1. Rise of the City-States By 750 BCE, Greece was dominated by city-states (polis) that included the major city and the surrounding countryside (numerous villages). –H–Had approximately 20,000 people.

2. –Citizens could take part in government. Included free, landowning males Gathered at the fortified hilltop (acropolis) to conduct business. Women had very few rights and slaves had no political rights.

3. As a result of overpopulation and the need for more arable land, many city-states turned to colonization. City-states unified by language, culture, and religion, but not politically. Different forms of government emerged throughout Greece in the different city-states: –Monarchy –Aristocracy –Oligarchy –Direct Democracy

4. Rise of the City-States (cont.) Monarchy: State ruled by a king. Rule was hereditary through the king’s family. Some rulers claimed divine right - their power to rule comes from the gods. Example - Mycenae Aristocracy: State ruled by the nobility. Rule is hereditary and based on landownership. Social status and wealth support rulers’ authority. Example - Athens (594 BCE)

5. Rise of the City-States (cont.) Oligarchy: State ruled by a small group of citizens. Rule based on wealth. Ruling group controls the military. Example - Sparta Direct Democracy: State ruled by the citizens. Rule based on citizenship (free, landowning male). Majority rule makes decisions. Example - Athens (461 BCE)

6. Greek Religion Greek religion is known as mythology, based on exciting stories that offered explanations of natural phenomena, human qualities, and life events rather than moral guidance and an afterlife. Mythology was expressed in epic poems - the Iliad and Odyssey Polytheistic (belief in many gods) - gods walked the earth with men who were concerned most with keeping the various gods happy.

7. Important Greek Gods Hera: Wife of Zeus, protector of marriage Zeus: Leader of the gods

8. Important Greek Gods (cont.) Athena: Goddess of wisdom and poetry Apollo: God of sun and poetry

9. Important Greek Gods (cont.) Aphrodite: Goddess of love Poseidon: God of the seas

10. The Role of Gods Gods were the center of Greek life with each city dedicating itself to one god or goddess (Athens = Athena). –It was important to keep the gods happy. –Built temples and had festivals to honor them. Starting in 776 BCE, Greeks got together every four years in Olympia for a sports festival to honor Zeus.