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Use with Europe Geography & History, Section 2.1, in your textbook.

Go to Interactive Whiteboard GeoActivities at myNGconnect.com to complete this activity online.

2 .1 Root s o f DemoCR aC y

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GeoActivity

Analyze Primary Sources: DemocracyRead the two excerpts below to learn more about the influence of Greek thought on modern democracies. Then answer the questions.

Document 1: Foundations of Athenian Democracy Pericles was a general, a politician, and a great orator, or public speaker, in ancient Athens. His leadership brought the city-state to its “golden age.” His reforms gave power to ordinary people, not just to the wealthy.

Document 2: Foundations of American Democracy

We enjoy a form of government which is not in rivalry with the institutions of our neighbors, nay, we ourselves are rather an example to many than imitators of others. By name, since the administration is not in the hands of few but of many, it is called a democracy. And it is true that before the law and in private cases all citizens are on an equality.

—from Pericles’ Funeral Oration, recorded by Thucydides

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

—from the Declaration of Independence

1. summarize According to Pericles, what defines a democracy?

2. identify According to the Declaration of Independence, what fact is true of “all men”?

3. Compare and Contrast How are the thoughts on democracy expressed by Pericles and the authors of the Declaration of Independence similar?

4. make inferences Many of the leaders of the 13 colonies knew Greek and were familiar with Greek ideas on democracy. What influence might Greek thinkers have had on the founders of the U.S. government?

marble bust of Pericles

the “Declaration Committee”—thomas Jefferson, Roger sherman, Benjamin franklin, Robert R. livingston, and John adams

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2 . 2 Cl a ss iC al G re eCe

Use with Europe Geography & History, Section 2.2, in your textbook.

Go to Interactive Whiteboard GeoActivities at myNGconnect.com to complete this activity online.

seC tioN e arly H i s to ry

GeoActivity

Research Ancient Greek ContributionsMany aspects of culture and society today come from ideas and cultural traditions from classical Greece. In literature and drama, for example, the ancient Greeks wrote the first plays and developed the idea of comedy and tragedy. A Greek runner ran the first “marathon” to announce a military victory, while the idea of democracy was born in the Greek city-states. Greek ideas about art, architecture, health, science, and philosophy also influence modern thinking.

Follow these steps to research an ancient Greek contribution to modern society.

Step 1 Choose a topic With your teammates, choose one of the following categories. To begin, write your topic on the lines at the center of the Idea Web at right.

art and architecturegovernmenthealth

literature and dramascience and philosophysports

Step 2 share your Knowledge What do the members of your team already know about your research topic? Take notes on a separate sheet of paper.

Step 3 identify research sources Work with your teacher or a librarian to find sources of information about the topic.

Step 4 organize your research Organize the information your team has found. Then record the examples in the circles of the Idea Web.

Step 5 share your Findings Explain to the class what your team discovered about ancient Greek contributions.

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