Overview of Classical Greece

1. Ancient Greece
from the Minoans to the
Macedonians

2. Greek Contributions to Western
Civilization
2

3. Table of Contents
I. Minoans and Mycenaeans
II. Greek Mythology
III. Introduction to Greek Life – The Greek Polis
IV. Impact of Geography on Ancient Greece
V. Evolution of Greek Governments
VI. Athens vs. Sparta
VII. The Persian Wars
VIII. The Golden Age of Pericles
IX. The Peloponnesian War
X. Conquest of Greece and the Rise of Alexander the Great
XI. The Hellenistic Age

4. Minoans and Mycenaeans
Two Early Aegean Cultures
Table of Contents
I. Two Groups that Influenced Classical Greece
•The Minoans – 2000 – 1400 B.C.
A.Lived on _______________________________ in southern Aegean Sea
B.main city = ________________
C.Seafaring people that dominated trade in __________________________
D.Produced/traded fine ______________________
E.Minoans had advanced civilization
-culture named after ________________________________
-Great _______________ at Knossos
-Much learned from colorful wall _____________ (painting)
-Athletic people – boxing, wrestling, ___________________
-Loved nature
F.Women held high position in Minoan society
-key roles in ____________________________________
-Great __________________________ ruled over other gods
G.Probably a peaceful society. Why? No defensive _______ around cities.
H.1470 B.C. – Earthquakes, eruptions, & tidal wave destroys Minoan cities
-Invaders from Greece (Mycenaeans) may have eventually conquered
Minoans.

5. 5
•The Mycenaeans – 1600 – 1200 B.C.
A.____________________________ who settled on the Greek mainland
B.named after their leading city _________________
C.developed a strong culture led by wealthy _________________________
-Warrior-kings built fortified palace-forts around Greece
-Built wealth by controlling production and ____________
D.Mycenaeans most likely invade Crete and _________________________
-Mycenaeans preserved Minoan culture by making it theirs
1.expanded _____________________ was adopted
2.Minoan writing adapted to _____________________________
3.Minoan legends form core of Greek religious practice, art, politics and
literature
4.Western civ. has roots in these early _____________________
E.Mycenaeans defeat Troy in the ______________________________
-Mycenaean kings wage 10-year war against _______, a trading city
_____________________.
-Legend = war fought over Helen, kidnapped wife of Greek king.
-Reality? = fought over control of crucial waterway leading to Black Sea;
___________________

6. 6
I. The Dark Age of Greece
A. Shortly after Trojan War, Mycenaean civ. collapses
1. Around 1200 B.C. “Sea Peoples” attacked and
burned palaces.
B. A new group, the Dorians, moved into Greek lands
1. They have no written language
2. No written records exist between 1150 – 750 B.C.
3. Trade and economy collapsed
4. This Doric Period is called the Dark Age of
Greece

7. 7
II. The Epics of Homer
A. Lacking writing, Greeks learned about Trojan War
through spoken word.
B. Greatest storyteller was a blind poet named
Homer
1. 750-700 B.C. Homer composed two great epic
poems:
2. The Iliad and The Odyssey
C. The Iliad = Trojan War - Greek Achilles vs.
Hector of Troy
D. The Odyssey = Odysseus’ 10 year journey home
after the war
1. The poems celebrated heroic deeds &
values.
2. Poems were used to teach values important
to Greeks.

8. Impact of Geography on Ancient Greece Table of Contents
Big Question – How did the geography of
Greece shape economic, social, and political
development and patterns of trade and
colonization?
Mountains covered 75 % of terrain, separating
Greece into small isolated regions. City-states
develop.
No central government!
Scarcity of level land for farming grains
caused rivalries between city-states.
Rugged, hilly terrain was ideal for
growing crops such as grapes and
olives.
Many deep harbors and calm waters
invited sea trade. Overseas trade and travel
made easy by many seas,
islands, and coastal settlements.
Lack of resources and farmland
+ overpopulation forced
Greeks to establish colonies.

9. Grapes Olives
Back to Geography

10. Greeks colonize throughout Mediterranean and Black Seas
Back to Geography

11. Evolution of Greek Governments
•Free adult males
•Only ones with political
rights and participation in
government.
•Who were not “Citizens” in
Greece?
rule by one who took over by force/through revolt
Table of Contents
Monarchy –
earliest form of government in Greece; rule by a king
Aristocracy -
rule by small group of noble, land-owning families
rule by a few powerful people
Democracy –
Tyranny –
Oligarchy –
*Citizenship in the Greek Polis
•Who were “Citizens” in Greece?
•Women, foreigners and slaves
have no political rights
Where did the right to rule usually come from in a monarchy?
What would be a drawback to an aristocracy?
Why do you think oligarchies eventually lost power?
How and why did early tyrants often come to power?
rule by the people
How did Athens’ democracy differ from ours today?
Hereditary rule and often claiming divine right
Did not represent the masses. Very few had right to
participate in government.
Rulers did not look out for good of the people.
Became self-serving; and people revolted.
Tyrants appealed to the poor & discontented promising
changes and reform.
Athens had narrow definition of “citizenship”. However,
Athenian gov’t expected participation.

12. Introduction to Greek Life
Things to Know
Table of Contents
Ancient Greece
Hellenic culture – Greeks
refer to themselves as
Hellenes; Greek culture =
Hellenic culture
Greek Polis = City-state - an
urban center and the countryside
surrounding it.
Ancient Greece consisted of
hundreds of independently-governed
city-states
Greeks considered themselves
members of their polis, not of a
country.
An outdoor lifestyle – the mild
Mediterranean climate promoted an
outdoor civic & cultural life.
The Agora – open area gathering
place in the center of the polis;
center of social, economic and
political life.
The Acropolis – a fortified hilltop in the
center of many city-states. The most
famous is the Acropolis in Athens. The
most famous building on the Acropolis is
the Parthenon.
Four Bonds that United All Greeks
•Common language & literature – Homeric epic & others
•Religion – Greek mythology connected to all Greeks
•Olympic Games – united city-states in competition; 1st
held in 476 B.C.
•Fear of the Persians – Defense of homeland unites Greeks

13. The Agora in Athens
The heartbeat of the Greek polis
Back to Ancient
Greece

14. The Acropolis in Athens Back to Ancient
Greece

15. Back to Ancient
Greece

16. Greek City-States Back to Ancient
Greece

17. The Olympic Games – built rivalries and competition among Greeks
Back to Ancient
Next Olympic slide Greece

18. Back to Ancient
Greece

19. Athens vs. Sparta
Two city-states with very different views
Table of Contents
Athens Sparta
Type of
Government
Government
participation
Education
and military
duty
Position of
women
5.2 Wkbk
Democracy Oligarchy
Assembly = All citizens; Assembly
passed laws + served as supreme
court
Council of 500 – randomly chosen
- proposed laws
Boys – school from age 7-18
•literature, math, drawing, music, &
rhetoric
•At 18 – served 2 years in military
•Strongest Greek navy
Girls – no formal ed.
•Learned household duties: weaving,
baking, child care
•No gov’t participation!
Council of Elders – proposed laws
Assembly – elected officials, voted on
issues
2 kings – commanded military
Life revolved around military!
•Boys – Age 7, went to military
barracks; read, write & use weapons.
Soldiers from 20-60
•Strongest Greek army
Expected to be healthy & strong =
healthy babies
•Gymnastics, boxing, wrestling
•More personal rights than other
women
•Still, no gov’t participation

20. Warring City-States - 5.2
1. How did Sparta treat the Messenians?
2. What was the primary cause of conflict
between rich and poor in Athens?
3. What type of society did Sparta create
in response to the revolt?
4. What economic and political reforms did
Solon initiate?
Back to Athens vs. Sparta
5. How did Pisistratus gain the support of
the poor?
6. What steps did Cleisthenes take to
create a limited democracy in Athens?
7. What advantages did the Greek
soldiers have over the Persians?
8. What were the consequences of the
Persian Wars?
Made them Helots, peasants
forced to stay on the land they
worked and turn over half
their crop
Struggle over political power
Strong, highly disciplined
military state
Outlawed debt slavery, gave more
power to the Assembly, allowed all
citizens to bring legal suits,
encouraged overseas trade.
Gave funds to peasants to buy
farm equipment; created jobs by
launching building programs
Reorganized law-making assembly,
allowed all citizens to introduce laws,
created Council of Five Hundred
chosen by lot to counsel assembly.
Discipline, training, heavy armor,
and the phalanx formation
End of Persian threat and emergence
of Golden Age of Athens

21. The Persian Wars
Greek city-states vs. Persian Empire
490 – 479 B.C.
Table of Contents
Persian War organizer
1st Persian War
•Begins with Ionian Revolt
2nd Persian War
•Battle of Thermopylae
•Battle of Marathon
•Battle of Salamis
•Battle of Plataea

22. Persian Empire under Darius
Back to Greece

23. Next phalanx

24. Major Events of the Persian WarsBack to Persian Wars

25. Ionian Revolt
Persia
•546 B.C. – ______________ conquers Greek settlements of _____________.
•499 B.C. – _________________________ against Persian rule.
•_____________ Athens
sends troops to help Ionians fight Persians. Athenians destroy Persian town.
•Persia’s _______________________________ King Darius
sends troops to put down the revolt.
•After 5 years, Persia suppresses the revolt. Persia back in control.
•Darius decides to _____________________________________________ attack mainland Greece
to punish Athens.
Ionia
Ionians revolt
Ionia
Back to Persian Wars

26. 1st Persian War
Battle of Marathon
Aegean Sea
•490 B.C. – Darius sent his fleet across ______________________________ to attack Athens.
•Persian landed on the beaches of ________________________; Marathon
Athenians attacked them there.
•________________________ Greeks
attacked while the Persians were preparing to board their ships.
•____________________ Persians
were defeated and sailed home rather than attack Athens directly.
Back to Persian Wars

27. 2nd Persian War
Battle of Thermopylae
10 years
300 Spartans
Back to Persian Wars
north
•________________ after Marathon, Darius’ son Xerxes invades Greece from the ___________.
•_____________________________ and other Greeks decide to fight Persians at Thermopylae.
•Thermopylae = narrow strip of land between ________________ mountains and _____ sea
in northern Greece.
•________________ Spartans
hold back massive Persian army long enough for other Greeks to escape.
•Persians surround Spartans and all 300 Spartans are killed; _____________________________.
they become heroes

28. 2nd Persian War
Battle of Salamis
•______________________ Xerxes
and troops destroyed Athens.
•Athenians led Persian fleet into narrow ______________________________________
•Persia’s _______________________________ larger heavier ships
crowded together in the narrow strait.
•Greece’s lighter faster ships rammed Persian ships, _____________ destroying
most of the Persian fleet.
•____________________ Xerxes and most of the Persian army ______________________________.
retreat for home
•Xerxes ________________________________________ to continue the fight.
leaves one army
Strait of Salamis
Back to Persian Wars

29. End of Persian Wars
Battle of Plataea
Back to Persian Wars
•Spring of 479 B.C. – _______________________________ Persian army
continued their assault
•_________________________, 40,000 Greeks
led by the Spartans, met the Persians at ________________.
•The _________________________________ the Persian army, the Persian Wars were over.
Greeks destroyed
Plataea

30. Results of the Persian Wars
•Athens and Sparta united to defeat Persians.
•Greeks retain control of Aegean Sea.
•Athens leads Greece into Golden Age.
•Athens forms Delian League; alliance of 140 city-states.
•Delian League drives Persians out of bordering areas.
•Athens establishes an “Aegean Empire”.

31. The Golden Age of Greece
also known as the Age of Pericles
Pericles
Table of Contents
•Golden Age notes

32. I. Greece’s Golden Age (480 – 430 B.C.)
- For 50 years, Athens experienced significant intellectual and
artistic learning.
- Legacies of this time continue to inspire and instruct today.
A. Pericles leads Athens through Golden Age
1. Pericles was a skillful politician and respected general
2. 461-429 B.C. often called Age of Pericles
B. Pericles had 3 goals for Athens
1. Strengthen the democracy
a. Increased # of paid public officials – more poor could serve
b. Introduced direct democracy – citizens rule directly, not
through reps.
2. Strengthen Athenian Empire
a. Pericles used Delian League money to build navy of 200 ships
b. Increased safety and secured overseas trade routes

33. Pericles goals continued
3. Glorify Athens
a. Pericles used Delian League money to beautify Athens
b. 15 year project to build Parthenon = temple to Athena
C. Greek Styles in Art and Architecture
1. Artists and sculptors create idealized human form
a. Figures were strong, graceful and perfectly formed
2. Greek buildings were classified by their columns – 3 types
a. Doric – no base and a plain round capital (top part) – Parthenon
b. Ionic – rounded base and a scroll-shaped capital
c. Corinthian – most elaborate, rounded base with capitals
intricately carved with leaf patterns.
D. Greek Drama
1. Greeks invented drama and built first theaters in the west.
2. Stories involved leadership, justice, and duties to the gods.

34. 34
•Golden Age notes

35. 3. 2 Kinds of drama – tragedy and comedy
a. Tragedy – themes such as love, hate, war, betrayal
- featured tragic hero whose flaw was downfall
b. Comedy – slapstick situations and crude humor
- many comedies were satires – poked fun at a subject
- Playwrights made fun of fashion, politics, respected people
or ideas
- This showed an openness of public discussion in Athens.
E. Greek Philosophers Search for the Truth
1. Philosophers, meaning “lovers of wisdom”, based philosophy on 2
assumptions.
a. The universe is put together in an orderly way, subject to absolute
and unchanging laws.
b. People can understand these laws through logic and reason.
2. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle = leading Greek philosophers
a. Their ideas laid foundations for western thought & education.

36. 36

37. Peloponnesian Wars - Notes
Back to Peloponnesian Wars
Athens holds out against Sparta
Athen and Sparta go to War – Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 B.C.)
A. Athens formed the Delian League
1. Alliance between Athens and other city-states
2. Athens required large tributes & loyalty from members
3. Many city-states turned to Sparta for protection
B. Sparta formed the Peloponnesian League
1. Alliance between Sparta and other city-states
2. Sparta & Pel. League declare war on Athens
C. The Peloponnesian War (Delian League vs. Pelo. League)
1. Lasted 27 years
2. Athens stricken/weakened by a great plague
3. Sparta eventually defeats Athens
4. Sparta wins Peloponnesian War!
D. Greece enters period of instability and weakness
1. Leaves them open to attack
2. Macedonia (land to the north) conquers Greek city-states

38. 38
•Golden Age notes

39. •Golden Age notes “Parthenon”
Nashville, Tennessee
39

40. 40
•Golden Age notes

41. 41
•Golden Age notes

42. 3 Great “Golden Age” Greek Philosophers
Socrates Plato Aristotle
42
•Golden Age notes

43. The Peloponnesian War
Delian League vs. Peloponnesian League
Table of Contents
Notes
Delian League
Peloponnesian League

44. Delian League = foundation of Athenian Empire •Golden Age notes

45. Powerful Spartan Army Powerful Athenian Navy
45

46. Athens uses protected port to hold out against Sparta Back

47. 47

48. 48
Powerful Athenian Navy – Athenian Trireme

49. Spartan War Machine – Powerful Army
49

50. Macedonian Conquest of Greece and the
Rise of Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great; Conqueror of the Persian Empire
Notes
Table of Contents

51. Back to Notes
Phalanx

52. Next phalanx

53. Alexander defeats Darius III at Battle of Issus
Back to Notes
Back to Conquest Map

54. Back to Notes
Back to Conquest Map

55. Back to Notes
Back to Conquest Map

56. Notes on Alexander
Greece Falls and Alexander the Great Conquers Persia
A. Macedonia – Neighbor of Greece to the North
B. 359 B.C. Philip II becomes king of Macedonia – he has 3 goals
Conquest Map
1. Create strong army – based on phalanx formation
2. Conquer Greek city-states
3. Defeat Persian Empire – Philip was murdered after conquering Greece.
C. Philip’s son Alexander takes command at age 20.
1. Set out to conquer Persia.
2. Victories at Granicus River & Issus gained control of Anatolia
3. Victory at Gaugamela broke Persians for good.
4. 336-323 Alexander the Great conquers Persian Empire
5. Takes control of Asia Minor, Egypt, Fertile Crescent, and Persia – becomes
largest empire!
D. Alexander’s Empire begins Hellenistic Era
1. Hellenistic Era = fusion of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian culture
E. 323 B.C. Alexander dies and his empire is divided between 3 generals.
1. Antigonus – Macedonia & Greece
2. Seleucus – Syria, Mesopotamia & Persia
3. Ptolemy - Egypt

57. Alexandria Lighthouse, Museum, and Library (world’s 1st research lib)
57
The Hellenistic Age
From the death of Alexander to the
Roman conquests
1. After Alexander’s death, what three things linked the many new cities he created?
Trade, Greek culture and Greek language
___________________________________________________________________________
2. With what three main cultures did Greek (Hellenic) culture blend?
Egyptian, Persian, Indian
___________________________________________________________________________
Hellenistic
3. This blended culture became known as ______________________ (Greek-like) culture.
Alexandria
4. Which city was at the center of the Hellenistic world? ___________________________
Mediterranean coast of Egypt
5. Where was this city located? ____________________________________________
6. List a couple key attractions one might have found in Alexandria.
___________________________________________________________________________
7. Describe Alexandria’s role as the center of learning during the Hellenistic Age.
- Scholarship shifted from Athens to Alexandria
- Hellenistic scholars in Alexandria preserved Greek & Egyptian learning
- Alexandrian scholars provided most of scientific knowledge until
Scientific Revolution in 17th century.

58. 58

59. Alexandria Egypt
Center of Hellenistic World

60. The Hellenistic Age
Pharos Lighthouse in Alexandria Egypt
Table of Contents

61. This illustration shows how
Eratosthenes actually calculated
the circumference of the Earth. At
noon on the summer solstice,
Eratosthenes measured the length
of the shadow cast by a column of
known height at Alexandria. With
these two lengths, he could solve
for the angle between them (θ). If
the length of the shadow, and
height of the column (h) were
proportional to the distance
between Alexandria and Syene
(s=4,400 stades), and the radius
of the Earth, then by calculating
the angle on the column (θ), he
was calculating the same angle
formed at the center of the Earth
(θ). The equation he used to
determine the circumference of
the Earth [(360° ÷ θ) x (s)]
reflects this theory.

62. Geocentric
Theory adopted
and modified by
Hellenistic
scientist Ptolemy
62

63. Euclid
Hellenistic mathematician
Wrote Elements – basis of modern geometry
Elements

64. Archimedes
Law of the Lever Compound Pulley

65. Greek Mythology
Essential Understanding:
Greek mythology was based on a polytheistic religion that was
central to the culture, politics, and art in Ancient.
Essential Question:
How did mythology help the early Greek civilization explain the
natural world and the human condition?
Table of Contents
Greek Mythology = polytheistic religion
- Explained mysteries of nature and human life
-Gods directly involved in human life
-Gods displayed human qualities/characteristics
-Gods believed to have lived on Mount Olympus

66. Greek Mythology continued
Essential Understanding:
Many of Western civilization’s symbols, metaphors, words, and
idealized images come from ancient Greek mythology.
Essential Question:
What impact did Greek mythology have on later civilizations and
the modern world?
Greek Mythology
- Major deities = Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Hades,
Aphrodite, Poseidon
- Romans adopt Greeks gods but change names
- Things we see and say everyday come from Greek mythology.
Table of Contents

67. The Twelve Olympians, in Greek mythology, were the principal gods of the Greek pantheon, residing atop Mount Olympus.
There were, at various times, fourteen different gods recognized as Olympians, though never more than twelve at one time.
Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena, Apollo, and Artemis are always considered Olympians.
Hestia, Demeter, Dionysus, and Hades are the variable gods among the Twelve. Hestia gave up her position as an Olympian to
Dionysus in order to live among mankind (eventually she was assigned the role of tending the fire on Mount Olympus).
Persephone spent six months of the year in the underworld (causing winter), and was allowed to return to Mount Olympus for
the other six months in order to be with her mother, Demeter. And, although Hades was always one of the principal Greek gods,
his home in the underworld of the dead made his connection to the Olympians more tenuous. The Olympians gained their
supremacy in the world of gods after Zeus led his siblings to victory in war with the Titans; Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter,
Hestia, and Hades were siblings; all other Olympians (with the exception of foam-born Aphrodite) are usually considered the
children of Zeus by various mothers, except for Athena, who in some versions of the myth was born of Zeus alone. Additionally,
some versions of the myth state that Hephaestus was born of Hera alone as Hera's revenge for Zeus' solo birth of Athena.

68. Greek Mythology
In Our Lives
• Ajax - Greek warrior in the Trojan War, who "cleaned up" in battle; popular household
cleanser.
• Apollo - God of music; Apollo Theater is a famous music hall in New York city.
• Ares - Greek god of war; popular car model.
• Atlas - Was doomed to support the heavens on his shoulders; a modern moving company
(Atlas Van Lines); also, Atlas Travel is a popular name for travel agencies all over the
globe.
• Hercules - Roman name for Heracles, the greatest Greek hero; the company called
Hercules - http://www.hercules.com - makes a top-selling video graphics card (their slogan
is Legendary Strength, Quality and Performance);
there is also the Hercules transport plane, used by the United States Air Force to carry large
volumes of war material and food
• Hermes - Olympian Herald and Messenger god; popular brand of soap. Also, the FTD
flower delivery company incorporates Hermes and his winged heels in their logo.

69. Greek Mythology
In Our Lives
• Mars - Roman name for Ares, god of War; name of popular candy bar.
• Mercury - Roman name for Hermes, the Messenger god; name of car model
produced by the Ford Motor Company; also, an entertainment records label,
Mercury Records.
• Midas - King with the golden touch, who transformed all he touched to gold; a
famous muffler and brake chain of service stations.
• Nike - Winged goddess of Victory, who can run and fly at great speeds; a famous
company that sells...well...if you haven't heard of the company Nike, welcome to
our planet...:)
• Olympus - Home of the Olympian gods; name of popular camera and
photographic technology company. Titans - Race of gods preceding the
Olympians; Titan Tool & Die Company manufactures tools for industry.
• Saturn - Roman name for Cronus, father of Zeus; also the name of the Saturn
Automobile Corporation.

70. Zeus

71. Hera
Zeus’ wife and sister

72. Poseidon
God of the Sea

73. Hades and Persephone

74. Athena
Goddess of Wisdom, Peace and
Defensive war.

75. Aphrodite
Goddess of Beauty and
Erotic Love

76. Apollo
God of the Sun, Music, and Poetry

77. Hermes
The Messenger God

78. Prometheus
He was a champion of human-kind known for his wily intelligence, who stole fire
from Zeus and gave it to mortals. Zeus then punished him for his crime by having
him bound to a rock while a great eagle ate his liver every day only to have it
grow back to be eaten again the next day.