselves • At 18, began a 2 -year program of military training • They could marry but couldn’t spend time at home • At 30, they leave the army, but still spent time with men • After leaving military, they had to gain entry to a men’s club of soldiers in order to become full citizens • If they failed, they became “inferiors” – never gain citizenship and live as outcasts

• Men’s clubs members = “equals” • Full citizen rights • Membership in the assembly and right to a piece of state-owned land worked by helots • Age 60: an equal became a candidate for election to the council of elders • Spartan women raised to be strong and vigorous • By staying fit, they could have strong, healthy babies • Had a good deal of freedom/responsibility because husbands lived away

Sparta Athens • discipline/training = powerful army and stable government • Valued individual expression and new ideas • Individuality frowned upon • Democracy evolved over time • Oligarchy/society rarely changed • Relied on silver and trade to obtain food • Relied on conquest and slave labor food

ANCIENT GREEK SOCIETY AND ECONOMIC EXPANSION Lesson 4

What Was the Role of Women in Ancient Greece? • Mostly restricted • Patriarchal society • Women managed the home (children, budget, slaves) • Made clothing and food • Spartan women had more freedom • More equal to men

What Were the Social Divisions in Greek Society? • Rulers = aristocrats/kings • Claimed descent from kings/gods = could hold power • Wealth came from large plots of land • Crops + livestock • Worked by slaves = free time for politics • Society divided into citizens & noncitizens • Citizens = adult males (had suffrage)

• Most citizens = small farmers • Below them tenant farmers (thetes) • Farmers who paid rent, either in money or crops, to grow crops on another person’s land • Metic: resident alien (might be from another Greek polis or not Greek at all) • Merchants and artisans often • Noncitizens – had freedom, but fewer rights • Women & children = non-citizens • Lowest class = slaves • Slavery: ownership and control of other people as property

• Became slaves b/c… • • Prisoners of war Bought from slave traders Sold by families Abandoned children • Most foreigners, but some Greek • 500 s BCE slavery widespread (sometimes 1/3 of pop. ) • Had many jobs in society • Helped economy grow • Some treated kindly and freed (but no legal rights) • Some treated harshly and worked to death

The Greek Economy • Lacked good farmland/basic resources • Had to figure out how to obtain as population increased • Some city-states used conquest • Migration and colonization used for pop. Problem • Could be dangerous journey, but better than overpopulation/hunger • Trade led to world’s first gold/silver coins (currency) • Instead of bartering pay w/ coins • Trade = easier

• Each city-state had its own mint to create own coins • Trade made Athens rich • Also increased cultural borrowing (ex: alphabet and mythology)

Greek Society and Economy Together • Read workbook page 144 • Answer the following questions in complete sentences • 1. How did the two views differ? • What is each city-state’s view on education? Individually Answer the questions that go along with the visuals throughout the lesson 1. pg. 238 – Start Up 2. pg. 239 – Analyze Images 3. pg. 240 – Analyze Diagram 4. pg. 241 – Use Visual Information 5. & 6. pg. 242 – Geography Skills (#12)

WARFARE IN ANCIENT GREECE Lesson 5

The Persian Wars • 546 BCE : Persia conquered the Greek city-states of Ionia in Western Asia • They had governed themselves so they rebelled in 500 BCE • To help, Athenian soldiers burned Persian city of Sardis • Persian king Darius sought to conquer all of Greece to retaliate • Although Persians had a large empire, it was difficult for them to defeat Greece on their home soil • 490 BCE: 20, 000 Persian soldiers sailed for Greece • Landed by the plain of Marathon (near Athens) • Athenian disadvantages • Outnumbered two to one • No archers or soldiers on horseback

• Athenians still attacked day after Persian landing • Phalanxes took Persians by surprise • Persians panicked and fled to their ships • Greek victory at Battle of Marathon ended the First Persian War • Legend says a messenger died after running 26 miles to carry the news of victory back to Athens • Ever since then, the word “marathon” has been used to describe a challenging footrace • Darius’s son Xerxes was determined to defeat the Greeks Second Persian War • 480 BCE – Xerxes assembled invasion force of 100, 000 men • Giant empire = superpower • It could also add Egyptian army to its ranks • They also used Phoenician ships as a navy

• A small group of Spartan soldiers held off the huge army at a narrow mountain pass called Thermopylae • A Greek traitor showed Persians another pass • They attacked the Spartans from both sides • Spartans died heroically defending Greece • Athenian leader Themistocles convinced people to flee to nearby islands • Athens practically empty when Persians reached it • Xerxes burned Athens down and sent his ships to pursue the Greek navy • He put his throne on a hill to “watch his victory” in the Strait of Salamis • Themistocles set a trap • Ships were hidden until they saw the Persian ships • Rammed and destroyed the Persian ships • The Battle of Salamis broke Persian naval power

Why Were Athens and Sparta Rivals? • Athens enjoyed a “golden age” • Athenian leader Pericles began rebuilding the city • Became famous for art and learning • Wealth and power of the city grew • Two rival powers each wanted supreme power in Greece • Athens = strongest navy • Sparta = strongest army • Athens formed an alliance w/ other city-states • Association of nations formed to achieve a goal

• Delian League allies met on island of Delos • Members promised to protect one another from Persia • Provide ships/money for defense • 150 members bordered Aegean Sea • Allies supposed to be equal but Athens was most powerful • Ran league like its own empire instead of alliance of equals • Forced cities in; kept cities from getting out • Athens used requested money to build its own navy even though there was no fighting w/ Persia at the time • League members forced to use Athenian currency • 454 BCE – treasury moved from Delos to Athens • Money used to rebuild Athens • Built the Parthenon – temple for Athena • Members began to resent Athens

• Peloponnesian League – Sparta’s alliance on Peloponnesian Peninsula • Most allies were oligarchies • 434 BCE: Athens placed a ban on trade with Megara (member of P. L. ) • This angered Sparta • Both sides prepared for war

The Peloponnesian War • 431 BCE – war broke out • On/off for 27 years • Began when Spartan led army invaded Athenian territory • Pericles told Athenian farmers to move into walled city • Spartans settled for a long siege • Goal = force enemy to surrender by cutting off its food and other supplies • But Athenians had prepared – built long walls to get supplies from the sea • Athenians held out for more than a year • But then a plague broke out – thousands died • War dragged on • 421 BCE – both sides agree to a truce while they discuss peace terms

• Truce broken within a few years • Athens invaded Sicily, but Sparta and other Greeks destroyed them • Athens lost large part of navy at Syracuse • Persia saw an opportunity • Gave Sparta money to build its own navy • Sparta defeated Athenian navy at Battle of Aegospotami – 404 BCE • Then Sparta attacked city of Athens itself • Sparta held Athens under siege again • But now they could cut off sea supplies with new navy • Athens forced to surrender • Peace terms were harsh: • Athens forced to give up democracy • Restored soon after, but power lost

• War hurt all city-states • Ended golden age of Greece • 300 s – Greeks kept fighting amongst themselves • Weakened themselves opened the door to the military conquest of Greece by Macedonia (powerful kingdom to the North) • Greek city-states forced to unite under one ruler after a riche period of democracy