The Legacy of Classical Greece

1
The Legacy of Classical Greece

• In this lesson, students will be able to
  identify accomplishments of classical Greek
  civilization.
• Students will be able to identify and/or define
  the following terms
• Democracy
• Parthenon
• Socrates
• Pythagoras

2
A classical civilization is a civilization
that has given the world important ideas and
inventions that people still use today.
3
Ancient Greek civilization is considered a
classical civilization.
4
Athenian Democracy

• The ancient Greek city-state of Athens developed
  the first democratic government.
• A democracy is a system of government where
  citizens participate in government.
• Only free men born in Athens could be citizens.
  Women, slaves, and foreigners could not vote.

5
The ancient Athenians were the first people to
use voting as a form of participation in
government.
6
Architecture

• The Greeks built temples with beautiful columns.
• Greek architecture still influences people today.
• Many government buildings in the United States
  are modeled after Greek temples.

7
The Parthenon was a Greek temple to the goddess,
Athena. Notice the use of columns.
8
The U.S. Supreme Court building is clearly
influenced by the Parthenon.
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Classical Greek Philosophy

• The ancient Greeks were the first students of
  philosophy. They wanted to know the meaning of
  life and how people should live.
• Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and
  Aristotle still influence people today.
• Socrates encouraged people to think for
  themselves and to ask questions.

10
Socrates was a great Greek philosopher. He was
tried and found guilty of corrupting the youth of
Athens. For encouraging people to ask questions,
he was forced to commit suicide.
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The Greek Mathematicians

• The ancient Greeks also made advances in
  mathematics.
• Pythagoras, Euclid, and Archimedes were important
  Greek mathematicians.
• The Pythagorean theorem examines the relationship
  between the three sides of a right triangle.

12
The ancient Greeks gave us many important
mathematical theorems.
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The Legacy of Classical Greece

• A legacy is defined as something handed down from
  the past.
• The ancient Greeks have passed down many
  important ideas and inventions to our modern
  world.
• Democracy, the use of columns, mathematical
  ideas, and philosophies are just a few of the
  ideas passed down to modern people from the
  ancient Greeks..

14
The ancient Greeks were the first people to
perform plays and write comedies and dramas.
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Questions for Reflection

• Define legacy.
• List two important contributions of the ancient
  Greeks to the modern world.
• How do Greek ideas concerning government still
  influence us today?
• How do Greek ideas concerning architecture still
  influence us today?
• Why is ancient Greece considered a classical
  civilization?