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Ancient Greece
Geographical Features Greece is located in the Northern Hemisphere on the continent of Europe. It is a Peninsula (meaning that it is surrounded on three sides by water). The three bodies of water which surround Greece are the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea, and the Ionian Sea. Greece has a rugged coastline with 437 islands surrounding it. Most of the land is rocky and mountainous with only 1/4 of the land suitable for farming.
City States Revolved around a hilltop fortress or acropolis At first ruled by a monarchy (government headed by a king), they later became ruled by the upper class or aristocracies, finally tyranny took over (government ruled by an individual or tyrant, who siezes power by force), tyranny did not last long and democracy took its place. Government
Greek Democracy Born in Athens between 508 B.C. and 338 B.C. Once every ten years the male citizens met in an assembly (ecclesia). Each man was allowed to speak, to propose laws, and to vote. Women, foreigners, and slaves were not considered citizens and were not allowed to assemble. Government
Agriculture • 1/2 of the Ancient Greek people were farmers, the other 1/2 were part of the skilled maritime and fishing industry. • Crop yield was low - 2 crops grew well - olives and grapes (these were used to trade for wheat and other grains to feed the population). • Flocks of sheep and herds of goats provided milk and cheese products.
Architecture • Created and used 3 column styles • Doric - simple style with sturdy columns and plain capitals (tops) • Ionic - thinner columns decorated with two volutes (swirls) on the capitals • Corinthian - elaborate capitals decorated with acanthus leaves (large, segmented, thistle like leaves) • Parthenon • built between 447 B.C. and 432 B.C., a rectangular building supported by stately marble columns, inside there is a gold and ivory statue of Athena (goddess of war) and in her hand a small, winged figure of Nike (goddess of victory).
Music • Cymbals, lyres, and kitharas (harp-like instruments) • Wind instruments such as the syrinx (pan pipes made of reeds), auloi (single pipes), or diauloi (double pipes)
Art • Vase painting • celebrated greek life, stories of the gods and mythical characters • passed on from one generation to another • Statues • decorated homes, temples and marked graves • usually representations of the gods
Religion • The gods of the Ancient Greece are innumerable. • Gods resided on Mount Olympus, a snow-covered peak in northern Greece. • Many Greeks participated in mysterious rituals that promised immortality.
Sports • Olympics • provide training for warfare while at the same time honored the gods • fiercely competitive and sometimes deadly • only men could participate • held every four years in honor of Zeus • began in 776 B.C. and ended in 393 A.D. • earliest games had only one event, 200 yd. Sprint, but later included the long jump, javelin throw, discus throw, wrestling, boxing and the pankrathion (a combination of wrestling/boxing)
Roles of men, women and children • Men • met in the morning to discuss business matters • spent part of the day in the gymnasium (exercised, bathed, and had his body massaged with scented oils) • Women and girls • stayed in the home doing household chores (washing, cooking, and cleaning) • were not allowed to vote or attend school
