1. The culture of classical greece
Chapter 4 Section 4

2. objectives
Evaluate the role of history in shaping identity and character
Learning Goal: I will be able to identify how Greek culture and society shaped and influenced Western Civilization.

3. Greek religion
To the Greeks, religion was necessary to the well-being of the state
12 gods and goddesses all lived together at the top of Olympus
Zeus: Father of all Gods; Athena: Goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts; Apollo, god of the sun and poetry
The Greek’s religion did not have religious text or doctrine attached to it, and it did not focus on morality
Most spirits went to the underworld with Hades
Rituals were important in order for the gods and goddess to look at the Greeks favorably
Religious festivals
Prayers
Gifts to the gods and goddesses
An oracle helped the Greeks learn the will of their gods
Most famous was the oracle of Apollo at Delphi
Influenced the Romans

4. Re-Cap: In what ways did the greeks honor their gods and goddesses?

5. Compare and Contrast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swpN-h5tkPc
(Start at 2:00)
1. What are some key differences in how the gods are represented in the first clip and the second clip?
2. What do you think the stories of the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus reveal about Ancient Greek culture?
3. Why were the ancient Greeks so eager to please their gods and goddesses?
4. Why do you think we still study and analyze the ancient beliefs of the Greeks?
5. What are some similarities between the ancient Greek’s devotion to their beliefs and modern-day society’s devotion to their beliefs?

6. Classical Greek Arts And Literature
Temples were the most important form of architecture and was dedicated to a god or goddess
The Parthenon is one of the greatest examples of this
Built between 447 BCE and 432 BCE
Dedicated to Athena
Represented glory of Athens and the Athenians
Classical Greek statues were often lifelike sculptures that showed the nude male form, with a relaxed face, and a youthful, muscular body
Statues aimed for ideal beauty overall
Polyclitus was a 5th century sculptor who wrote down rules for the standard proportions of a sculpture in Doryphoros

7. Classical greek arts and literature
The ancient Greeks performed plays in outdoor theaters as part of religious festivals
Drama, tragedy, and comedy were the genres written and performed most often
Greeks are believed to be the first historians
The first to systematically record events
The history of the Persian War by Herodotus is thought to be the first real history of Western Civilization
Thucydides is considered the greatest historian of the ancient world
A former general who fought in the Peloponnesian War wrote about these events.
He also looked at the conflict as purely human activity with no influence from the Gods

8. Greek philosophy
Greek philosophy focused on the development of critical or rational thought about the nature of the universe
Early Greek philosophers tried to explain the universe on the basis of unifying principles
Sophists were a group of traveling teachers in ancient Greece that did not believe the universe could be understood
Socrates critiqued the Sophists
Plato was a student of Socrates and Aristotle a student of Plato in the Academy

9. Plato
Considered the greatest philosopher of western civilization, Plato was a former student of Socrates.
In Plato's The republic, he criticizes democracy. He believed that people could not achieve a good life unless they lived in a just and rational state.
Plato suggested a perfect state should include 3 classes consisting of.
Philosopher Kings
Warriors
Producers (everyone else)
(People not driven by wisdom or courage, but by desire)

10. aristotle Aristotle was student of Plato for over 20 years
He disagreed with his theory of an ideal state
Aristotle believed in analyzing and classifying things based on observation and investigation
Aristotle also differed with Plato over the most ideal government
Rather than come up with plans for an ideal state, Aristotle studied 158 governments amongst the Greek city-states and came to the conclusion that monarchies, aristocracies, and constitutional government were the most effective way of governing the state.
Of the 3 he believed a constitutional government was the most effective