Chapter Intro 1

1. Ancient Greece What were the developments of ancient Greek civilizations that still influence us today? Chapter Intro 1

2. The BIG Idea Ideas, Beliefs, and ValuesFor a long time, Greek life was centered around the polis, but Alexander the Great’s conquests spread Greek culture. Section 1-Main Idea

3. Early Greek Civilization Homer’s epic poems provided the foundation for classical Greek education. Athens and Sparta were both influenced by this tradition. Section 1

4. Early Greek Civilization (cont.) • Mycenae was the first Greek state that was ruled by powerful monarchies. • Homer wrote two epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, about the Trojan War. • By 750 B.C., the city-state, or polis, had become the focus of Greek life. There, people would meet for political, social, and religious activities. Section 1

5. Early Greek Civilization (cont.) • The main gathering area was usually the acropolis, a fortified area at the top of a hill. • The agora was an open area below the acropolis where people would assemble. • The Greek city-states had different forms of government. • Democracy: a government by the people, or rule by the many • Oligarchy: rule of the few Section 1

6. Early Greek Civilization (cont.) • The two most powerful city-states were Spartaand Athens. • Sparta • Sparta was a military state. All men in Sparta joined the military, and stayed in the army until they were 60. • The government was an oligarchy headed by two kings who led the army. Section 1

7. Early Greek Civilization (cont.) • Ephors were elected annually and were in charge of education and the conduct of Spartan citizens. • Philosophy, literature, and travel were discouraged. The art of war was the only ideal. Section 1

8. Early Greek Civilization (cont.) • Athens • Early Athens was ruled by aristocrats who owned the best land. • The threat of civil war convinced aristocrats to hand over power to Solon, who ended the economic problems by canceling land debts and freeing people enslaved for debt. Section 1

9. Early Greek Civilization (cont.) • Another reformer, Cleisthenes, created a council of 500 men to oversee governmental affairs. • This idea of legislative assembly created the foundations of Athenian democracy. Section 1

10. Classical Greece Classical Greek ideas about government, philosophy, and the arts created the foundation of Western society. Section 1

11. Classical Greece (cont.) • Pericles became a dominant leader in Athens after the defeat of the Persians. • The Age of Pericles witnessed an expansion of the empire that is considered the height of Athenian power and brilliance. • Pericles also expanded democracy to all male citizens and enabled all citizens to play a role in the government, making it a direct democracy. Comparing Democratic Systems Section 1

12. Classical Greece (cont.) • Sparta feared the growing Athenian empire, leading to the outbreak the Great Peloponnesian War in 431 B.C. • Athens lost the war and the Athenian empire was destroyed. The war weakened all of the major Greek states. Section 1

13. Classical Greece (cont.) • Classical Greece was a period of intellectual and cultural growth. • The most important form of architecture was the temple that was dedicated to a god or goddess. • The Parthenon is the greatest example of the classical Greek temple. Section 1

14. Classical Greece (cont.) • The first Greek dramas were tragedies and were presented in a trilogy. • Today, the only complete Greek tragedy we possess is called Oresteia written by Aeschylus. • Three Greek philosophersSocrates, Plato, and Aristotleestablished the foundations of Western philosophy. Section 1

15. Classical Greece (cont.) • Socrates • Believed the goal of education was to improve the individual • Taught students to live their lives by a code of ethics • He used a question-and-answer format to lead students to find answers for themselves, called the Socratic Method. Section 1

16. Classical Greece (cont.) • Plato • Student of Socrates. He was fascinated with the question of reality. • Wrote his ideas of government in a work entitled The Republic • Considered by many to be the greatest philosopher of Western civilization Section 1

17. Classical Greece (cont.) • Aristotle • Student of Plato. He believed people’s happiness is tied to their behavior. • Interested in classifying and analyzing things based on observation and investigation • He did not seek an ideal state, but rather studied existing governments and favored constitutional government. Section 1