1. Classical Empires Persia, Greece & Rome
Quizlet:
Unit 3 & 4
Classical Empires
Persia, Greece & Rome

2. Concept Questions How can geography influence political organization?
What were the major accomplishments of the Persian, Greek and Roman empires?
What are the historical origins and central beliefs of Zoroastrianism and Christianity?
How can new ideas lead to social and political change?
What factors contributed to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire?

3. Persian Religion Zoroastrianism First to establish monotheism
God of Truth and Light
God of Evil and Darkness
Fight for possession of souls
People will be judged on their choices in life
Fiery pit or Paradise
Influenced Christianity, Judaism and Islam

4. Greece
PERSIAN EMPIRE

5. Persia (Iran) Trade: farming and minerals
Royal Road – connected the empire for communication and trade
- Standard system of weights, measures, and coins
- postal system
Video link
Cyrus
Darius
Cambyses
Settled revolts
Expanded into
India
Could not conquer Greece
Unified provinces, expanded the road system, standardized money
Satraps – assigned governor to each province, tax collector & army leader
Military genius
Conquered people allowed to keep
their local customs &
religions
Governed with kindness and tolerance
reason for success
Cyrus cylinder
history of his conquests
Son of Cyrus
Expanded territory to include Egypt
Scorned Egyptian religion
Died after 8 yrs.
left Persia fragile and full of revolts

6. GREECE

7. Greek Literature Homer: - Iliad and Odyssey Epics Was Troy real?
Early Greek culture based on mythology
In response to Dark Ages and lack of knowledge
Sophocles:
First writer of drama
First tragedies
Comedies (satires)
Herodotus:
- Father of History
Thucydides:
non-biased historical writing
Why is this important?

8. Argued that knowledge comes from experience
Click Mouse Reveal Next Phase
Greek Philosophers
Applied human reason to explain the world. History of western philosophy
Socrates:
Condemned to death for corrupting the youth of Athens by encouraging them to think for themselves
Plato:
Wrote “The Republic” – set out the ideals for a perfectly governed society Warning to Athenians to respect law, leadership and education.
Aristotle:
Argued that knowledge comes from experience

9. Warring City-States City States (Mycenae, first)
Polis – with acropolis
Tyrants: powerful leaders who took control
Rivals: Sparta vs. Athens
New Kind of Army
Army recruits from
merchants, artisans, small farmers – used cheap iron weapons
Foot soldiers formed a: phalanx

10. Greek political structures
Monarchy
State ruled by a king with unlimited rights
Similar to totalitarianism
Hereditary, rulers claim divine right
Practiced in Mycenae
Aristocracy
State ruled by nobility
Hereditary & land ownership
Social status and wealth support rulers’ authority
Practiced in Athens (594 BC)

11. Political Structures Direct Democracy Ruled by its citizens
Based on citizenship
Limited to men
Majority rule Practiced in Athens (461BC)
Oligarchy
Rule by a small group of citizens
Based on wealth
Ruling group controls military
Practiced in Sparta

12. Sparta Oligarchy Peloponnesian Peninsula Conquered people:
Helots (serfs)
Education: military training for boys, women managed homes and trained in sports
Powerful army, little individual expression
Sparta
BUILDS A
MILITARY STATE

13. Classical Art Persian Wars
Classical Art

14. Democracy & Greece’s Golden Age1
Strengthen Athenian Democracy - paid public officials, increased
their number 2
Hold & Strengthen the empire - built the largest navy
Glorify Athens
- beautified the city, Parthenon 3
Believed all people in society have a role to play
– civic responsibility, equal treatment under the law
Republic – people represented in the government
Not all were citizens – what does that mean?

15. Olympics Created to foster connection between city-states
Track/Field, Wrestling
Revival: 1896, Athens

16. Spartans vs. Athens @ Peloponnesian war
Athens lost because:
Plague– 430 BC: killed 2/3 of population, even Pericles
Athenian navy defeated (413 BC) & totally destroyed

17. Alexander the Great: The Empire
338 BC
King Phillip of Macedonia conquered Greece
Brought of city states under his control to build an empire
331 BC
Defeated the Persians and Darius III in 3 battles at Anatolia
340 BC
335 BC
325 BC
320 BC
336 BC
Alexander takes over at the age of 20
Begins 12 year campaign of conquest
323 BC
Alexander dies at 32 years old
After his death, empire divided into 3 parts

18. Hellenistic Culture here
Trade Centers
Greek
City of Alexandria
Egyptian
Middle Eastern
Oriental
Hellenistic Culture here
Cultural Diversity
Egypt

19. The Hellenistic Period:
Astronomy:
Ptolemy – incorrectly said earth was center of solar system
Erathosthenes calculated size of the earth (off -1%)
Mathematics & Physics:
Euclid: geometry
Archimedes: value of pi & lever; pulley
Realism
Statues to honor gods, heroes, everyday life
Largest: Colossus of Rhodes – bronze 100’ tall- 1 of 7 wonders of ancient world
More realistic & emotional than classical sculpture
Architecture – continues to influence
Rome and even today