ANCIENT GREECE

Geography

Greece is a peninsula made of many smaller peninsulas

Also includes several islands, such as Crete Most of the land is filled with mountains Small areas near the coast are good for farming,

so this is where small village communities developed It was difficult to travel by sea and over the

mountains, so people were isolated from one another The seas were used as a means for food, travel

& trade Many people were shipbuilders or sailors

Minoans

An early Greek civilization that developed on the island of Crete

Excellent ship builders Decline: to their north was a giant

volcano that erupted which sent a large wave that flooded much of the island; the clouds of ash from the volcano covered the island ruining crops and burying cities

Mycanaens

Lived on the mainland of Greece First people to speak the Greek language Known for building fortresses all over the

mainland Took over sea trade when the Minoan

civilization declined; they did not always trade peacefully

DECLINE: natural disasters like earthquakes leveled cities, endured warfare with invaders from Europe

City-States

For protection and stability people chose to come together & set up independent city-states

A Greek city-state is called a polis City-states were built around a

strong fortress on top of a high hill, or acropolis

• The town around the acropolis was surrounded by walls for protection• Not everyone lived inside the walls (ie: farmers)• Women, children & elderly would go inside the walls during a time of war• Men would gather to form an army

• Inside the walls:• Agora, marketplace – used for trade and business• It was such a large, open space it was also used as a gathering place for religious and political meetings

• Identity:• People identified themselves with their city-state, not as “Greek”• Their city-state gave them protection, a place to do business, and their opinion mattered

Government

Birthplace of democracy – a type of government where people rule themselves

Democracy is Greek for “rule of the people”

Prior to democracy the city-states were run by the aristocracy, or rich people

Aristocrats ran a government known as oligarchy, where only a few people have power

• A man named Cleisthenes overthrew the aristocrats & became the “father of democracy”• Citizens (free males) were able to participate in assemblies that created laws• They met on large hillsides so every person could attend; every person was allowed to speak if he chose to do so – they would give speeches and debates on a variety of political issues• After all speakers were done they would hold a vote by a show of hands; they did not usually use a secret ballot

• Democracy continued to change itself• Created small councils to help decide which topics would be discussed at assemblies• Citizens were allowed to serve on juries – made out of odd numbers, so there couldn’t be a tie

*Juries could consist of 200-6000 people!*