1. By: Kelsie

2.  Cycladic culture- a group of about 200 islands east of the Greek mainland.  The Cyclades made a living by fishing and trading.  After about 2000 B.C. the Cyclades followed customs from more powerful cultures.  The Minoan culture began in 2700 B.C. in Crete.  They began as an agricultural society.  The Minoans built a large building called Knossos.  Knossos covered an area as large as about three football fields. Kelsie Anderson - History

3.  The settlement at Mycenae started in about 1900 B.C.  The Mycenaean culture spread throughout the Aegean region.  The Minoan and Mycenaean cultures adapted each others ways.  The Trojans- Started at the city of Troy, the Trojan culture began in 2900 B.C.  The Mycenaean culture built a huge hollow horse and hid inside it. The Trojans then accepted it at a peace offering.  Then, the Mycenaeans defeated the Trojans. Kelsie Anderson - History

4. Mycenaea n Weapons Minoan Map Trojan Horse

5.  City-states were formed when people from neighboring villages to protect each other.  Most of the groups built forts on hilltops, called an acropolis.  The people of the city-states shared an ancestor, Hellen.  The called themselves Hellenes and their country Hellas.  The Greeks called people who couldn’t speak Greek barbarians. Kelsie Anderson - History

6.  Athens was a city-state and located on Attica.  After the Dark Age, the Athens ruled by an aristocracy.  The Athenians struggled for control of a city-state.  The Athenians asked their leader, Solon, to make changes so he can end their struggles.  He divided them into classes based on wealth.  Sparta was also a city-state, located on the Peloponnesians Peninsula.  Only men in the ruling class were considered citizens of Sparta.  Sparta had a citizen assembly where they voted on laws, but didn’t suggest them. Kelsie Anderson - History

7. Athen Flag Greek Writing Spartan War Acropolis

8.  The Greek city-states fought over land and trade.  A common enemy was Persia. Persia built a huge empire including Assyria, Babylonia, Egypt, and the Greek city-states.  When a battle was won, a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens to tell about the victory. Athletes re-create this by running a marathon.  The Greeks defeated the Persians many times even though the Persians outnumbered the Greeks.  Pericles led the Athenians for most of the Athenian rule.  In 460 B.C. Pericles was elected leader for the Athens.  In 457 B.C. Pericles allowed every male citizen to hold any position in the government office. Kelsie Anderson - History

9.  Sophocles wrote tragedies, serious plays with sad endings.  Aristophanes wrote comedies, or plays that are funny.  When the Golden Age was going on, scientists studied human life and nature.  Soldiers were sent to Egypt so Pericles could make Athens the school of Greece. This started the Peloponnesian war.  A disease spread throughout the city when Pericles called all people from the countryside to the city.  Finally, the Athens surrendered to Sparta. Kelsie Anderson - History

10.  Philosophers also means “lovers of wisdom.”  Socrates called himself “gadfly” because he used criticism to get them into thinking about the best way to live life.  This annoyed the leaders of Athens and Socrates was ordered to drink poison.  Socrates drank the poison because he believed that it was important to obey the law. Kelsie Anderson - History

12.  Alexander The Great was born in 356 B.C. in Macedonia.  His mother’s name was Olympias, she was also Greek.  Alexander’s teacher was Aristotle.  At age 16, Alexander fought in the army.  At age 18, Alexander commanded the cavalry  Two years later, Philip died and Alexander became king. Kelsie Anderson - History

13.  In 334 B.C. Alexander defeated the Persians.  King Gordius tied a knot to his chariot and stated if anyone untied the knot would rule Asia.  Alexander cut Gordius’s knot and was crowned king.  Alexander and his army also conquered Tyre in 332 B.C.  Alexander was pharaoh of Egypt after freeing them from the Persian rule.  Next, Alexander captured Babylon and Persepolis. Kelsie Anderson - History

14.  Alexander led his army into Bactria and married a princess, Roxane.  Alexander wanted to lead his army into northern Africa.  Alexander died shortly before his 33 rd birthday of an illness.  After his death, the empire began to break into separate parts. Kelsie Anderson - History

15.  Many of the cultures Alexander’s army conquered began to speak and write in Greek.  Alexander built many cities before his death. Many of Alexander’s cities were named Alexandria.  In Alexandria, Egypt a library contained more than 500,000 scrolls of papyrus.  In the museum, scholars exchanged ideas. Kelsie Anderson - History