Ancient Greece

City States■ They were independent political units of the

ancient Greek Civilization.■ City States often battled for territory and

those more aggressive like Sparta, conquered neighbors.

Sparta■ Had a strong military.■ All men of Sparta had to serve in the army.

Boys of 7 were taken from their families to live in barracks and begin military training.

■ Led by an Oligarchy: small group of aristocrats have all the power

Athens■ It was the most powerful of all Greek

city-states and a great center of culture and learning.

■ Today Athens has more than 3 million people living there. The 2004 Olympic games were held there. The first modern games were held in 1896.

Democracy■ This new form of government was

developed in Athens.■ Democracy: a form of government in which

the power is in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected officials.

Acropolis■ In ancient times, this area of Athens was

the most sacred part of town and the site of many temples.

■ The word Acropolis means “high city.” The people of Athens lived on land below the Acropolis.

Troy■ According to legend, the ancient city, Asia

Minor was under attack by the Greeks for 10 years. To end the war the Greeks built a giant horse and gave it to their enemy as a sign of peace. They accepted the horse, brought it into their gates and at night Greek warriors came out of it and won the war.

Columns■ Were the Greek’s major contribution to

structural design.

Socrates■ Socrates was a famous philosopher■ Focused on the best ways people could live their lives, morals (right vs. wrong)

Plato■ He was a friend of Socrates and founded

the first University called the Academy.

Aristotle■ He studied under Plato in Athens, and

tutored Alexander the Great.■ Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were the most famous philosophers in Greek history

Alexander the Great■ He was King of Macedonia and eventually

became a great conqueror. ■ He thought he was a God.

Macedonia■ This northern area of Greece became

powerful when Alexander the Great conquered the Asia Minor.

Olympics■ Began in Greece.■ Originally they were athletic festivals held to

honor Zeus, the king of Gods.■ The first modern games were held there in

1896.

Golden Age■ This term is used to describe ancient

Greece in the 400s B.C.E, a time of outstanding achievement.

■ During the Golden Age many great buildings were built and the importance of art and literature was celebrated.

Parthenon■ This temple was dedicated to the Goddess

Athena.■ The ruins are still in Greece today!