2: Rise of Greek City-States

1750 B.C. – 133 B.C.

Ancient GreeceCory may

Geography: What was its role?

What is this?

What are we looking at?

What do you see?

Geography

LANDSCAPES

Located on the Balkan Peninsula

Rugged coast, hundreds of harbors, mountains, & valleys

Farmed the valleys Isolated, self-sufficient

small city-states, or polis

Led to fierce rivalries

LIFE BY SEA Aegean linked Greece to

other cultures, themselves

Became skilled sailors & traded wine, olive oil, & marble

Bring back grains, metals, & ideas, like the Phoenician alphabet

Use seas to expand and settle across the Mediterranean world.

The Polis

Major city with countryside. Two leveled cities

acropolis, or high city. Small populations help citizens share

responsibility Communities join in festivals

honoring the city’s god/goddess Male Landowners: Held the political

power

Governing the Polis

Kings: Monarchy. Noble Landowners: Aristocracy

Could afford bronze weapons & horses/chariots

Oligarchy: Small, wealthy elite Merchants, farmers, & artisans

New Warfare Methods

650 B.C.: iron replaces bronze for weapons because its cheaper. Citizens could afford weapons

The phalanx, a new formation, emerges

Requires intense drill, forms unity in armies

Leads to the dominance of: Sparta & Athens

Sparta

Located in the Peloponnesus Slaves, or helots, worked the land Government: 2 kings & a council of

elders Citizens: male Spartans over 30 Harsh, disciplined life

Great military culture Women different, why? Isolated state

Lack art, trade, etc.

Athens

Located in Attica Wealthy, but developed a democracy Solon, reformed government Led to rise of tyrants Cleisthenes creates the Council of

500 Limited democracy Female role in religion Boys receive extensive education

Mythology & Foreigners

Greeks were polytheistic Zues presided over gods & humans Athena, Ares, Hades, Poseidon What roles did the gods play within

Greek society Called foreigners barbaroi