The Ancient Greeks

In the beginning… The island of Crete- Minoans (1750 B.C. ) The island of Crete- Minoans (1750 B.C. ) Contact with Egypt and Mesopotamia…shared ideas Contact with Egypt and Mesopotamia…shared ideas Vanished about 1400 B.C. Vanished about 1400 B.C. Volcano? Tidal wave? Invaders? Volcano? Tidal wave? Invaders?

In the beginning… Mycenaeans- take over Crete, but also controlled the mainland Mycenaeans- take over Crete, but also controlled the mainland First Greek-speaking people First Greek-speaking people Lived in separate city-states, each with own warrior-king and fortress Lived in separate city-states, each with own warrior-king and fortress TROJAN WAR TROJAN WAR

Homer “Every man make up his mind to fight And move on his enemy! Strong as I am It’s hard for me to face so many men And fight with all at once.... And yet I will!” Homer, Iliad The Iliad and the Odyssey reveal many of the values ofancient Greeks.

Geography

Geography Includes the southern part of Europe’s Balkan Peninsula Includes the southern part of Europe’s Balkan Peninsula Hundreds of rocky islands Hundreds of rocky islands

Geography Not in a river valley!! Not in a river valley!! Mountains divided the peninsula into isolated valleys Mountains divided the peninsula into isolated valleys Seas were vital link to the outside world Seas were vital link to the outside world Hundreds of bays and harbors Hundreds of bays and harbors Became skilled sailors Became skilled sailors Trading goods and ideas Trading goods and ideas

Government

Government Farmed the valleys or settled on scattered islands - NO LARGE EMPIRE – instead… Farmed the valleys or settled on scattered islands - NO LARGE EMPIRE – instead… They formed small city-states They formed small city-states Isolated from each other by mountains or water Isolated from each other by mountains or water

Government A Greek city-state is called a… A Greek city-state is called a…POLIS (this is their basic political unit) Includes city and surrounding land Includes city and surrounding land

Government The city is built on two levels: The city is built on two levels: The part on the top of a hill is called the… The part on the top of a hill is called the… ACROPOLIS ACROPOLIS (geographic term for polis) Location of temples, and place of refuge Location of temples, and place of refuge

Government The rest of the city is on lower ground The rest of the city is on lower ground agora (marketplace), public buildings, theater, and homes agora (marketplace), public buildings, theater, and homes

Government The citizens that participated in the polis government made up a MINORITY of the population The citizens that participated in the polis government made up a MINORITY of the population Women: no political or legal rights Women: no political or legal rights Citizens had rights and responsibilities Citizens had rights and responsibilities

Government Rights and Responsibilities Rights and Responsibilities vote vote own property own property hold public office hold public office speak for themselves in court speak for themselves in court

Geography & Government Seas  Trade/Travel  Colonies around the Mediterranean (Spain to Egypt) Seas  Trade/Travel  Colonies around the Mediterranean (Spain to Egypt) What is happening now?? What is happening now??

Geography & Government Scarce farmland on mainland  most farmers move to colonies with good land Scarce farmland on mainland  most farmers move to colonies with good land So…people on the mainland move to cities  increase in “manufactured” goods So…people on the mainland move to cities  increase in “manufactured” goods

Geography & Government NOW…trade can exist throughout all of the Mediterranean between the colonies

Governing the city-states 1. First, ruler was a king = monarchy 2. Then, ruled by landholding, noble elite = aristocracy 3. Next, ruled by small, business class elite = oligarchy

Governing the city-states As Athens prospered, ordinary people grew unhappy with their lack of power… Slowly moved toward government by the people = democracy Athenian democracy was very limited

Two Main City-states ATHENS and SPARTA

Athens Limited democracy Limited democracy Cleisthenes set up legislative assembly (open to citizens) Cleisthenes set up legislative assembly (open to citizens) Men over 30 were citizens Men over 30 were citizens Debt slavery outlawed (slavery still there) Debt slavery outlawed (slavery still there) Encouraged trade and travel Encouraged trade and travel

Athens Boys received broad education and military training Boys received broad education and military training Girls received no education Girls received no education Women were inferior, lived secluded lives Women were inferior, lived secluded lives

Sparta Oligarchy Oligarchy Complete military society Complete military society Native-born men over 30 were citizens Native-born men over 30 were citizens Conquered people became slaves = helots Conquered people became slaves = helots Prohibited trade and travel Prohibited trade and travel

Sparta Unhealthy infants were abandoned (infanticide) Unhealthy infants were abandoned (infanticide) All boys began military training at age 7 All boys began military training at age 7 Girls raised to be mothers of soldiers Girls raised to be mothers of soldiers Women obeyed men, but had right to inherit property, could be in public Women obeyed men, but had right to inherit property, could be in public

Athens and Sparta Religion (gods, festivals) Religion (gods, festivals) Heroes Heroes Olympic games Olympic games Language Language Both felt superior to non-Greeks (“barbaroi”) Both felt superior to non-Greeks (“barbaroi”)