3. Landscape & Climate
Landscape
Covered by Mountains
No large rivers
Lots of coastline
How did the land influence
the government?
Climate
Mild, rainy winters
Hot summers
4.
5.
6. Agriculture
Only a small part of the
region good for farming
Over ½ of Greeks were
farmers and herders
Most farming in the valleys
Established agricultural
colonies in Anatolia
(modern-day Turkey)
7.
8. Resources
Lacked natural resources like precious metals
Plentiful stone for buildings
Coastline with many good harbors
9. A Seafaring People
“Highways of Water”
Mediterranean Sea: to the South
Ionian Sea: to the west
Aegean Sea: to the east
Greeks became expert sailors
Fish a large part of the Greek diet
10. Trade & Commerce
Major trading partners: Egypt &
Rome
Exported:
olive oil, wine, wool, and pottery
Imported:
grain, timber, animal hides, and
slaves
11. Mycenae: The First Greek Civilization
Built on the Peloponnesus
Wealthy civilization; mostly
traders
Created writing, gold jewelry,
bronze weapons, and pottery
Collapsed around 1200 BC
Little is known about Greece
from 1200 BC – 750 BC
12. Greece Comes Back
Greeks learned much
by trading with the
Phoenicians
Picked up the
Phoenician alphabet
between 900-800 BC
Learned about coins
from Anatolians by
500 BC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL
HNh4caX4Y
13.
14. Greek Gods
Polytheistic
Divine qualities with human
emotions
Jealous, loving, angry,
competitive
Zeus & 11 major gods lived on
Mt. Olympus (Olympian gods)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP_Nei
rFIkM (gods)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMzNPE
HNxcc (goddesses)
15. Greek Mythology
- The stories of the Greek gods and goddesses, often
as they interact with humans.
- Two purposes
Arachne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW3Bbav7w4A
16. Honoring the Gods
Built statues and temples
Days were set aside to honor different gods & goddesses
Festivals held to honor the 12 Olympian gods
The Parthenon was a
temple in Athens, built in
honor of the city’s patron
goddess, Athena
17. The Olympics
Held every four years (oldest record: 776 BC)
Part of a festival to honor Zeus
Only men
Events: foot race, wrestling, long jump, javelin and discus throw.
Unmarried girls raced to honor Zeus’ wife, Hera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdgvKpUSaTs
19. Homer
Blind poet (c. [about]
8th Century BC)
Composed epics
Oral tradition
The Iliad
The Odyssey
Major influence in
Western literature
20. The Iliad
Story of Greek heroes during
the Trojan War
Included story of Achilles
Legend has it that the baby
Achilles was dipped into the
river Styx as a way to protect him.
The only part that didn’t get wet
was his heel.
21. The Odyssey
Story of Greek hero Odysseus and his trip home after the Trojan War
Included the Cyclops and the sirens
Video – first 12 minutes
The Cyclops, a one-eyed
monster, is one of the creatures
that stops Odysseus from getting
home to his wife, Penelope.
22. Aesop’s Fables
- Aesop was believed to be a Greek slave
- Today, we believe it was a pseudonym
- Used animals to tell moral lessons
- Tortoise & the Hare
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DrKmpuKhKE
29. Monarchs & Aristocrats
Monarchy:
Aristocracy:
By 700’s BC, most city-states had moved
from monarchy to aristocracy
Do you think this was a good move?
31. Tyrants
Leader who took power illegally
Not of noble birth – often a general
Urged the poor to support him
Why would the poor do this?
Some helped the poor
What is a “tyrant” today?
Nicias was an Athenian general and
later Tyrant
32. Athenian Democracy: It’s a start
By 500’s poor citizens demanded a voice in
government
Who is a “citizen”?
Gradual reform led by Solon & Cleisthenes
33. Solon
Ruled 594 – 560 BC
Freed people who had been enslaved
due to debt
Reorganized Athenian Society –
How?
All citizens could serve in the
assembly.
34. Cleisthenes
By 500 BC took power away from
nobles
Reorganized citizens into 10
tribes based on geography
Each tribe elected 1 of the 10
military commanders
35. The Council of Five Hundred
How many?
From where?
Who was eligible?
How selected?
How often?
36. Direct Democracy
The type in Athens
Citizens make political decisions directly
How is this different from democracy in the US?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J315e03RkOA
37. How was Athenian Democracy limited?
Ostracism: the assembly could vote a person out of
Athens for up to 10 years
40. Spartan Government
Ruled by 2 kings
Council of Elders proposed
laws
All Spartan citizens part of
the Assembly
Assembly elected officials &
voted on laws
42. Spartan Education
At age 7 boys moved to
military barracks
During what ages did all male
citizens serve in the army?
43. Spartan Women
What was expected of Spartan
women?
Girls were given athletic
training & expected to be
strong
Women could own property
44. Athenian Society
What four classes existed in Athens?
1/3 of population enslaved
Where did the Athenians find slaves?
45. Athenian Education
What was the purpose of education in Athens?
Studied logic, oratory, reading, writing, math, poetry,
and music
46. Athenian Women
What were the expectations for Athenian women?
Girls did not attend school.
47.
48. The Persian Wars
490 BC: Persians invade
Athens to punish a colonial
revolt
Athenians defeated the
Persians
480 BC: Persians invade
Greece again
Sparta helps Athens by
fighting for two days at
Thermopylae.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuihHUFEqPM
ClassZone
50. Pericles
Wealthy citizen of Athens
By 460 BC, the strongest ruler in Athens
What three goals did Pericles have for
Athens?
How was Pericles able to persuade people to
back his ideas?
52. Expanding the Empire
Delian League: an alliance of Greek City-States
Organized by Athens; headquartered on Delos
By 454 BC treasury moved to Athens
Why did this make other city-states unhappy?
The alliance became an Athenian Empire
53.
54. Beautifying Athens
Where did Pericles get the money?
The Parthenon
Built on the Acropolis in Athens
Temple to Athena
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP-FsX0QW88
55.
56.
57. Peloponnesian War
Why did city-states fear and resent Athens?
Sparta created the Peloponnesian League as a rival to
Athens
431 BC: Sparta declares war on Athens
59. Peloponnesian War
430 BC: a plague kills 1/3 of all Athenians
421 BC: truce signed
415 BC: war breaks out again
411 BC: Persians join the Spartans
404 BC: Athens surrenders
61. Philip II
Leader of Macedonian kingdom
(North of Greece)
23 years old
As a hostage in Thebes, studied
Greek military
338 BC: conquers a weakened
Greece
336 BC: assassinated and
succeeded by his son, Alexander
62. Alexander the Great
King at 20
Crushed a rebellion in Thebes
Defeated the Persians by invading
Persian-controlled Egypt
How was Alexander received in
Egypt?
Conquered land as far east as India
Died of a fever at 32
63.
64. Legacy of Alexander
Spread Greek culture and language
encouraged local cultures to blend with
Greek
Hellenistic culture
Alexandria, Egypt
Founded in 332 BC
Housed the greatest library of the
Classical world
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LsrkWDCvxg
(2 min mark – 5:50)
67. The Arts & Architecture
Wealthy citizens sponsored tragic & comedic plays
Greek sculpture aimed at capturing the “ideal” form
Greek architects made use of columns
74. Greek Philosophy
Logical study of basic truths about the world
Socrates
used questions to encourage examination
Put to death by Athens
Plato
Follower of Socrates
Started a school that lasted 900 years
Aristotle
Student of Plato
Created the Lyceum
Tutored Alexander the Great for three years
Greece -- Netflix
75.
76.
77. Science & Technology
Greek contributions to Astronomy
Accurate estimation of the circumference of Earth
Theory that the sun revolved around the earth; disproved in 1500s
Greek contributions to Math & Physics
Euclid organized knowledge of geometry
Archimedes created the lever
