The Cradle of Western CivilizationB. Burgar, 2004

The Ancient Greeks…Earliest civilization 4000 yrs. oldDeveloped democracyDeveloped Trial by JuryGave us Tragedy and ComedyGave us TheaterAttempted to explain the world through the laws of natureGave us The Olympics

Greek City-StateGreece is a small, rocky peninsulaAll Greeks spoke the same languageGreece did not have a king or queenLived in a number of city-states, which were each a separate political unitEach city-state had its own personality-

life in Sparta was different than life in Athens

SpartaChildren taken from parents at age 7Lived a harsh and brutal life in barracksBeat up by older kids to toughen upWhipped but not allowed to cry in painLearned to lie, cheat, steal and get away with itFierce and proud of strength

AthensCourteous and superbly educated in the arts and sciencesProductive and capable in peace and warTaught at home by mother or male slave until 6 or 7Until 14 attend neighborhood day schoolFour years of higher schoolTwo years of military school at age 18

Greek Men

Ran the governmentWhen not in fields spent great deal of time involved in politicsSailed, hunted, worked at a tradeFor fun: drinking parties, wrestling, horseback riding, Olympic gamesParties were for men onlyAdmired heroes in mythology and desired to emulate them

Greek Women

Limited freedom outside the homeAttended weddings, funerals, some religious festivalsWomen were in charge of the home and childrenMost Greek women had slaves to do houseworkActed as tutors for young malesWere not allowed to attend Olympics because the men did not wear clothes

Greek Girls

Stayed home until marriedWere allowed to attend certain festivals, funerals and visit neighbors for brief periods of timeTheir job was to help the motherHelped in fields if necessary

Greek Boys

Stayed home when youngHelped in fieldsSailed and fishedAt age 6 or 7 they went to school

Slaves

Important to ancient Greek daily lifeCleaned and cookedWorked in the fields, factories, mines, shops and on shipsCould not go to school, enter politics, or use their own nameProperty of their owner, who named them

Ways People Became Slaves

People became slaves when captured in battleChildren of slavesInfants abandoned by parentsChildren sold into slavery by poor familiesChildren kidnapped into slaveryHistorians believe there were as many slaves as citizens!

Greek Houses

Made up of two or three roomsBuilt around a courtyardLarger homes might include kitchen, a room for bathing and separate sitting rooms for men or womenOften had second storyFamily life centered around the courtyardMeals were eaten in the courtyard

FoodSoil not fertile due to rockinessGreeks developed irrigation systems and crop rotationGrew: olives, grapes, and figsKept goats for milk and cheeseGrew wheat for bread where soil was fertile enoughFish, seafood, wine were popularIn larger city-states meat could be purchased, but was rarely eaten. Used mostly for religious sacrifices

Clothing

Simple tunics (linen) and warm cloaks (wool)Clothing was made by mothers, daughters, or female slavesBleached white, or dyed bright colorsOften decorated to represent their city-stateOnly the rich could afford jewelryHats used only for traveling if at all

Education in AthensIn Athens, the purpose of education was to train citizens in the arts for times of peace and warMany girls learned to read and write at homeBooks were expensive and rare so subjects were read aloud and boys had to memorize everythingUsed writing tablets and rulersMust study the words of HomerLearn to play the lyreAfter formal schooling, attended military school

Education in SpartaPurpose of education was to produce a well-drilled, well-disciplined marching armyMales and females required to have perfect bodyWeak babies were left to die or made slavesStudents were taught to read and write, but brutal military training was most importantStudents were underfed and encouraged to steal, but not to get caughtIf caught, they were beatenBoys forced to march without shoes