Ancient Greece

I. Greek Geography A. By 2000 BC –Indo-Europeans are starting agricultural villages in Greece –Become 1 st Civ. In Europe. B. Greek Geography: –1 peninsula jutting out in to the sea –1,400 islands –Peloponneus: Large island at the tip of the Peninsula

C. Sea: –Greeks didn’t live on land as much as around the sea –Source of food –Transportation D. Land: –¾ rugged mountains –Caused uniting to be difficult –Only 20% suitable for farming –Little fresh water for irrigation. **Geography greatly effects shape of Greek Civ.

II. Greek Government Polis - Greek city-state –All of Greece divided among them –Population of each fewer than 20,000 people –Hundreds of Poli in various parts of Greece –Were run independently like little mini- countries **Greece was not unified but divided into lots of city-states Citizens –Expected to defend their Polis –Served in the army

Phalanx –Formations of soldiers armed with iron sword and shields –Most powerful force in ancient world.

Two most important Poli –Sparta –Athens

Sparta –Military city-state where army ruled –Located on island of Peloponnesus –Boy’s joined army at age 7 –Love of Sparta greater than family –All individual expression discouraged –No art, music, theater Only army and war

Athens –The cultural city-state –Located on Peninsula –1 st democracy –Center of learning and culture

III. Persia Attacks The Persian Wars –Athens colonized parts of Turkey, upsetting the Persians –King Darius vows to destroy Athens. –Sparta sat back and watched

Climax –Battle of Marathon 409 BC –25,000 Persians vs. 10,000 Greeks –Greeks charge and Phalanx destroys Persian army Back in Athens –City about to surrender to Persian navy since they thought the army would lose.

Pheidippedes –Raced 26 miles back to Athens to tell them they won and don’t have to surrender. –Then falls down dead.

Results of Persian Wars –Persia no longer threatens Greeks –Delian League- 140 city-states form an alliance with Athens –Peace allows Athens to focus on art, culture, and science. –Sparta sits and waits for its opportunity to strike. Yes!! Athens Won

IV. The Golden Age of Athens BC –Athens makes amazing gains in art, science and philosophy. – Pericles Political leader of Athens during most of the time period –Shapes democracy and allow for golden age.

Athenian Democracy –Direct Democracy- citizens make decisions directly, do not elect representatives. 500 citizens at a time meet to make a decision Wealth did not matter Citizens took turns being one of the 500. – Democracy allows people freedom to experiment and explore.

V. Athens Vs. Sparta: Time for War Athens prosperity: made Sparta jealous. Peloponnesian War: Sparta declares war in 431 – Athens: Pericles oversees Athens’s strategy Avoids land battles with more powerful Spartan army. – Spartan Army Surrounds city Everyone hides behind city walls Ships bring them food

2 Disasters fro Athens: –Plague in 430 BC kills half of people in city Including Pericles – 413 BC: 23,00 Athenian troops attach Sparta’s ally Syracuse and lose big time. – 404 BC: Athens finally forced to surrender Athens loses power, wealth, prestige. –Golden Age comes to an end. To this day, we still use much of the knowledge discovered by the Athenians.