The Story of Ancient Greece 2

approximately 2000 B.C. to 146 B.C.

Ancient Greece• Ancient Greece is known as the “birthplace of

Western Civilization”.

• European culture was greatly influenced by the Greeks.

I AM HIPPOCRATES “THE FATHER OF MEDICINE

I AM SOCRATES

Daily Life of Men and WomenThe Men: -Men ran the government, and spent a great deal of their time away from home. When not involved in politics, the men spent time in the fields, overseeing or working the crops, sailing, hunting, in manufacturing or in trade.

The Women: -Greek women had very limited freedom outside the home. If they had their husband's permission, they could attend weddings, funerals, some religious festivals, and visit female neighbors for brief periods of time. But without their husband's permission, they could do none of these things. They could not leave the house, not even go to a temple to honor their gods, without their husband's permission.  -In their home, however, Greek women were in charge! Their job was to run the house, make the clothes, and bear children. 

Greek Slaves• Slaves were very important to the ancient Greek way of life.

Slaves cleaned and cooked, worked in the fields, factories, shops, in the mines, and on ships. Most slaves lives were not that different from a poor Greek citizen's life.

• There were things slaves could not do. They could not go to school, or enter politics, or use their own name. They were given a name by the citizen who owned them. They were the property of their owner, not citizens of ancient Greece.

• People became slaves in many ways. Some people became slaves when captured in battle. Some were the children of slaves. Some were Greek infants, abandoned on a hill or at the gates of a town, left to die, or to be rescued by someone passing by. Some children were sold into slavery by poor families, and some children were kidnapped. 

• Slaves were so important to the culture of ancient Greece, that some historians believe there were as many slaves as citizens! 

The Greek House• Greek houses, in the 6th and 5th century BCE, were made up of

two or three rooms, built around an open air courtyard, built of stone, wood, or clay bricks. Larger homes might also have a kitchen, a room for bathing, a men's dining room, and perhaps a woman's sitting area. 

• Although the Greek women were allowed to leave their homes for only short periods of time, they could enjoy the open air, in the privacy of their courtyard. 

• Much of ancient Greek family life centered around the courtyard. • In their courtyard, Greek women might relax, chat, and sew. Most

meals were enjoyed in the courtyard. Greek cooking equipment was small and light and could easily be set up there. 

• On bright, sunny days, the women probably sheltered under a covered area of their courtyard, as the ancient Greeks believed a pale complexion was a sign of beauty.

• One favorite family activity was to gather in the courtyard to hear  stories of the Greek gods and goddesses, and the adventures of the many Greek heroes. These stories were told by the mother or father. 

Greek Home

Clothing• Greek clothing was very simple. Men and women wore linen in the summer and wool in the winter. The ancient Greeks could buy cloth and clothes in the agora, the marketplace, but that was expensive.

• Most families made their own clothes, which were simple tunics and warm cloaks, made of linen or wool, dyed a bright color, or bleached white. Clothes were made by the mother, her daughters, and female slaves. They were often decorated to represent the city-state in which they lived.

• Now and then, they might buy jewelry from a traveling peddler, hairpins, rings, and earrings, but only the rich could afford much jewelry. Both men and women used perfume made by boiling flowers and herbs.

What did the Greeks do for a living?• Farmers, fishermen, and craftspeople were all important to

the economy of ancient Greece.• Even though the soil was rocky and poor, most ancient

Greeks worked the land. Farmers grew barley, a staple in the Greek diet. The hilly land was well-suited for growing olives and grapes.

• Farmers and fishermen brought their products to the agora, or marketplace.

• Craftsmen such as stone carvers and metalworkers sold their products at the agora as well.

• The most important career for a Greek was to be a soldier!

The Greeks were great Architects!

-The term acropolis means upper city and many of the city-states of ancient Greece are built around an acropolis where the inhabitants can go as a place of refuge in times of invasion. It's for this reason that the most sacred buildings are usually on the acropolis. It's the safest most secure place in town

-The most famous is the Acropolis of Athens

Parthenon

• The Greeks works of art, sculpture and architecture dazzle us even today!

Language:The Greek Alphabet

• The Greek alphabet is over 2500 years old! Even though it is very old, it still works. People living in Greece today use this alphabet to make words, just as we use our alphabet to make words.

• The Greeks borrowed their alphabet from the Phoenicians. When they saw the Phoenicians writing things down, they thought that was very clever. The Greeks loved cleverness. The Greeks could easily see the usefulness of a written language. 

• Most European languages, including English borrowed ideas from the Greek alphabet.

Try to spell your name using the Greek Alphabet

Literature• Homer, a blind poet,

wrote The Iliad and the Odyssey which are famous epic poems.

• Aesop was a Greek slave who wrote stories called fables. Aesop’s fables contain a moral, or lesson, to be learned.

• Sophocles – 123 plays• Greek plays were long

and all actors were men.

The Iliad

Book VIII

Religion and Mythology• Religion played an important role in the daily life of the ancient Greeks.

They believed in many gods and goddesses.

• Each of the gods and goddesses were in charge of a different aspect of life.

• They thought the gods created disasters, made people go to war, or even helped people fall in love.

• Myths were tales of the lives of the gods. Ancient Greeks lacked today’s scientific knowledge, so myths were often created to explain the mysteries of nature. Myths also were written to teach lessons to be learned

The 12 main Greek Gods and Goddesses: The Olympians who made their home on Mount Olympus

Zeus – King of the gods

Apollo – god of the Sun, light, and music

Aphrodite – goddess of love and beauty

Demeter- goddess of the harvest

Hera – queen of the gods

Artemis – goddess of hunting

Poseidon – god of the sea

Ares – god of war

Athena – goddess of wisdom and war

Hermes – messenger of the gods

Hestia – goddess of the home

Hephaestus – god of fire

• What took place in Greece in 776 B.C.?

• Where in Greece did this take place?

Olympics- 20,000 to 50,000 people traveled to watch

- these great contests brought athletes from many countries, including those from Africa and Spain

- Athletics competition plus a celebration of the harvest and a festival to honor Zeus.

- City-states stopped fighting to compete or watch

- All athletes took an Olympic oath in front of the statue of Zeus.- Follow the rules and Trained

- Women were banned from competing or even watching the games.- Women did hold their own games at Olympia in honor of Hera.

- First event was a 200 yard footrace called the stade.- Chariot and horse racing, five event pentathlon, discus, javelin, long jumping,

running, wrestling, and boxing were added.

- The winners received a wreath of olive branches and honor of becoming heroes in their own city-states. - Also received money to return home and free meals for life.

Welcome to the first Olympic Games!Who would like to compete in the stade?

Start Finish Line

Your Prizes for your valient effort are…

And now we, this social studies class, consider you a hero!

ACTIVITY• You are a sports journalist during the year 768

B.C. This is a special year since the Olympics are taking place.

• You need to report the Olympics results to the people all over Greece.

• Choose two of the sporting events at the Olympics and report the news using the handout. – When writing the eye-witness account of what

happened think about the following:• how many people were present, play-by-play of the event,

who won, was it close event or a blow out?, etc.

Olympic Sports

Footrace (the stade) – 200 yard race

Wrestling – threw opponents down 3x to win

Long Jumping

Boxing

Javelin or Discuss throw

Chariot racing