1. Chapter 9 Ancient Greece
Lesson 2
The Greek City-State

2. The Power of Greek Myths and Legends
Daily life in Greece focused on keeping gods and goddesses happy.

3. The Power of Greek Myths and Legends Cont.
The Trojan war is part myth and part legend.
Helen of Sparta was carried off to Troy, a city in Asia Minor, starting the Trojan War.
To end the war the Greeks built a giant wooden Trojan horse. The Trojans thought it was a gift showing that the Greeks had surrendered. At night when the horse was pulled in the city walls soldiers crept out of it an opened the gates for the rest of the army.

4. The Power of Greek Myths and Legends Cont.
Homer, a blind poet, composed two poems about this war, the Illiad and the Odyssey.
Illiad: Tells of the war itself, with a main character named Odysseus.
Odyssey: Odysseus, whose ship, while sailing home, was blown off course by gods he had angered.
Before Homer Greek myths and legends were all part of oral tradition.

5. The Gods of Mount Olympus
Like the Egyptians the Greeks turned to myths to explain the mysteries of nature and life. Ex. Birth, death, disease, storms and victories or defeats in battle.
Most gods lived on Mt. Olympus located in Northern Greece.

6. The Gods of Mount Olympus Cont.
Greeks believed their gods were very much like humans, in behavior and appearance.
Unlike humans they were immortal, able to live forever, and had powers.

7. The Gods of Mount Olympus Cont.
Every 4 years the Greeks had an athletic competition to honor Zeus, king of the gods, in Olympia. (began 3,500 years ago)

8. Democracy Begins in Greece
There were many different forms of government in Greece including being ruled by a king, aristocracy, and democracy. (definitions on p.255)
Democracy rose from the beliefs that people could rule themselves better than a king.

9. Democracy Begins in Greece Cont.
The best example of Greek democracy was Athens.
500 people were chosen to serve a term of 1 year in the Council. There were picked by choosing lots, or sticks with numbers on them.
All actions of the council had to be approved by the Assembly, filled with all citizens 18 or older.

10. Democracy Begins in Greece Cont.
Democracy was different to the Greeks then to us.
Democracy was only given to citizens. Slave, women, and workers born outside of Athens were not citizens.
They had no right to vote, own property, or testify in court.

11. Rivals: Athens and Sparta
In return for their rights, citizens of Athens were expected to defend the city in times of conflict, serve on juries, and participate in political debates.
One of the greatest greatest leaders in Athens was Pericles. Please read his bio on p.257

12. Rivals: Athens and Sparta Cont.
Spartans lived in a strictly ruled military state.
They invaded neighboring city-states, farmlands and forced the local people to become helots (slaves).
Government officials examined newborn infants to see if they were healthy. Only the healthy one were allowed to live.

13. Rivals: Athens and Sparta Cont.
When Spartan boys turned 7 they were sent to military camps to begin training for a lifetime in the army.
Training was brutal. They were given little food or clothing. They were expected to steal what they needed.

14. Women in Sparta
Spartan women were also very tough. They ran, wrestled, and played other active sports.
When their sons went off to war they commonly gave this advice, “return home with your shield or on it.” What does this mean?

15. Women in Sparta Cont.
Women in Sparta had more rights than women in other Greek city-states.
They could own property, express opinions on important topics, manage family estates while the men were at war, but they could not take part in governing the city-state.