Ancient Greece Summary

Chapter 9: Ancient Greece

Review

GEOGRAPHY SHAPES GREEK CIVILIZATION

The Greeks lived on rocky, mountainous lands, located on a peninsula surrounded by the Mediterranean, Ionian, and Aegean Seas. The peninsula has an irregular shape. Many islands float off the mainland. This area was the home of one of the world’s greatest civilizations.

GEOGRAPHY SHAPES GREEK CIVILIZATION

The few small valleys and plains of Greece provided farmland and that is where people settled. These communities were separated by steep mountains, so there was little contact between groups. The villages created separate governments. Because they were surrounded by water the Greeks became skilled shipbuilders and sailors. The Greeks were exposed to other cultures when they sailed to other lands.

Open Ended

How did geography affect the development of the Greek city-states?

TRADING CULTURES DEVELOP

Of the many cultures that settled and grew in early Greece, the earliest and most influential were the Minoans and the Mycenaens. By 2000 BC these two cultures had built advanced societies on the island of Crete. The Minoans were known as the best shipbuilders of their time. They used ships mainly for trading purposes. A volcano that erupted in the 1600s BC may have led to the end of the Minoan civilization.

TRADING CULTURES DEVELOP

The Mycenaeans spoke the language that became Greek. While the Minoans were sailing, the Mycenaeans were building fortresses on the Greek mainland. The Mycenaeans eventually took over the trade routes once sailed by the Minoans. The Mycenaeans set up a powerful trading network on the Mediterranean and Black seas. But Mycenaean culture also fell prey to earthquakes and invaders. Greece entered a dark period.

Open Ended

What did the Minoans and Mycenaeans have in common? How were the two civilizations different?

GREEKS CREATE CITY-STATES

After 300 years of war and disorder communities began to band together for stability and protection. They created the polis, or city-state. This marked the beginning of the Greek classical age, a time filled with great achievements.

GREEKS CREATE CITY-STATES

A city-state often was built around a fortress perched atop a high hill called an acropolis. Walls surrounded many of these cities. Much of daily life centered around the agora, or marketplace, where politics and shopping shared the stage. As stability returned some of the Greek city-states formed colonies in foreign lands. Early colonies included modern-day Istanbul in Turkey, Marseilles in France, and Naples in Italy. This created further independence for these city- states, and some city-states became great trading centers.

Open Ended

How did the concept of the polis affect the growth of Greek colonies?

ARISTOCRATS AND TYRANTS RULE

Democracy was born in Ancient Greece in the city of Athens. Democracy is a form of a government in which people rule themselves. However, Athens was ruled first by kings, and then by an oligarchy of aristocrats, or rich landowners.

ARISTOCRATS AND TYRANTS RULE

In the 600s BC a group of rebels tried to overthrow the aristocrats. The rebellion failed and Draco gained power in Athens. Draco was a strict leader and was very unpopular. His successor, Solon, ruled that all free men were citizens who had a right to participate in government. But it was too late; people were tired of the aristocracy.

ARISTOCRATS AND TYRANTS RULE

Peisistratus overthrew the oligarchy and became a leader of Athens by force. Peisistratus was the first tyrant. Though that word has a negative meaning today, some Greek tyrants were good leaders. Peisistratus led well and Athens flourished under his care. But after he died rebellious aristocrats regained control of Athens.

Open Ended

What roles did Draco, Solon, and Peisistratus play in the history of Greek government?

ATHENS CREATES DEMOCRACY

A leader named Cleisthenes introduced democracy to Athens in 500 BC. Though he was an aristocrat himself, he did not support the aristocracy. He overthrew the aristocratic leaders using popular support. Under his rule all citizens had the right to participate in the assembly that created laws. The assemblies were held outdoors and anyone could give a speech before votes were taken. This could be messy. Either too many people would come to an assembly or not enough. Eventually the Athenians began to select city officials to make decisions. Citizens were eventually allowed to decide court cases by serving on juries.

ATHENS CREATES DEMOCRACY

Citizens gradually gained more power. Athenian democracy reached its height with Pericles, who led the government from 460 to 429 BC. Still, democracy all but ended when Athens was conquered by Macedonia in the 330s BC. The Macedonian king did not like anyone other than himself making laws. Though the city council kept operating in a limited way, a new Greek king in 320 BC abolished even that right.

ANCIENT DEMOCRACY DIFFERS FROM MODERN DEMOCRACY

Although citizenship was very limited, Athens had a direct democracy, in which every citizen could participate and the majority ruled.

The United States operates as a representative government, in which citizens elect people to represent them.

Open Ended

The Greeks tried many forms of government before they created a democracy. How did these various forms of government

differ?

Open Ended

Do you agree or disagree with this statement: "Representative democracy works better than direct democracy in large countries."

Defend your answer.

MYTHS EXPLAIN THE WORLD

Instead of science the ancient Greeks used mythology—stories about gods or heroes—to try to explain how the world works. The Greeks believed that the gods caused natural events, from the rising of the moon to thunderstorms. Everything was attributed to the gods, from disasters to daily events.

MYTHS EXPLAIN THE WORLD

The Greeks believed that Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, caused the seasons. Hades, the god of the underworld, kidnapped Demeter’s daughter. Demeter struck a bargain to get her daughter back for half of the year, during the spring and summer. In the winter, she missed her daughter, and because of her grief the plants did not grow. Some myths told not of gods, but of heroes. Each city had its own hero, real or fictional, who would slay terrible monsters. The most famous Greek hero was Hercules. The Greeks loved to tell these stories.

ANCIENT GREEK LITERATURE

Because of their love of stories, Greek writers produced great works of literature and some of the world’s most famous stories. Among the earliest and most influential are the epic poems the lliad and the Odyssey, by the poet Homer. It is thought that Homer lived some time during the 800s-700s BC. Scholars are not sure if Homer actually existed, but the poems were central to Greek lore and education. The Iliad told the story of the Myceaneans’ war with the Trojans. The Odyssey told of the Greek hero Odysseus’ long journey home after the war.

ANCIENT GREEK LITERATURE

Other forms of literature were also popular. Lyric poetry, recited by the poet while playing the lyre, was especially prized. The most famous lyric poet was a woman, Sappho. Fables, or short stories that offer the readers lessons on life, were also popular. The most famous fable writer was Aesop, who was said to live sometime before 400 BC. Aesop’s fables are still commonly told today.

GREEK LITERATURE LIVES

Greek literature, language, and art have had a great influence on modern culture. The English language is peppered with Greek expressions: a long journey, for example, is called an “odyssey” after Odysseus. Many places are named after Greek gods. Greek myths and stories have inspired painters, writers, and filmmakers for centuries.

Open Ended

Who were some of the main gods of Greek mythology? Who were some of the main heroes?

Understanding Word Origins

Look at the list of Greek words and their meanings below. Then answer the questions that follow.

archos (ruler)

monos (single)

bios (life)

oligos (few)

geo (earth)

pente (five)

micros (small)

treis (three)

Multiple Choice

Which of the following words means rule by a single person?

• oligarchy

• monarchy

• pentarchy

• triarchy

Multiple Choice

Which of the following words means the study of life?

• biology

• geology

• archaeology

• pentalogy

Multiple Choice

Is something that is microscopic very small or very large?

• very small

• very large

Standards Assessment

Ancient Greece

Reviewing Vocabulary,

Terms, and People

Unscramble each group of letters below to spell a term that matches the given definition.

Fill in the Blank

olpsi-a Greek city-state

Fill in the Blank

iciznets-people who have the right to participate in government

Fill in the Blank

ntaryt-a person who rules alone, usually through military force

Fill in the Blank

comdeyacr-rule by the people

Fill in the Blank

bleats-stories that teach lessons

Fill in the Blank

tsrarciotas-rich landowners

Fill in the Blank

coiglhary-rule by a few people

Fill in the Blank

siclalacs-referring to a period of great achievements

Use this passage to answer the following question

Multiple Choice

The content of this passage suggests that it was written by

• Homer.

• Zeus.

• Apollo.

• Cleisthenes.

Multiple Choice

What type of ancient Greek literature would most likely describe the deeds of a great hero?

• fable

• epic poem

• lyric poem

• oration

Multiple Choice

Which was the main cause for the independence of city-states in ancient Greece?

• the Greeks' location on the sea

• the threat of warlike neighbors to the north

• the geography of mountainous peninsulas

• the spread of Minoan culture

Multiple Choice

Athens was ruled by a single person under the type of government known as

• direct democracy.

• representative democracy.

• oligarchy.

• tyranny.

Multiple Choice

The citizens' assembly in ancient Athens was an example of

• trial by jury.

• rule by aristocrats.

• direct democracy.

• representative democracy.