ANCIENT GREECE

Greece was a very mountainous land. Greece was a very mountainous land. Most people lived in communities around valleys. Most people lived in communities around valleys. They soon became known as city states. They soon became known as city states. Athens and Sparta were the two most famous states. Athens and Sparta were the two most famous states.

Each city state had its own rulers and lived by their own rules. Each city state had its own rulers and lived by their own rules. Although they were both part of Greece the people of Athens and Sparta were very different. Although they were both part of Greece the people of Athens and Sparta were very different.

Athens was located beside the sea. Athens was located beside the sea. They depended on fishing a great deal. They depended on fishing a great deal. The Athenians were great sailors and had many colonies that they traded with. The Athenians were great sailors and had many colonies that they traded with. They traded olive oil and wines in exchange for cereals etc. They traded olive oil and wines in exchange for cereals etc. They became very wealthy. They became very wealthy.

Many of the Athenians were wealthy. Many of the Athenians were wealthy. They built huge temples and statues to honour their gods. They built huge temples and statues to honour their gods. The Parthenon is the most famous temple. The Parthenon is the most famous temple. It was built to honour the goddess Athena. It was built to honour the goddess Athena.

Athenians loved learning. They developed their own Greek alphabet. They read from scripts and used wooden sticks to write on scrolls.

Many clever people lived in Athens. Many clever people lived in Athens. Poets and songwriters like Sophocles lived there. Poets and songwriters like Sophocles lived there.

Pythagoras was a famous mathematician Pythagoras was a famous mathematician He discovered fractions, odd and even numbers. He discovered fractions, odd and even numbers. He was known as the father of numbers. He was known as the father of numbers.

Many philosophers lived in Athens. Many philosophers lived in Athens. They talked and studied about the planets, the stars and nature. They talked and studied about the planets, the stars and nature. An example is Aristotle. An example is Aristotle.

DEMOCRACY The people of Athens discovered a new way of ruling their state. The people of Athens discovered a new way of ruling their state. It was called a democracy. It was called a democracy. This meant that citizens could vote for what the wanted. This meant that citizens could vote for what the wanted. However only men born in Athens could be citizens. However only men born in Athens could be citizens. Women and slaves could not vote. Women and slaves could not vote.

SPARTA The people of Sparta had little interest in education. The people of Sparta had little interest in education. From the age of seven boys and girls were trained as warriors. From the age of seven boys and girls were trained as warriors. They were taught in schools and had to learn to steal. They were taught in schools and had to learn to steal.

SOCIETY Like many other societies there were different levels. Like many other societies there were different levels. Upper class was made up of the priests and assembly members. Upper class was made up of the priests and assembly members. Below them were the citizens Below them were the citizens Then there were the women and non citizens. Then there were the women and non citizens. The lowest level was the slaves. The lowest level was the slaves.

CLOTHING The poorer people wore woollen tunics. The poorer people wore woollen tunics. The wealthier people wore beautiful cotton or linen tunics.

FOOD The ancient Greeks had two meals a day. The ancient Greeks had two meals a day. Morning meals included a bowl of peas, beans or vegetables. Morning meals included a bowl of peas, beans or vegetables. Evening meals were bread, cheese and olives. If you were lucky you might have some fish.

DRINK The Greeks drank wine mixed with water for every meal! The Greeks drank wine mixed with water for every meal! They didn‘t know milk Wasco healthy and only gave it to their animals and slaves!!

SPORT Sport was very important to the ancient Greeks. Sport was very important to the ancient Greeks. When they finished school, they would spend their evenings training in sports centres. When they finished school, they would spend their evenings training in sports centres. They were fast runners, great javelin throwers and masters at chariot racing! They were fast runners, great javelin throwers and masters at chariot racing! The Olympics was an event started in Greece! The Olympics was an event started in Greece!

BELIEFS The Greeks believed in many gods. The Greeks believed in many gods. They believed the gods lived in clouds above mount Olympus. They believed the gods lived in clouds above mount Olympus. They would build temples and statues to worship them. They would build temples and statues to worship them. They sacrificed animals for them and ran competitions to please them. They sacrificed animals for them and ran competitions to please them.

ZEUS

HERA

POSEIDON

ATHENA

HADES

APHRODITE

APOLLO