Ancient GreeceK. Roberts

GeographyLocated on a peninsulaMountainous terrain which

makes farming difficultfocus on trading olives and grapes

Ionian, Mediterranean, Aegean Sea all around Greece

Early CivilizationsMinoan Civilization

located on island of Cretecapital: Knossoswrote in “Linear A”Suddenly disappeared

either to a large tidal wave by a volcano or destruction of invasion by Mycenaeans

Early CivilizationsMycenae

first Greek statepowerful monarchieswarrior type peoplewrote in “Linear B”Decline - Mycenaean states

fighting each other

Trojan WarParis, prince of Troy, kidnaps Helen, wife of king of

Sparta, AgamemnonGreeks unite ten years later, attack TroyCan’t break walls, so they build a wooden horse,

stay inside overnight, sack the city next day after Trojans bring horse inside city walls

Trojan Horse

Trojan WarHomer - author of Iliad and Odyssey

epic poems that tells deeds of a heroIlliad: about the Trojan WarOdyssey: about Odysseus’ journey after the war

both stories to teach about courage and honor

OR...

City-StatesAthens

thoughtful peoplestudied science, history, architecture, and

philosophygovernment: democracy

started by Cleisthenescouncil of 500

GovernmentAthens originally a oligarchyDraco is asked to come build laws so everyone can follow

Harsh, death become punishment for every single crime

City-StatesSparta

conquering peopleoften took neighboring people as serfs (slaves)males: military menwomen: housewives Gov’t: oligarchNO VISITORS!

GREECEImportant events/concepts:

Greece vs. PersiaIonian Greece taken over by Persian Empire, try to revolt -

makes Darius madled an attack on the plain of Marathon, but were defeatedXerxes planned to invade Greece7,000 Greeks held off 180,000 Persians at Thermopylae

GREECEImportant events/concepts:

Athens takes leadership over Greeceforms Delian League

pursued the attack against Persian EmpireCaused problems, leading to Peloponnesian War

Athens (allies) vs. Sparta (allies)Athens: Better NavySparta: Better Soldiers

GREECEImportant events/concepts:

Religion:polytheisticgods lived on Mount Olympusoracles would divulge information for

the people

GREECEImportant events/concepts:

Drama:Tragedies

Sophocles - Oedipus Rexwhere we get the phrase the “Oedipus Complex”

examined problems such as nature of good and evilHistory:

Herodotus - world’s first historianThucydides - considered to be greatest historian of ancient

worldviewed war and politics as activities of humans, not

gods

GREECEPhilosophers:

Socrates - asked people questions, challenging them to exam their answers

Plato - wrote the Republic, believed reason was best for one to know what they believe

Aristotle - studied all types of government, really focused on biology, politics, literature, and other subjects that eventually made it to the first European universities

GREECEHellenistic Greece

Brought about Alexander the GreatUpon death, empire broke into four sections

“imitate Greeks”expansion of Greek culture and language to the non-Greek

world