Ancient Greek CivilizationAncient Greek Civilization

GreeceGreece

• Minoan CivilizationMinoan Civilization– Successful tradeSuccessful trade

•Aegean and Mediterranean SeaAegean and Mediterranean Sea

– Reached its height around 1600-1500 Reached its height around 1600-1500 B.C.B.C.

– VanishedVanished•Not sure whyNot sure why

• Invaders played a role Invaders played a role

GreeceGreece

• MycenaeansMycenaeans– Took over MinoansTook over Minoans

•First Greek speaking peopleFirst Greek speaking people•Dominated from 1400-1200 B.C.Dominated from 1400-1200 B.C.

– Very successful tradersVery successful traders

• Trojan WarTrojan War– Mycenae (Greece) vs. TroyMycenae (Greece) vs. Troy

•Greece winsGreece wins

• Mycenae is later invaded and taken over Mycenae is later invaded and taken over

GreeceGreece

• Greek civilization dies down until Greek civilization dies down until around 750 B.C.around 750 B.C.– Create many small city-statesCreate many small city-states

•No vast empireNo vast empire

• Population growth forces Greeks out of Population growth forces Greeks out of their villagestheir villages– Expand all over parts of the MediterraneanExpand all over parts of the Mediterranean

• City-state becomes strongerCity-state becomes stronger

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• New forms of government start to formNew forms of government start to form

• City-states (polis)City-states (polis)– Consisted of a major city/town and Consisted of a major city/town and

surrounding country sidesurrounding country side– In each polis was an acropolis on top of a In each polis was an acropolis on top of a

hillhill•Dedicated to different gods and goddessesDedicated to different gods and goddesses

• Power starts to shift from a king to a Power starts to shift from a king to a group of noblemangroup of nobleman

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• Nobles used to protect the kingNobles used to protect the king– Only ones with metals and bronze used for Only ones with metals and bronze used for

weaponsweapons– Eventually seized power from kingEventually seized power from king– Became aristocracyBecame aristocracy

• Rule by a hereditary landholding eliteRule by a hereditary landholding elite

• As trade grew, merchants became more As trade grew, merchants became more powerfulpowerful– Seize power as an oligarchySeize power as an oligarchy

• Power from small, wealthy elite classPower from small, wealthy elite class

GreeceGreece

• Military techniques start to changeMilitary techniques start to change– Iron can be used for weaponsIron can be used for weapons

•Cheaper and more accessibleCheaper and more accessible

– Middle class can have weaponsMiddle class can have weapons•Gain more powerGain more power

• Different ideas start to emergeDifferent ideas start to emerge– Sparta and AthensSparta and Athens

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• SpartaSparta– Built by invaders from the NorthBuilt by invaders from the North

•Turned citizens into slavesTurned citizens into slaves– Strict controlStrict control

– Spartans were bred to be warriorsSpartans were bred to be warriors– Whole city-state based on militaryWhole city-state based on military– Isolated from rest of GreeceIsolated from rest of Greece

GreeceGreece

• AthensAthens

• Grew under the aristocracyGrew under the aristocracy– People not happyPeople not happy– Demanded more rightsDemanded more rights

• Slowly turned into a democracySlowly turned into a democracy– Many reforms tried to give citizens more Many reforms tried to give citizens more

rightsrights– Very limited democracy, but more advanced Very limited democracy, but more advanced

than any other civilizationthan any other civilization