Ancient Greece Section 1 Notes

Ancient Greece Sections 1 and 2 Vocabulary Polis- the Greek word for a city-state Classical- an age marked by great achievements Acropolis- a high hill Democracy- a type of government in which people rule themselves

aristocrats- rich landowners Oligarchy- a government in which only a few people have power Citizens- people who had the right to participate in government Tyrant- leader who held power through the use of force

Learning Objective: Today we will learn about the geography of Greece. Ancient Greece Learning Objective: Today we will learn about the geography of Greece.

Geography and the Early Greeks The Big Idea Greece’s geography and its nearness to the sea strongly influenced the development of trade and the growth of city-states. Main Ideas Geography helped shape early Greek civilizations. Trading cultures developed in the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations. The Greeks created city-states for protection and security.

Geography of Greece Section 1 Greece is a peninsula (an area of land surrounded on three sides by water.) Ionian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Aegean Sea surround Greece. The mountains forced people to grow food along the coast. It kept people isolated. Because it is surrounded by water, Greeks became skilled shipbuilders and fishermen. They even exchanged ideas with other cultures.

Name the 3 seas that surround Greece. CFU Name the 3 seas that surround Greece. Why were the people of Greece isolated from one another? Name 2 skills that the ancient Greeks mastered because of the geography of Greece.

Built a society on the island of Crete. Minoans Built a society on the island of Crete. The Minoans were among the best shipbuilders of their time. They used their ships to carry goods to trade such as wood, olive oil, and pottery.

Why was it important that the Minoans became skilled shipbuilders? CFU Why was it important that the Minoans became skilled shipbuilders?

The first people to speak Greek. Mycenaeans The first people to speak Greek. The Mycenaeans built fortresses all over the Greek mainland. Declined by 1200s BC

Name 2 facts about the Mycenaeans CFU Name 2 facts about the Mycenaeans

Trading cultures developed in the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations Trading cultures developed in the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations. (not in notes) Minoans They spent much of their time at sea, trading in the Mediterranean. Ships carried goods such as wood, olive oil, and pottery all around the eastern Mediterranean. They became the victims of a huge volcano that erupted north of Crete. They were not considered to be Greek, since they didn’t speak Greek. Mycenaeans They were the first people to be considered Greek. They lived inland and built fortresses. They were more violent in their trade. They took over Crete and became the major traders in the eastern Mediterranean. They developed colonies in northern Greece and Italy, from which they shipped goods around the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

Overtime people in Greece began to band together for protection. Greek City-States Overtime people in Greece began to band together for protection. They formed the first Greek city-states. Greece goes into its classical age. City-states were built around a strong fortress that stood on top of an acropolis. Greeks became wealthy by trading with other people, like the Egyptians.

CFU Explain why the people of ancient Greece decided to band together and form city-states. Why do you think the Greeks decided to build their city-states around an acropolis? How would this be beneficial to them?

Ancient Greece Section 2 Notes

Ancient Greece Learning Objective: Today we will learn about different forms of government in Athens, Greece.

Government in Athens The Big Idea The people of Athens tried many different forms of government before creating a democracy. Main Ideas Aristocrats and tyrants ruled early Athens. Athens created the world’s first democracy. Ancient democracy was different than modern democracy.

Aristocrats and Tyrants Athens was the city where democracy was born, but it started out as an oligarchy, a government in which only a few people hold power. A group of rich landowners called aristocrats held power. As a result of rebels trying to overthrow the aristocrats, harsh laws were created by a man named Draco. 3. A man named Solon created a set of laws allowing all free men to be citizens, people who had the right to participate in government. Peisistratus overthrew the oligarchy, however, and became the ruler of Athens. He was called a tyrant, a leader who held power through the use of force. Tyrants were usually good, not harsh, leaders in ancient Greece.

CFU Explain how Athens went from having a government ruled by an oligarchy to a government that was ruled by a tyrant.

Democracy under Cleisthenes A leader named Cleisthenes overthrew the aristocracy and established the world’s first democracy. For this reason, he is considered the father of democracy. Under Cleisthenes, all citizens in Athens had the right to participate in the assembly, or gathering of citizens, that created the city’s laws.

What type of government did Cleisthenes establish in Athens? CFU What type of government did Cleisthenes establish in Athens? How was Cleisthenes’ new type of government different from the former types of governments that ruled over Athens?

Changes in Athenian Democracy As time passed, citizens got more power, such as serving on juries. Athens reached its height under Pericles, who encouraged people to take pride in their city. He also began to pay people who served in public office or on juries.

CFU How did Pericles improve the democracy in Athens created by Cleisthenes?

The End of Democracy in Athens Athens was conquered by the Macedonians and fell under the rule of a king.

Direct vs. Representative Democracy Direct Democracy All citizens in Athens could participate directly in the government, which was called a direct democracy. Each vote counted, and the majority ruled. Representative Democracy The United States is too large for direct democracy to work for the whole country. Instead, we have a representative democracy. In a representative democracy, also called a republic, citizens elect officials to represent them in the government.

CFU How is the direct democracy practiced in Athens different from the representative democracy that we have today in America?