Classical Greece

1
Classical Greece

• Identify the ways geography climate shaped
  Greek life.
• Explain the rise development of the Mycenaean
  civilization.
• Describe how Homer Greek myths contributed to
  early Greek culture.

2
Temple of Athena
3
The Parthenon
4
Ancient Greece
5
Ancient Greece
6
Geography Shapes Greek Life

• Mountainous peninsula with 2,000 islands
• Most Greeks lived near the coastline
• Seaways linked most parts of Greece
• Sea travel will lead to large amounts of trade
  (no natural resources)
• ¾ of Greece covered by mountains
• Mountains significantly influenced Greek politics
• Greeks developed small independent communities

7
Mycenaean Civilization

• Mycenae was located in southern Greece
• Protected by ridge and a wall that was 20 ft
  thick
• Traded with Syria, Egypt, Italy, Crete
• The Minoans influenced their language, religious
  practices, literature, politics
• Fought a 10 year war against Troy
• Trojan War

8
Greek Culture Declines

• Mycenaeans were destroyed by the Dorians
• Dorians were less advanced
• Nothing was written during this 400 year period
  (Dorian Age)
• Homer spread Greek history through the spoken
  word (Iliad Odyssey)
• Myths helped Greeks understand the mysteries of
  life
• Controlled love, hate, fear, jealousy

9
Warring City-States

• I. Identify the different political systems that
  developed in the Greek city-states.
• Describe the government of Athens.
• Summarize the battles results of the Persian
  Wars.

10
Greek Political Structures

• Polis basic political unit in ancient Greece
• Monarchy ruled by single person (king)
• Aristocracy ruled by small group of rich
  families
• Oligarchy government ruled by a few powerful
  people
• Tyrants took control by appealing to the common
  people for support
• Set up building programs, provided jobs, housing

11
Athens Builds a Limited Democracy

• Democracy rule by the people
• Draco all Athenians were equal under the law
• Enforced most laws with death penalty
• Debt Slavery put into slavery to repay debts
• 594 BC Solon outlaws slavery
• Divided Athens into four social classes
• Only the first three could hold office

12
Athenian Education

• Only wealthy families received formal educations
• Studied reading, grammar, poetry, history, math,
  music, logic public speaking
• Boys went to military schools
• Girls did not attend schools
• Taught at home child rearing, weaving,
  preparing meals

13
Sparta Builds A Military State

• Took over Messenia, forced people to stay on the
  land work (Helots)
• Dedicated themselves to building a strong
  military state
• Government had several branches assembly,
  elected officials, council of elders
• Men served in the army until they were 60
• Enlisted in army by age 7
• Harsh training produced tough soldiers

14
The Persian Wars

• Sparta Athens united against Persian Empire
• 490 BC a Persian fleet landed at Marathon
• 10,000 Greeks vs. 25,000 Persians
• Greeks were arranged in Phalanxes
• Defeated the Persians (6,000 Persians killed,
  less than 200 Greeks killed)
• Pheidippides was chosen to race back to Athens to
  warn the city (died after giving message)

15
Thermopylae Salamis

• 480 BC, Persian King Xerxes attempted to destroy
  Athens
• Spartans valiant sacrifice saved Athens
• All were killed at Thermopylae
• Xerxes marched into Athens burned it down
  (Athens evacuated)
• Persian navy was trapped in the Salimis channel
• Greek navy used battering rams to defeat the
  Persians

16
Consequences of the Persian Wars

• Greeks were able to practice democracy
• Athens became the leader of Greece, economically,
  socially, philosophically
• With no threat of war Athens was able to
  concentrate on creativity (thinking)

17
Democracy Greeces Golden Age

• Who was Pericles what were his goals?
• Describe Greek architecture, art, dramatists,
  historians, philosophers.
• Explain the major conflicts of the Peloponnesian
  War.

18
Pericles Plan for Athens

• Governed for 32 years
• Strengthened Athenian Democracy by paying public
  officials
• Anyone who is elected could hold public office
  (direct democracy)
• Took from Delian league to strengthen the
  Athenian Navy to beautify Athens

19
Pericles
20
Greek Culture

• Architecture/Sculptures were in classical style
  (graceful, perfect, balance, serenity)
• Tragedy serious drama (love, hate, war, or
  betrayal) Tragic Hero (pride)
• Famous playwrights Aeschylus (Orestia),
  Sophocles (Oedipus), Euripides (Medea)
• Comedy made fun of politics, war, etc.
• Herodotus book on Persian War considered to be
  first history book
• Greeks believed they could learn from the past

21
The Peloponnesian War

• War between Sparta Athens
• Athens had the stronger navy
• Sparta had the stronger army
• Sparta invaded Athens territory burning food
  supply (grain fields)
• Pericles called for all citizens to move to the
  city (Athens was well protected)
• Plague struck the second year that killed 1/3 of
  Athenian population
• 421 BC both groups sign truce

22
Philosophers Search for Truth

• Socrates wanted people to question themselves
  their character
• People hold contradictory opinions
• Plato student of Socrates
• Wrote The Republic, perfectly formed govt.
• Aristotle argued according to the rules of
  logic (scientific method)
• Teacher of Alexander