Bellringer

• What are some American values?

–Think of things that everyone agrees are good, like “fairness”

Agenda

1. The First Greeks2. Foundations of Greek Culture3. Ancient Greek Values

Objectives

Students will be able to…36. Identify the foundations of Greek

values and culture, including the Minoans and Mycenaeans.

Ancient Greece

• Most historians consider Ancient Greece to be the foundation of our culture today• Understanding Ancient Greece is

essential for understanding ourselves• But where did Ancient Greek culture

come from?

Objective #36

The First Greeks

The Minoans

• Civilization based on the island of Crete–Capital at Knossos

Where is Ancient Greece?

Where is Crete?

Minoan Civilization

• Named after King Minos–You read about him…

• Dominant in Mediterranean trade from 2000 to 1400 BCE• Not quite Greek, but Greek-like

Palace at Knossos

Grand Staircase

Theater

Plumbing

6 miles of interlocking pipes to bring water from

the mountain

Art (frescos)

Minoans Collapse

• Recover from disaster in 1700 BCE• Can’t recover from earthquakes and

volcanic eruption in 1470 BCE• Probably invaded from mainland

Greece

Cultural Diffusion!• Minoans trade throughout

Mediterranean–Mainland Greece (Europe)–Asia Minor–Egypt

• Spread pottery techniques, religion, and maybe language

Then, the Mycenaeans

• Nomads settle in Greece, borrow cultural ideas from the Minoans, and probably invade Crete• Mycenaeans –Take over Mediterranean trade–Fall to nomadic invaders around

1200 BCE

The Mycenaeans

Before they die…

• The Mycenaeans create Greek culture–Language–Religion/mythology–Art and literature

• They also fight the Trojan War

What are some similarities between the Mycenaeans

and Minoans?

-Pre-Greek Civilizations- Both conquered

- Both dominated Mediterranean trade

Foundations of Greek Culture

Stories

• Greek culture is based on stories–Mythology, stories about the

world, the gods, and the past–The Homeric Epics (Iliad and

Odyssey), stories about heroes•About what it means to be Greek

Homeric Epics• Epic = long poem about a

hero, important to a culture

• Homer = probable author, lived around 750 BCE

• Events took place around 1250 BCE (the Mycenaean time)

The Iliad• A story about the Trojan War–A prince (Paris) from Troy in Asia

Minor captures Helen, the beautiful wife of a Greek king–A huge Greek army attacks Troy, led

by Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae•How big was the army?

The Iliad

–After 10 years surrounding the city, the Greeks trick their way into Troy and destroy the city•How?

• Learn a lot about what Greeks wanted in heroes and leaders

The Odyssey

• After winning the Trojan War, a Greek king named Odysseus tries to go home, but angers the gods–It takes him 10 years and many

trials to reach his wife and son• Learn about Greek life at home, what

they value in husbands and fathers

The Odyssey• Some of Odysseus’ trials–Circe, who turns men into animals–Cannibals –The Sirens’ call–A visit to Hades–Cyclopes–Scylla and Charybdis

Not Just Stories

• Homeric epics are more than stories, they are history–Everything was bigger and

everyone was stronger and better–This shapes how Greeks view

themselves and what they value

What qualities of the Iliad and Odyssey make it an epic

poem?

- They both have a hero- Both display important Greek values

- Both still part of Greek culture

Lion’s Gate

Cyclopean Walls

Ancient Greek Values

Greek Values

• Respect the gods• Family• Arete (valor or virtue)• Agon (competition)• Kleos aphthiton (undying glory)

Respect the Gods• The gods are like high schoolers–Jealous–Petty–Easily angered–And they hold grudges

• Don’t make them angry, or you will pay–Myths tell you how to act–Rule #5

The Tale of Croesus

• Herodotus: the world’s first historian• Croesus: the king of Lydia, the most

powerful kingdom in Western Asia

Where is Lydia?

Greec

e LydiaPersia

The Oracles

• Oracles can see the future• Most famous oracle was at Delphi• Locals will allow you

to ask questions of the oracle…for a price

Treasury of the Athenians at Delphi

Oracle at Delphi

A Mighty Empire Falls

• The Lydian Empire!

A Mule is Monarch

• It was Cyrus!• “the mule cited in the oracle is Cyrus

himself, who was born from parents of different peoples and different social stations.”

The Lessons

1. Oracles are vague and must be interpreted carefully

2. Hubris (excessive pride) will bring you down

Mr. Poth’s Rule of World History #6

If you act like you can’t lose, you will

Family• Loyal to their family and friends, welcome

guests as temporary family members• Examples:–Greeks fight for 10 years to get Helen

back in the Iliad, led by Helen’s husband’s brother–Odysseus travels for 10 years to return

home to his wife, who remains faithful

Arete

• Your value or worth, your moral excellence• Examples:–Warriors and athletes honored in

the Iliad and Odyssey –Celebration of Odysseus’ and

Penelope’s intelligence

Agon

• Competition or conflict, whether in sport, battle, or conversation. The Greeks love to compete• Examples:–Constant athletic challenges

throughout the Iliad and Odyssey –Olympic Games

Kleos Aphthiton• Undying glory – the ultimate goal for the

Ancient Greeks was to be remembered forever• Examples:–Achilles (Iliad): you know how he died–Kings trying to be the most powerful–Olympic athletes–Spartan warriors