Ancient Greece

“Timeo Danaos,et dona ferentes” “I fear the Greeks, even if they bring gifts….”

Ancient Greece included the southern Balkan Peninsula, which was a group of islands.

Ancient Greece

Greece has a mild climate, but the rugged, mountainous terrain made communication and transportation difficult. Rugged mountains make up most of the Greek mainland.

The Minoans were able to gain control of the sea so they did not need to build walls around their cities to protect them from invaders.

The Minoans The Minoans established an early civilization on the island of Crete. The Minoans traded with Egypt and Mesopotamia. They acquired ideas & technology that they adapted to their own culture. The Minoans helped to shape the first Greek civilization.

The Mycenaean world Peloponnesus is in southern Greece Major cities include Athens, Pylos and Thebes Setting for much of the ancient Greek literature that we know of such as Homer’s writings.

Acropolis “Akros” meaning highest, and “polis” meaning city….Acropolis means “highest city” Early Mycenaean settlers chose fortification sites on top of hills. In time, these Acropolis became the nuclei of growing cities.

View of Athens from the Acropolis

The Mycenaens The Mycenaens conquered the Greek mainland and Crete. Mycenaen civilization dominated the Aegean from about 1400 B.C. to 1200 B.C. They traded with Sicily, Italy, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. Mycenaens absorbed Egyptian and Mesopotamian influences and passed them on to later Greeks. (Trojan War)

When the Mycenaean civilization fell there was a period of time known as the “dark age.”

The Story of the war between the Mycenaeans and the Trojans is told in the Iliad. –Homer (Odyssey) Bards (poets) composed epic poems in which they recorded the traditions and stories of the Hellenic culture.

Government made up of 2 kings, council of elders, assembly of citizens, & five ephors Citizenship for native-born Spartan men over age 30 State-owned slaves System of strict control over people's lives Emphasis on military virtues & discipline, fitness & health Beginning of military training for boys at age eight No trade, travel, or mixing with other city-states Scornful of wealth Women expected to obey men (own property) Two City-States: Glorification of individual Movement toward democracy; limited citizenship; rise of tyrants Wealth and power of aristocracy Participation in government by male citizens Slaves with no political rights or personal freedom Military training and broad education for boys Trade with other city-states Limited rights for women