Ancient Civilizations: Greece and Rome

1. Ancient Civilizations:Greece and Rome Ch. 13

2. Early Greeks • Settled around the Balkan Peninsula and the Aegean Sea around 2000 BC • Geography and Greek Civilizations • Rugged country separated by narrow waters • Development of separate communities (city-states) rather than one large united kingdom. • Traveled by sea because of rugged terrain

3. Minoans • Earliest Greek Civilization • Island of Crete • Had running water, developed a system of writing • Sailors and fishermen

4. Mycenaeans • Controlled Greek mainland from about 1600 BC – 1200 BC • Warlike people who lived in tribes • Conquered Minoans and adopted many aspects from their culture. E.g. system of writing • Homer – Wrote the Iliad – historical events, folk tales, and legends. Trojan War.

5. Greek City-States • City-State – City or town that had its own government and laws and controlled the land surrounding it. • Sparta • Loyal • Little Personal Freedom • Powerful Army • Boys left home to train at age 7 • Girls received intense training at home • Boys and girls were educated and encouraged to study music but left little time for the development of the arts, literature, philosophy and science.

6. Greek City-States • Athens • Developed form of government called a Direct Democracy – citizens take part in making ALL decisions. • Juries • More freedoms than Spartans but women could not participate in government • Slavery was permitted • Made great contributions to the arts, literature, philosophy and science • First people to write drama (plays) • Scientists developed new laws of mathematics and a way to classify plants and animals

7. Alexander the Great • Son of King Phillip II – King of Macedonia • Conquered much of the known world – including Greek city-states • Built great centers for learning • After Alexander died, his kingdom was split into smaller kingdoms and eventually conquered by the Romans

8. Early Romans • Around 750 BC, people called Latins started settling around the Tiber River in Italy – eventually formed the city of Rome. • Later conquered by the Etruscans who brought written language to Rome • Culture was strongly influenced by Greeks who settled in Rome. • Roman religion was also partly based on Greek beliefs

9. Geography and Roman Civilization Geography • Alps: Located north of Italy • Mediterranean Sea: Located west of Italy • Adriatic Sea: Located east of Italy **Seas helped trade and travel, but left Italy open to attack **Passages through Alps left open to invasion How did the geography of Italy help the Roman Civilization grow?

10. The Roman Republic • Etruscan rule overthrown by wealthy Romans and replaced with a Republic. • Republic: a government in which voters elect leaders to run the state. • Growing • Wars • Building bridges and roads Started to become a problem…How??

11. Pax Romana • Roads “all Roads lead to Rome” • The Romans built roads throughout Europe which made traveling, trade, and conquering, easier.

12. Pax Romana (Peace Rome) People, Goods, Ideas, Travel Economy Prospers

13. War and Conquest

14. Trade

15. Julius Caesar • Popular speaker won support among poor • Became a general and conquered more and more territory for the republic • Was made “Ruler for Life” by Roman officials • Many leaders feared his power and he was assassinated March 15, 44 B.C.

16. The Roman Empire • Octavian Augustus (honored one) • Grandnephew of Julius Caesar • Became ruler after Caesar’s death • Helped empire grow even more • His reign started Pax Romana • Pax Romana – Roman Peace • Pax Romana • Stable and peaceful empire • Laws became more fair • Strong economy due to widespread trade • Built many roads and bridges to help trade • Roman army kept peace by defending boarders

17. Rome’s Achievements • Temples • Palaces • Arenas • Bridges • Roads • Aqueduct: sloped bridge-like structure that carries water • Buildings with domes and arches • Language: Latin • Writers

18. Rise of Christianity • Jews were driven out of the city of Jerusalem, but continued to practice their faith in communities outside the city. • The teachings of Jesus • One true God • Love others as themselves • Defended the poor • Romans thought Jesus would lead an uprising so they arrested him and sentenced him to death • Romans outlawed Christianity but the religion still spread • After 300 years, Constantine, the Roman Emperor, declared his support of Christianity and it became the official religion of Rome.

19. Decline of Roman Empire • Army generals started to go against the Empire to try and win power for themselves • Army lost loyalty to Rome • Dishonest leaders • Civil Wars • Taxes and cost of goods rose

20. Empire Splits • Roman Empire was too big to be ruled by one person • Diocletian (emperor of Rome) selected a co-emperor – Constantine – to take over the eastern part of the empire • Empire in the east faired much better than the empire in the west

21. Fall of Rome • Over several years, groups began to invade the empire from the north and set up tribal kingdoms • Vandals • Visigoths • Huns • In 476 the last emperor in the west was overthrown by invaders • Empire in the east was able to fight off invaders and became known as the Byzantine Empire and lasted until 1453 until it fell to the Ottoman Turks How did weak leadership lead to the fall of Rome?