Ancient Greece

1. Ancient Greece

2. Geography • Greece is a peninsula made of many smaller peninsulas • Also includes several islands, such as Crete • Most of the land is filled with mountains • Small areas near the coast are good for farming, so this is where small village communities developed • It was difficult to travel by sea and over the mountains, so people were isolated from one another • The seas were used as a means for food, travel & trade • Many people were shipbuilders or sailors

3. Minoans • An early Greek civilization that developed on the island of Crete • Excellent ship builders • Decline: to their north was a giant volcano that erupted which sent a large wave that flooded much of the island; the clouds of ash from the volcano covered the island ruining crops and burying cities

4. Mycanaens • Lived on the mainland of Greece • First people to speak the Greek language • Known for building fortresses all over the mainland • Took over sea trade when the Minoan civilization declined; they did not always trade peacefully • DECLINE: natural disasters like earthquakes leveled cities, endured warfare with invaders from Europe

5. City-States • For protection and stability people chose to come together & set up independent city-states • A Greek city-state is called a polis • City-states were built around a strong fortress on top of a high hill, or acropolis

6. The town around the acropolis was surrounded by walls for protection • Not everyone lived inside the walls (ie: farmers) • Women, children & elderly would go inside the walls during a time of war • Men would gather to form an army • Inside the walls: • Agora, marketplace – used for trade and business • It was such a large, open space it was also used as a gathering place for religious and political meetings

7. Identity: • People identified themselves with their city-state, not as “Greek” • Their city-state gave them protection, a place to do business, and their opinion mattered

8. Government • Birthplace of democracy – a type of government where people rule themselves • Democracy is Greek for “rule of the people” • Prior to democracy the city-states were run by the aristocracy, or rich people • Aristocrats ran a government known as oligarchy, where only a few people have power

9. A man named Cleisthenes overthrew the aristocrats & became the “father of democracy” • Citizens(free males) were able to participate in assemblies that created laws • They met on large hillsides so every person could attend; every person was allowed to speak if he chose to do so – they would give speeches and debates on a variety of political issues • After all speakers were done they would hold a vote by a show of hands; they did not usually use a secret ballot

10. Democracy continued to change itself • Created small councils to help decide which topics would be discussed at assemblies • Citizens were allowed to serve on juries – made out of odd numbers, so there couldn’t be a tie • *Juries could consist of 200-6000 people!*