Ch 4, Sec 1-2: The Early Greeks, Sparta, and Athens

Objectives• Explain how the geography of Greece influenced

where people lived.• Explore the economy and survival or the

Minoans.• Identify the power of the Mycenaeans and

explore how they gained power.• Explain how citizenship developed between city-

states.• Explore different forms of government including

democracy, tyrants, and oligarchies.

Where is Greece

• A peninsula in Europe– Had water on 3 sides

Economy of early Greeks

• Fishing, sailors, and traders• Farming– hard to grow crops– Grew wheat, barley, olives, and grapes– Raised sheep and goats

• Mountains and seas separated the Greek communities– Made them independent from each other

Minoans

• Lived on the Island of Crete around 2000 B.C.• First Greek civilization• Traders/great sailors– Traded with Egypt

• Group collapsed by 1450 B.C.– Mystery of what happened– Earthquakes or attacked by Mycenaeans is the

best guess

Who were the Mycenaeans?

• Originally from Asia• Took over parts of

Europe starting in 1900 B.C.

• First Greek kings• Warriors became the

first nobles of Greece

Set up of the Mycenaean Kingdom

• Kingdom was protected by a palace on the hill• Farms/estates were outside the walls• Slaves/farmers worked the land• Palaces used for protection, trading, and

businesses

Influence of the Minoans on the Mycenaeans

• Learned how to build weapons/boats• Learned navigation by the stars/sun• Worshipped the same gods• Took over Minoan trade routes

Cons of the Dark Ages of Greece

• Between 1200-1100 B.C., the Mycenaean kingdoms started to fall

• Trading stopped• Poverty was high• Lack of education• Little food was grown

Pros of the Dark Ages of Greece

• Population spread to new areas-spread culture

• Dorians invaded Greece in SW– Brought iron weapons and

tools– Increased power and farming

• New Greek alphabet was created

Greece starts to colonize

• Greeks needed more food• Cities were overpopulated• Created colonies in Italy, France, Spain, N.

Africa, and W. Asia• First group to use coins for trade• People specialized in one job

Rise of the Polis

• Nobles overthrew kings• Created a polis-“city-state”– 1,500 different city-states created

• Acropolis-religious/safe places at the top of the hill

• Agora-under the acropolis for trading and debate

Greek Citizenship

• Ran the polis• Citizens-people who were equals to each

other and have rights and responsibilities– Right to vote, hold office, own property, and

defend themselves in court– Had to serve the gov’t and fight in wars

• Originally had to be free men who owned land

Citizen Soldiers

• Foot soldiers were called hoplites• Had a shield, short sword, and a

9 ft spear• Soldiers fought for the polis and

not the country

Rise of Greek Tyrants

• Nobles gave money to other nobles/farmers• Took land if debt was not repaid– Virtual slavery

• Tyrants used armies to beat the powerful nobles and rule with ultimate power– Took over huge areas of land– People did not want one person in charge

Problem

• What problems do you see with one unelected person ruling over one huge area?

Spartan Government

• Was an Oligarchy:– A few people held power

• Two kings ran the council of elders– 28 citizens over 60 yrs old– Presented laws to an assembly

• Assembly– All men over 30 yrs old– Chose 5 men called ephors to enforce/manage

laws/taxes

Boys in the Spartan Army

• Conquered new lands to gain power– Helots-slaves of the Spartans

• Strong and determined people• Boys taken from families at age 7 to learn the

Greek way of life• 20-30 yrs old-fought in Greek army• 30-60 yrs old-could go home but had to return to

the army if a war was started

Girls of Sparta

• Trained in sports– Running, wrestling, and javelin

• Wives lived at home while husbands lived with the army

• Could own land and go where they wanted– Had lots of independence

Education in Athens

• Boys – taught to read, write, and do math– Played sports, sang, and played the lyre– Became citizens at 18 when they finished school

• Girls– Stayed at home– Taught by their mothers to do household duties– Wealthy families gave girls a boy’s education

Early Government of Athens

• Was an oligarchy run by nobles– People had few rights/powers

• Farmers sold themselves into slavery to pay off debts

Solon (Noble)

• canceled the debt and freed the farmers• Created an assembly of 400 citizens to make

laws• Start of a Democratic gov’t:– All citizens share in running the gov’t

Peisistratus (noble)

• Took away large estates from the nobles and gave the land to the farmers

• Loaned farmers money• Gave the poor jobs

Cleisthenes (noble)• Reorganized the assembly• All male citizens could – be in the assembly– vote on laws– debate topics– hear court cases– appoint army generals

• Created a council of 500 to make laws, deal with other countries, and handle money– Chosen by lottery instead of voting