WHI.05a: Ancient Greece: Geography to Persian Wars

Objectivesp. 069

The student will demonstrate knowledge of ancient Greece in terms of its impact on Western civilization bya.assessing the influence of geography on Greek economic, social, and political development, including the impact of Greek commerce and colonies;b.describing Greek mythology and religion;c.identifying the social structure and role of slavery, explaining the significance of citizenship and the development of democracy, and comparing the city-states of Athens and Sparta;d.evaluating the significance of the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars;

Essential Understandingsp. 070

1. The physical geography of the Aegean Basin shaped the economic, social, and political development of Greek civilization.

2. The expansion of Greek civilization, through trade and colonization, led to the spread of Hellenic culture across the Mediterranean and Black seas.

3. Greek mythology was based on a polytheistic religion that was integral to the culture, politics, and art in ancient Greece.

4. Many of Western civilization’s symbols, metaphors, words, and idealized images come from ancient Greek mythology.

5. Classical Athens developed the most democratic system of government the world had ever seen, although not everyone could participate in decision making.

6. It became a foundation of modern democracies.7. Contrasting philosophies of government divided the Greek city-states of Athens (democracy) and Sparta

(oligarchy).8. The Greeks defeated the Persian empire and preserved their political independence.

Essential Questionsp. 070

1. How did the mountains, seas, islands, harbors, peninsulas, and straits of the Aegean Basin shape Greek economic, social, and political development and patterns of trade and colonization?

2. How did mythology help the early Greek civilization explain the natural world and the human condition?3. What impact did Greek mythology have on later civilizations and the contemporary world?4. How did democracy develop in Athens?5. How did Sparta differ from Athens?6. Why were wars with Persia important to the development of Greek culture?

Why Do I Need To Know This?p. 070

1. The seeds of much of Western cultural heritage were planted during this time period.2. Many political systems in today’s world mirror the varied forms of government that evolved in Greece.

Ancient Greece

p. 71-75

p. 071Map of Ancient GreeceUsing the pages indicated, label the following on the map. Color where directed.

Page 109Ionian Sea, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Mt. Olympus, Thebes (City), Athens (city), Corinth (city), Mycenae (city), PELOPENNESUS, Sparta (city), CRETE, MACEDONIA

Color in: Greek Homeland in 750 B.C. (put the color in the key at the bottom)

Page 119Troy (city), PERSIAN EMPIRE, Ionia (you’ve already colored it as part of the Greek Homeland from page 109)

Greece

Geography1. Geography p. 072a. mainly of the mountainous Balkan and Peloponnesus peninsulas

surrounded by the Ionian Sea (East), Aegean Sea (West) and Med Sea (south)

b. about 1,400 islandsc. western coast of Anatoliad. rugged mountains cover about ¾ of ancient Greecee. Greece has a mild climate with temperatures averaging 48 degrees in the

winter and 80 degrees in the summer – supports an outdoor life

Geography2. Effect of the mountains p. 072a. cover about ¾ of Greeceb. difficult to unite the ancient Greeks under a single government;

developed small independent communities instead – only religion and language connected the Greeks

c. made land transportation difficultd. only 20% of the land was suitable for farming; grew grains, grapes and

olivese. Greece was poor in natural resources such as timber, precious metal

and usable farmlandf. the sea was an important transportation route for the Greeks

Greek Mountains

Greek Mountains

Grapes and Olives

Geography3. Colonizing p. 072a. A desire for more living space (they were overpopulated), b. grassland for raising livestockc. adequate farmland may have been factors that motivated the Greeks to

seek out new sites for colonies

Minoans1. Where? p. 072a. Island of Creteb. Capital at Knossos

Minoans2. King Minos p. 072a. Legendary king who kept a minotaur (half bull, half man) locked inside a

labyrinth underneath the palaceb. King Minos forced a sacrifice from Athens of 7 boys and 7 girls every year

in retaliation for the death of his son

Minoans3. Civilization? p. 072a. Enjoyed sports such as boxing, wrestling, and bull-leapingb. Peaceful – cities did not have walls to protect themc. Traded metal goods, pottery, and textiles

Traded with Egyptians, Syrians, and others

Mycenae1. Who? p. 073a. a group of Indo-Europeans settled on Greek mainland around 2000

B.C.b. ruled by warrior kingsc. invaded the Minoans in 1400 BC

Mycenae2. Trojan War p. 073Mythological – the Trojan prince, Paris kidnapped Helen, the beautiful wife of a Spartan king (Menelaus), brother of the king of Mycenae (Agamemnon); the Greeks went to war with Troy for 10 years; Greeks pretend to give up and give Troy a large wooden horse (filled with soldiers); the soldiers open the gate to Troy and the Greeks destroy Troy

Mycenae2. Trojan War p. 073Probable – struggle for control of the strategic Dardanelles Straits that connected the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea, giving sea access to central Asia

Dorians (1150-750BC)1. Who p. 073a. the Mycenaeans collapsed around 1200 B.C. and the Dorians took over

the Greek peninsulab. a warrior people and were not interested in trade or culture

Dorians (1150-750BC)2. Homer p. 073a. blind poet who composed epics – narrative poems celebrating heroic

deedsb. wrote the Iliad and The Odyssey; describe the battle of Troy

Mythology1. What is a myth? p. 073a. a traditional stories about Greek gods; a way for the Greeks to explain

natural phenomena, life events, and the power of human passions

Mythology2. Characteristics of gods/goddesses p. 073a. the Greeks attributed human qualities such as love, hate, and jealousy

to their gods

Mythology3. What is a myth? p. 073a.Zeus – ruler of the gods, ruled the sky, weather and thunderstormsb.Hera – Zeus’s wife, often jealous of Zeus’s relationships with other womenc.Athena – warrior goddess of wisdom and Zeus’s favorite childd.Apollo – god of poetry and music, son of Zeus and Letoe.Aphrodite – goddess of love and beautyf. Poseidon – god of the seasg.Hades – god of the underworld