Early History of Europe

Classical Greece & Rome

Both have made major contributions to the Western World even today

Classical

Classical period : great achievements 800 B.C. - 400 A.D Or Golden Age

Classical Greece

Had been ruled by kings City-states, or polis

Created a government where the people are in direct control

What form of government did they create?

Democracy

World First Democracy Direct Democracy

All citizens participate Who do you think was a citizen? What were their rights & responsibilities

United States Representative Democracy

Constitutional based Federal Republic with strong democratic traditions

Athens & Sparta

2 most powerful city-states in Greece Athens favored education

thinking/philosophy Sparta favored military training

Always be prepared for war United for the Persian War Fought in against each other in Peloponnesian

War

Greek Culture Spread

Greece is conquered by Philip II of Macedonia Alexander the Great

Spread culture from Egypt to Asia Alexandria Egypt Hellenistic: Greek Like

– Eventually fall the Romans

Rome

• Romes beginning– Twins : Romulus & Remus

Rome

• Rome created on 7 hills• Open for attack

– Create a powerful military • Expanding Rome

– Borrowed ideas from Greece• Latin alphabet, art, religion, mythology

Creating a Republic

• First ran by king• Republic: people choose their leaders

– Lead by 2 consuls– Consuls: elected by the people to represent

them– Senate: landowners who serve for life– Created 12 Bronze Tables in which all laws

were written & dispayed

Roman Empire

• 264 -146 BC• War: Punic War/ Invasions

– Rome expanded throughout the Mediterranean– Gave them Roman citizenship– Began trading with India & China– Fall of a Republic and beginning of an empire

• Emperor: absolute ruler for life (dictator) • Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar• Pax Romana: 200 year os Peace

Roman Achievements

• Temples, stadiums, baths• Colosseum• Pantheon• Aqueducts• Road

– Increased the population of Rome

Christianity

• Jesus was born under Caesar Augustus• Jesus Death

– Disciples spread Christianity to Rome– Many Christians were persecuted for their

beliefs– Later emperors made Christianity the official

religion of Rome• Constantine

Fall of Rome

• Moved the capital of Rome to what is now present day Istanbul, Turkey

• Named it Constantinople• Plagues• Western part of Rome falls to Germans• Eastern part of Rome becomes known at the

– Byzantine Empire that will last another 1000 yrs