A General Presentation about Ancient Greece

Prepared by: Ayrton Justin B. San Joaquin, 10-B

Geography*Note: Map is in Latin and in their respective ancient names

Geography

• Located in Europe• Both an archipelago and a peninsula• Bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the West,

Ionian Sea to the South West, Mediterranean Sea to the South, and Aegean Sea to the East

• Neighbored by the Romans to the West and the Persians to the East (During Early History) and Barbaric Tribes to the North

Arts and Architecture

Arts and Architecture

• The Greeks used marble or stone in building their important buildings such as temples.

• Characterized by elaborate decorations and a very stable structure

• Evident through it’s presence and preservation today

Mythology

Mythology

• Their gods and goddesses were a result of their birth from Titans and eventually conquered the Titans.

• The 3 major gods are Zeus, Poseidon and Hades

• Later, the Greek word Hades became synonymous for Hell

• There were gods and goddesses for every everyday activities of the Greeks

History

History

• First began with the Minoan Civilization in the island of Crete

• The Mycenaean Civilization then emerged in mainland Greece. Its invasion of Crete ended the Minoan Civilization

• Then came Archaic Greece, period of the dominance of Archons

• Then the Hellenic Period, which includes the conquests of Alexander the Great

• Followed by the Hellenistic Period, started after the death of Alexander the Great

Famous People

Famous People• Ancient Greece was renowned for producing

great philosophers and leaders• The 3 most famous philosophers • are Plato, Socrates and Aristotle.• The greatest Greek general, in terms of

conquest and territorial expansion, is Alexander the Great

• Great leaders include Pericles, Demosthenes and Epaminondas

• Famous Historians include Herodotus and Plutarch

Wars

Wars

• Major Wars include (in chronological order): The Trojan War, The Messenian Wars, Greek-Punic Wars, Greco- Persian Wars, Wars of Alexander the Great, Wars of the Diadochi, and The Greco- Roman War

• The Greeks had the distinction of using the hoplite style of fighting and the use of the phalanx formation.

Ancient Olympics

Ancient Olympics

• Were for the veneration of the sky god Zeus• Athletic competition in Olympia among

representatives of the ancient city states of Ancient Greece

• Included an Olympic Truce so that representatives could go crossing borders to Olympia safely

• Was often a political tool to assert dominance over another city state and an opportunity to forge alliances.

• Was held every 4 years

Culture and Society

Culture and Society

• Was the first recorded civilization to institute democracy in their government

• Men often went to theatres if they were not into military training

• Women did domestic work in their houses• Majority of the people made a living on

farming• Children spent their time playing with toys and

games

*Note

• *Some pictures taken from a game of mine.