World History Voorhees 2011
WHI Ancient Greece lesson World History; Voorhees
Ancient Greece and Western Civilization notes
Where Western Civilization began!
► Greek culture is part of Western Civilization today the concept of “hero” mythology Olympics Democracy =political system in which the people of a country rule through
any form of government they choose to establish
Development and expansion of Greece Mountainous rocky land
► trade and colonization ► individual city-states
► Economic and social development: ► Not a lot of farmable land ► Greek economy relied heavily on trade
Export olive oil and wine Import wheat
► Colonization for resources Greek civilization expanded Hellenic culture spread Shift from bartering to money system
► Political development: ► Mountainous terrain
Good for city-states ► individually strong- designed to promote civic and commercial life
Bad for city states ► not unified with each other/ separate
Colonization ► Overpopulation
Greek mythology
► Based on polytheistic religion ► Explanations of natural phenomena, human qualities, and life events ► Symbols and images in Western literature, art, and architecture ► Zeus
Ruler of the sky and thunder “Father of the gods”
► Hera Goddess of the hearth and motherhood Wife of Zeus
► Apollo God of music and light
World History Voorhees 2011
Son of Zeus (but not Hera) Associated with the sun
► Artemis Goddess of the hunt and nature Twin sister of Apollo Associated with the moon
► Athena Goddess of wisdom, war, and useful arts
► Aphrodite Goddess of love Infamous for meddling in the affairs of men and gods
Athens and Sparta
► Contrasting philosophies of government ► Athens
Citizens= free adult males Women and foreigners had no political rights Slaves had no political rights Descendents of the Mycenaean people Athens= origin of democracy Democratic principles:
► direct democracy ► public debate ► duties of the citizen
Stages in evolution of Athenian government:
► Monarchy ► Aristocracy ► Tyranny ► Democracy
2 tyrants who worked for reform: ► Draco-
Strict Code of Law (“harsh guy”)
► Solon- Organized, stable government Set the stage for democracy (“good guy”)
► Pericles statesman took control of Athens in 461 BC, was responsible for making
Athens most prominent among the Greek city-states ► Sparta
Oligarchy (rule by a small group) Rigid social structure The citizens only function was to serve in the military Militaristic and aggressive society
World History Voorhees 2011
Descended from Dorian invaders formed after bloody slave rebellions Leonidas
► king ► Spartan hero
Greek Culture, Wars, and Contributions
► The Persian Wars Greeks v. Persians= Athens and Sparta united; strengthening of Greek
power and culture ► Golden age of Pericles
between the Persian and the Peloponnesian Wars extended democracy to most adult males had Athens rebuilt after destruction in Persian Wars, including the
Parthenon ► Hellenic
Classical Greek Culture Formal, ordered, and “simple”
► Drama; comedy and tragedy Aeschylus Sophocles
► Poetry Homer
► History Herodotus Thucydides
► Sculpture Phidias
► Science Archimedes Hippocrates
► Mathematics Euclid Pythagoras
► Philosophy “The Sophists”: Ancient Greek Philosophers
► Socrates
“Father of Philosophy”
Socratic Method: Use questions to get students to analyze their own beliefs
Executed for “Corrupting the Youth of Athens” ► Plato
Student of Socrates
Believed the “real” world was a reflection of the “true” reality
World History Voorhees 2011
Wrote The Republic
Founded The Academy ► Aristotle
Student of Plato
Believed the universe could only be understood through observation and logic
Taught Alexander the Great ► Architecture
“The Golden Mean” ► Types of Columns
Doric o earliest o simplest in design o Ex: Parthenon
Ionic o more ornate o developed later than the Doric
Corinthian o most elaborate o used mostly during the Hellenistic Era
► Peloponnesian War Sparta v. Athens= weakening of Greek power and culture Athens and the Delian League versus Sparta and the Peloponnesian
League
Macedonian Conquest ► Phillip II, King of Macedon:
Conquered most of Greece Developed new military tactics Professional soldiers Phalanx Took advantage of disunity among the Greeks after the Peloponnesian
Wars ► The Hellenistic World
Alexander the Great adopted Greek culture and spread Hellenistic influences throughout his vast empire
after the decline of Athens and Sparta modeled after Hellenic forms but more elaborate and with more
foreign (Asian) influence ► Alexander the Great
United the Greeks by waging war on the Persian Empire Conquered Persia and Egypt After his death Alexander’s generals divided his empire
► Political unity ended but Greek culture and trade continued to spread
