Greek Civilization

1. Greek Civilization Lesson 1

2. Geography • Greece has two peninsulas: Attica and Peloponnesus • Greece is covered in mountains which are not good for farming • They did grow olives and raise sheep and goats • Most Greeks live within 40 miles of the sea • Greeks became: • Fishermen • Sailors • Shipbuilders • Traders

3. Civilizations • Minoans • Lived on the island of Crete • Grew wealthy from trade • A tsunami may have washed over Crete • Mycenaeans • Captured the Greek mainland • Built hilltop forts • Were conquered by the Dorians who had iron weapons • The Phoenicians • Lived in present day Lebanon • Great traders who set up cities along their trade routes • Spread culture and ideas along their trade routes • Created the alphabet similar to the one we use today

4. Religion • Practiced Polytheism • There were 12 main god and goddesses • Gods played roles in humans daily lives and controlled natural events • Greeks created festivals to honor the gods • such as the Olympic Games

5. Philosophy • Socrates • Teacher • Lead discussion about ways to live • Questioned the ways of Athens and was sentenced to death • His student Plato wrote down his teachings and taught Aristotle

6. Drama and Epics • Comedies end happily • Tragedies the main character is defeated or dies • Famous Poet: Homer • Wrote epics • The Iliad • Describes the war between the Greeks and the Trojans • The Odyssey • Describes the adventures of Odysseus who left the Greek army at the end of the Trojan War and took almost 20 years to get home

7. Greek Gods and Goddesses

9. Poseidon • God of the sea, rivers, floods, droughts, earthquakes, and the creator of horses; known as the "Earth Shaker". • He is a son of Cronus and Rhea and brother to Zeus and Hades. • He rules one of the three realms of the universe as king of the sea and the waters. • His Roman counterpart was Neptune.

10. Hades/ Pluto • King of the underworld and the dead, and god of the earth's hidden wealth, both agricultural produce and precious metals. • He was one of three sons of Cronus and Rhea, and thus sovereign over one of the three realms of the universe, the underworld. • The Romans translated Plouton as Dis Pater ("the Rich Father") or Pluto.

11. Hestia • Virgin goddess of the hearth, home and chastity. • She is a daughter of Rhea and Cronus and sister of Zeus. • Her counterpart Vesta, however, was a major deity of the Roman state.

12. Demeter • Goddess of grain, agriculture and the harvest, growth and nourishment. • Demeter is a daughter of Cronus and Rhea and sister of Zeus. • Ceres was her Roman counterpart.

13. Hera • Queen of the heavens and goddess of marriage, women, childbirth, heirs, kings, and empires. • She is the wife of Zeus and daughter of Cronus and Rhea. • Although she was the goddess of marriage, Zeus's many affairs drive her to jealousy and vengefulness. • At Rome she was known as Juno.

14. Zeus • King of the gods, the ruler of Mount Olympus and the god of the sky, weather, thunder, lightning, law, order, and fate. • He is the youngest son of Cronus and Rhea. • He overthrew Cronus and gained the sovereignty of heaven for himself. • His counterpart Jupiter, also known as Jove, was the supreme deity of the Romans.

15. Athena • Goddess of intelligence and skill, warfare, battle strategy, handicrafts, and wisdom. • According to most traditions, she was born from Zeus's head fully formed and armored. • She was a special patron of heroes such as Odysseus. She was also the patron of the city Athens (which was named after her). • The Romans identified her with Minerva.

16. Hephaestus • God of fire, metalworking, and crafts. • The son of Hera by parthenogenesis, he is the smith of the gods and the husband of the adulterous Aphrodite. • Among his creations was the armor of Achilles. • Hephaestus used the fire of the forge as a creative force, but his Roman counterpart Volcanus (Vulcan) was feared for his destructive potential and associated with the volcanic power of the earth.

17. Aphrodite • Goddess of love, beauty, desire, and pleasure. • Although married to Hephaestus she had many boyfriends, such as Ares. • Her Roman counterpart was Venus.

18. Ares • God of war, bloodshed, and violence. • The son of Zeus and Hera. • Homer portrays him as moody and unreliable. • His Roman counterpart Mars by contrast was regarded as the dignified ancestor of the Roman people.

19. Artemis • Virgin goddess of the hunt, wilderness, animals, young girls, childbirth and plague. In later times she became associated with the moon. • She is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and twin sister of Apollo. • Diana was her Roman counterpart.

20. Apollo • God of light, music, arts, knowledge, healing, plague and darkness, prophecy, poetry, purity, athletism, manly beauty, and enlightenment. • He is the son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis. • As brother and sister, they were identified with the sun and moon

22. Alexander’s Empire Lesson 2

23. Ancient Greece and Asia Minor

24. The Growth of City-States • Acropolis: a walled hill where people could seek safety from an attack • Agora: a market or meeting place

25. The Growth of City-States • Types of governments: • Monarchy- ruled by a king • Could be a tyrant – cruel and unfair • Oligarchy- ruled by the wealthy and powerful (group) • Democracy- citizens participate • Only male citizens could vote in Greece • Greek democracy would influence the U.S.

26. Sparta VS Athens • Government • Two kings • Council of elders • Education • Boys trained for military • Girls trained to be mothers of soldiers • Women • Women had some legal rights *Military* • Government • Limited democracy • All citizens voted • Only males were citizens • Education • Wealthy boys went to school • Poor boys learned a trade • Girls were taught at home • Women • Women had few rights and rarely appeared in public *Culture* Sparta Athens

27. War with Persia • Persians lived in what is now today Iran • The Persians conquered Greek city-states along Asia Minor

28. War with Persia • Darius- the Persian King expected Greece to fall like many of the city-states, but it didn’t • Smaller Greek armies defeated larger Persian armies

29. The Peloponnesian War • Athens grew rich and powerful • Sparta and its allies attacked Athens • Athenians hid behind their walls and had the navy bring food into the city • Plague broke out and killed 1/3 of the city • Including the ruler Pericles • This caused the city to surrender

30. Alexander the Great • He came from Macedon • Son of Philip who conquered all of the city states of Greece • He became ruler at age 20

31. Alexander the Great • Conquered Asia Minor and Egypt • Defeated the Persians and captured their treasury • Finally, he invaded India • Made ancient city of Babylon his capitol • By the age of 32 he was the ruler of the largest empire in the world

32. Alexander the Great • After his death, the empire was divided among his generals • This time period after his death is known as the Hellenistic era • Greek language, customs, and culture influenced regions for the next 700 years