The culture of classical greece Chapter 4 Section 4

objectives Evaluate the role of history in shaping identity and character Learning Goal: I will be able to identify how Greek culture and society shaped and influenced Western Civilization.

Greek religion To the Greeks, religion was necessary to the well-being of the state 12 gods and goddesses all lived together at the top of Olympus Zeus: Father of all Gods; Athena: Goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts; Apollo, god of the sun and poetry The Greek’s religion did not have religious text or doctrine attached to it, and it did not focus on morality Most spirits went to the underworld with Hades Rituals were important in order for the gods and goddess to look at the Greeks favorably Religious festivals Prayers Gifts to the gods and goddesses An oracle helped the Greeks learn the will of their gods Most famous was the oracle of Apollo at Delphi Influenced the Romans

Re-Cap: In what ways did the greeks honor their gods and goddesses?

Compare and Contrast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swpN-h5tkPc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRe389uQhmo (Start at 2:00) 1. What are some key differences in how the gods are represented in the first clip and the second clip? 2. What do you think the stories of the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus reveal about Ancient Greek culture? 3. Why were the ancient Greeks so eager to please their gods and goddesses? 4. Why do you think we still study and analyze the ancient beliefs of the Greeks? 5. What are some similarities between the ancient Greek’s devotion to their beliefs and modern-day society’s devotion to their beliefs?

Classical Greek Arts And Literature Temples were the most important form of architecture and was dedicated to a god or goddess The Parthenon is one of the greatest examples of this Built between 447 BCE and 432 BCE Dedicated to Athena Represented glory of Athens and the Athenians Classical Greek statues were often lifelike sculptures that showed the nude male form, with a relaxed face, and a youthful, muscular body Statues aimed for ideal beauty overall Polyclitus was a 5th century sculptor who wrote down rules for the standard proportions of a sculpture in Doryphoros

Classical greek arts and literature The ancient Greeks performed plays in outdoor theaters as part of religious festivals Drama, tragedy, and comedy were the genres written and performed most often Greeks are believed to be the first historians The first to systematically record events The history of the Persian War by Herodotus is thought to be the first real history of Western Civilization Thucydides is considered the greatest historian of the ancient world A former general who fought in the Peloponnesian War wrote about these events. He also looked at the conflict as purely human activity with no influence from the Gods

Greek philosophy Greek philosophy focused on the development of critical or rational thought about the nature of the universe Early Greek philosophers tried to explain the universe on the basis of unifying principles Sophists were a group of traveling teachers in ancient Greece that did not believe the universe could be understood Socrates critiqued the Sophists Plato was a student of Socrates and Aristotle a student of Plato in the Academy

Plato Considered the greatest philosopher of western civilization, Plato was a former student of Socrates. In Plato's The republic, he criticizes democracy. He believed that people could not achieve a good life unless they lived in a just and rational state. Plato suggested a perfect state should include 3 classes consisting of. Philosopher Kings Warriors Producers (everyone else) (People not driven by wisdom or courage, but by desire)

aristotle Aristotle was student of Plato for over 20 years He disagreed with his theory of an ideal state Aristotle believed in analyzing and classifying things based on observation and investigation Aristotle also differed with Plato over the most ideal government Rather than come up with plans for an ideal state, Aristotle studied 158 governments amongst the Greek city-states and came to the conclusion that monarchies, aristocracies, and constitutional government were the most effective way of governing the state. Of the 3 he believed a constitutional government was the most effective