Ancient Greece

MinoansTraded with Egypt and

MesopotamiaReached its height around

1600 B.C.EMycenaeans

1400-1200 B.C.E.Trojan War

Described in Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey (epic poems)

Early People of the Aegean Sea

After 750 B.C.E. Greeks evolved to strong city-states called a Polis

Build cities on two levels

Top level- Acropolis (temples)

Bottom level-main city

Rise of Greek City-States

Changes over time:Monarchy- king or queen has central power

Aristocracy-Power slowly shifted to wealthy land owners (nobility)

Oligarchy- control by powerful elite business class

Governing the City-States

SpartaWarrior society

AthensDemocracy- government by

the peopleBut only male land ownersMore focus on arts and

philosophy

Joined forces to fight the Persians in the Persian Wars.

Sparta and Athens

PhilosophersSocratesPlatoAristotle

PoetryDramaArtArchitecture

The Glory of Greece

Macedonean King- conquered a lot of land!

Blending of Greek, Egyptian, Persian, and Indian culture Hellenistic Civilization

This culture heavily influenced Rome

Alexander the Great