Ancient Greece 500-323 B.C.E.

Geography Greece is a peninsula about the size of Louisiana in the Mediterranean Sea. It’s very close to Egypt, the Persian empire (includes Turkey) and Rome.

Greek geography Greece is mountainous Greek communities often times developed independently because of the mountains, thus they were diverse As a result, they fought each other a lot.

Greek religion was polytheistic.

Greek Mythology Mythology - a collection of myths, belonging to a particular religious or cultural tradition. Greek mythology centers around a group of gods called the Olympians So called because they supposedly live on the mountain of Olympus

Greek City-States Because Greece is made up of many islands, and has many tall mountains, the Greeks began to build city-states instead of one country. A city-state is a city with its own laws, rulers, and money. City-states were cities that acted like countries.

Sparta Sparta was a Greek city-state. Sparta was very powerful and had its own army. Sparta conquered other city-states to gain wealth and power. There were three classes of people in Sparta. Citizens, non-citizens, and slaves.

Sparta Sparta was an isolated city-state that was culturally and politically different from Athens. Sparta was an oligarchy, government ruled by a few. They had 2 kings. During the Peloponnesian war Sparta sacked Athens.

Sparta Spartan society was obsessed with war. Boys were sent to military school at a young age. Boys who are born deformed are left to die on mountainsides

Spartan Government: Monarchial Oligarchy Government ruled by a Council= made up of  2 kings and 28 nobles who made most political decisions Spartan government was considered one of the most stable in all of Ancient Greece led to a warrior and military state  state above individual Aries- God of war was a patron god of the city, of wars, battles, and warriors, and also of fearlessness in battle.

Athens Athens was another important Greek city-state. The people of Athens wanted to rule themselves and not have a king or queen. Athens became the world’s first democracy around 508 B.C. A democracy is a government in which all citizens can vote and have equal say in what happens.

Athens Athenians were tough but were encouraged to engage in activities like art, philosophy, music.

Daily Life in Sparta MEN At 30 men became citizens and could vote in Assembly, marry, own a house Educated in reading, fitness and use of weapons Boys started military training at the age of 7; joined military at age of 20; end of military service at the age of 60 Soldiers given land which was farmed by the helots \WOMEN Girls taught reading and writing Participated in running and wresting, foot races, staged battles Wives of Spartan soldiers supervised farms Expected and driven to produce strong and healthy children and be loyal to the state Spartan women could own and control property but held no political rights SLAVES •Slaves were called helots (agricultural slaves / peasants) made up 2/3 of population Attempted revolt in 640 BCE but was crushed

Daily Life in Athens MEN Only men could be citizens; men ran government Advancements in culture, thinking, literature, philosophy, wealth, expansion, trade Reliance on slaves and women opened up free time for men to discuss philosophy and participate in politics WOMEN Women could not vote, hold office or own property and did mostly household duties Education involved spinning, weaving and domestic arts At 15 years old, girls were considered ready for marriage SLAVES Ratio of slaves to free men was quite high as historians estimate that as much as 40% of people in Athens area were slaves Slaves were household servants; had few rights; some could gain freedom from generous owners