Ancient Greece Flashcards
What does Greek mythology explain
Explain the origin, the universe, and nature. The stories told how cities and traditions arose
Greece’s Geography Setting
- Peninsula made up of peninsulas
- No part of Greece is far from the sea
- very rocky & mountainous
- Small patches of farmland, only 20% is arable
The Trojan war
The story of great battles, plots and schemes, loyalty and betrayal.
- fought over Helen
- ten years
What are the two epic poems that told the story of the Trojan war
The Iliad and Odyssey
-both written by Homer
Dark ages of Greece
1100 BC to 750 BC
-Greek civilization collapsed
Acropolis
High city
Greek city states
- Villagers begin to join together at the front of and Acropolis
- each of these cities that form began their own traditions and government
Forms of ruling the Greek city states
Started with Kings as rulers but as time passed aristocratic families took over. As wealth and cities grew they were often overthrown by tyrants, Who seized power by force
Why did Greek democracy start
Tyrants became too harsh so democracies began to develop.
Solon
Known for his fairness, begin to reform the economy and government of Athens
What did Solon pass
He canceled all debts and freed all citizens
-allowed all male citizens over 18 to debate all of the laws and self govern
What was the percentage of Greek citizens and Greece
One fifth of Athens population was citizens
Golden age of Athens
479 BC to 431 BC
Pericles
The most powerful man in athenian politics at this time
Was a member of an aristocratic family but strongly supported democracy
Arts and architecture
Pericles decided to rebuild the Acropolis and create new buildings to glorify the city
Parthenon
the most greatest Athenian architectural achievement
Greek philosophers
Phosphors believe that people could use the power of the mind and reason to understand natural events
Socrates
Ask many questions In the Athenian marketplace
- often this angered many people
- “know thyself”
- was condemned to death for his teachings
- but drink hemlock and calmly died before
Great drama
Athenians were the first people to write dramas or plays
Two types of Greek dramas
-tragedy
-Comedy
Tragedy
A serious story that usually ends in disaster for the main character
Comedy
Made fun of well-known citizens and politicians as well as made jokes about customs of the day
Agora
Public market meeting place
- men went and talked of politics and philosophy
- streets were lined with shops, temples and government buildings
Acropolis
Religious life is centered around the Acropolis
Slavery
Slaves did an abundance of work throughout the city State of Greece
- helped with daily work
- Dug silver mines
- built buildings and farmed
Woman in Athens
Spent most of their days at home
- experience none of the freedom of men
- no part in politics, cannot vote, couldn’t own property
Sparta
Life was cruel and extremely harsh
- Wars turn Sparta to militaristic state
- conquered all of the surrounding lands
- Conquered people were called helots
- treated very harshly
Growing up in Sparta
The life of every Spartan was in the hands of the government from birth
- only the healthiest children raised
- at the age of seven males left to live in the barracks
- Train for the next 13 years
- lived in harsh conditions and learn to bear paid, hardships and punishment in silence
Spartan women
Train and wrestling and Spear throwing
- this would allow them to have strong healthy children
- enjoyed a better life than athenian women
- could on land, take part in some business
The Persian invade
And 490 BC versions landed on Greece itself that huge force of thousands of soldiers
After several battles the Persians were defeated by the Athenians
Athens joined with Greek city states the cities became more like subjects than allies
Peloponnesian war
Aspens began to abuse its power and act unfairly toward other city states
- The city states went to sparta for help
- this result was a 27 year war between Sparta and Athens
The fall of Athens
Plague struck Athens during the war in five years over 1/3 of their population had died
- spartans use a blockade to finish up the starving and beaten Athenians
- they surrendered in 404 BC
- Athens went from its golden age to its demise in less than 75 years
Macedonia
Macedonia lay just north of Greece
- citizens of Sparta and Greece did not truly except the Macedonians as equals or as Greeks
- wild uncivilized people
King Philip of Macedonia
Seized power in 359 BC
- United Macedonia and built an army stronger than Sparta
- by 338 BC he controlled all of Greece
- Philip was the father of Alexander
- was assassinated at his daughters wedding
Alexander
Was a fine and eager student
- thought of himself as Greek and even spoke the language
- Aristotle tutored Alexander
- his role model was Achilles
- became king in 336 BC at the age of 20
Conquered lands of Alexander
It took 11 years but he conquered Persia and eject as well as lanes beyond the Indus to the east
- is energy and military genius work key
- he drove himself and his armies very hard
The Hellenistic kingdoms
He did not destroy the cultures he conquered, instead he helped to mix them with Greek cultures
- unfortunately every day life resemble that of Greece
- Greek was the language and the Greeks had the most important job
How did people pass on Greek stories and traditions in the dark ages
Orally
Where did the Greeks settle during the dark ages
In areas is called Acropolis
How did Greece become rich during the Golden age
From trade, silver mining and tribute
What did the Greeks study during the Golden age
They studied the arts, literature and philosophy
What was the Parthenon made of
Fine marble
What was in the center of the Parthenon
A 40 foot statue honoring Athena
What were on all four sides of the parthenon
Rows of columns on all four sides
What were the gods and goddesses called that the greeks worshipped
The twelve Olympians
What did the Greeks believe about the gods
Each ruled a different area of life
- the cause of all natural events
- Took on human form
- were perfect had awesome power
- immortal
How many slaves lived in Athens
100000
What did Athenian women do
Ran the house families and finances
