Greece

Geography Mountainous Peninsula

The Sea Shaped Greek civilization Greeks became skilled sailors –Trade became important Greece lacked natural resources

The Land Mountainous –Difficult to unite –As a result… Independent city-states developed like –Athens and Sparta

The Mycenaeans Ancestors of people from the Eurasian steppes –Settled in Greece around 2000b.c.

Ruled by “warrior kings” Became wealthy by… –Controlling local agricultural production –Controlling commercial trade –Conquest and plunder

Invaded Crete From the Minoans (the people of Crete) the Mycenaeans… –Adapted the Minoan writing system to the Greek language (Linear A/B)

Homer Blind story-teller Told the story of the Illiad and the Odyssey –The Illiad was about the Trojan War –The Odyssey was about Odysseus’ adventures as he travelled home to Ithaca from the Trojan War.

Greek Mythology Used to understand… –The mysteries of nature –The power of human passions Gods and Goddesses had human attributes –Love, hate, jealousy Apollo— the sun god Hades— god of the underworld Athena— goddess of wisdom Poseidon— god of the sea Zeus—king of the gods

Art, Architecture, Drama And Philosophy of Ancient Greece

Greek Drama Tragedy- features a tragic hero with extraordinary abilities and a tragic flaw to be their downfall –Sophocles – Oedipus the King, Antigone Comedy- scenes filled with humor or satire about customs, politics, respected people or ideas

Greek Architecture Influence on American architecture

Greek Philosophy Philosophers- means “lovers of wisdom” Sophists- word comes from sophos (wisdom). Travel around Greece teaching wisdom, rhetoric and the art of speaking. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

Forms of Government in Ancient Greece Monarchy (Mycenae) Oligarchy (Sparta) Direct democracy (Athens)

Greek Wars

Phalanx

Persian Wars Fought between Greece and Persian Empire Persians take over Ionian part of Greek territory, and Athens sends help

Persia

Empire Political unit in which a number of peoples or countries are controlled by a single ruler.

Persia-Location East of Mesopotamia

Persian Government—Cyrus Came to power in 550BC

Persian Government—Cyrus Treated conquered people fairly –Honored local customs and religions –Allowed people to live their lives as they had before

Tomb of Cyrus- died 529 BC

Persian Government—Darius Ruled much the same as Cyrus had Conquered areas of Afghanistan, India, and Egypt Divided Persia into 20 provinces –Called “satrapies” –Ruled by satraps

Persia-Technology Roads (Royal Road) Postal system

Persian Religion Called Zoroastrianism Good/bad spiritual armies fighting for your soul Gives monotheistic religions 2 major ideas: –Final Judgment –Concept of paradise 2 gods: –Ahura Mazda (good) –Ahriman (bad)

Battle of Marathon Persians vow to destroy Athens Greeks use Phalanx to beat Persians Persians retreat NIKE!!!

Battle of Thermopylae Xerxes tries to destroy Greece Come to narrow pass with 7,000 Greek soldiers and 300 Spartans

Battle of Thermopylae Fought for days, until traitor told Persians about secret path around cliffs Spartans held pass while other Greeks retreated Athens has been deserted and the Persians burn the city down

Persian Wars Persians were then defeated at sea Athens becomes the leader of the Delian League- a group of 140 city-states Sparta does NOT join

Peloponnesian War Athens vs. Sparta Athens-greater sea power Sparta-greater army

Peloponnesian War Pericles- Athenian leader- wanted to avoid land battles with Sparta

Walls of Athens

Reasons for the Downfall of Greece Plague hits Athens during Peloponnesian War, Pericles dies Peloponnesian War weakens Greece Macedonia becomes threat to the north

Hellenistic Culture

Hellenistic Greek, Egyptian, Persian, and Indian cultures blended together Alexander the Great Alexandria, Egypt

Science and Technology Pythagoras –Created Pythagorean theorem (a 2 +b 2 =c 2 ) Aristarchus –Proved planets revolved around the sun Eratosthenes –Calculated earth’s circumference to within 1% Euclid –Geometry, book Elements Archimedes –Calculated pi