Greeks and Romans

1. Greeks and Romans Important things you need to know

2. The Polis: Greek City-State The Polis was a place where people met for political, religious, social, and economic activities. A Polis could be a small village, or a big city. The largest Polis was Athens. Some city-states practiced democracy, where the people had representation in government. Some practiced oligarchy, where only a small elite group ruled the people.

3. Sparta Sparta was an oligarchy that required all men to join the military. Because the men were away serving in the army, Spartan women had more power than other Greek women. The Art of War was the Spartan ideal. Men spent their entire lives preparing for war.

4. Athens After generations of rule by an oligarchy, Athens developed a democratic government. All male citizens voted to elect the Council of 500, who controlled the government. All male citizens could debate new laws.

5. Philosophy Philosophy means “Love of Wisdom.” The Socratic Method taught students to learn and understand things for themselves. Socrates wanted his students to question why things existed the way they did. In “The Republic,” Plato created the model for future democracies by saying that a government should treat its people equally and fairly.

6. Roman Government Rome was ruled by Patricians, who owned large amounts of land. The other group of Romans were called Plebeians. Although citizens could vote, Rome was not a democracy because a few wealthy families dominated the ruling class. The first Roman code of law was called the Twelve Tables. Later Roman laws, such as presumption of innoncence, are still used today.

7. Roman Influence The Roman empire spread throughout the Mediterranean. Latin was the language of the empire. Roman achievements in language, law, architecture, and engineering spread into the areas the empire took over.

8. Development of Christianity Jesus created a new religion that taught virtues that have become the basis of our civilization: humility, charity, love of others. Christians were viewed at first by the Romans as a threat to public order. Because Christians put God ahead of the laws of the state, they were persecuted and killed by the Romans. Christianity attracted many followers and became the official religion of the Roman Empire after Emperor Constantine converted.