The GreeksThe Greeks

Rise of Greek City-StatesRise of Greek City-States

Geography of GreeceGeography of Greece

• Greece is part of the Balkan Greece is part of the Balkan peninsulapeninsula

• Mountains divide the peninsula and Mountains divide the peninsula and isolate it.isolate it.

• They didn’t create a large empire but They didn’t create a large empire but small isolated city-states.small isolated city-states.

• This caused many wars.This caused many wars.

The SeasThe Seas

• The sea was the link to the outside worldThe sea was the link to the outside world– Had 100’s of bays that provided safe harbors Had 100’s of bays that provided safe harbors

for ships.for ships.– Became skilled sailorsBecame skilled sailors

• Adapted ideas tooAdapted ideas too– Changed the Phoenician alphabet Changed the Phoenician alphabet – This became the basis for our alphabetThis became the basis for our alphabet

• Population growth caused them to expand Population growth caused them to expand outwardoutward

City-StatesCity-States

• Greeks had a Greeks had a city-state called a Poliscity-state called a Polis

• It was built on two levelsIt was built on two levels– The The acropolis (high city) was built on a hilltop acropolis (high city) was built on a hilltop

and had great marble temples dedicated to and had great marble temples dedicated to the different gods and goddesses.the different gods and goddesses.

– On flatter ground below lay the walled main On flatter ground below lay the walled main city city •Marketplace, theater, public buildings, and homesMarketplace, theater, public buildings, and homes

Early GovernmentEarly Government

• Early government-ruler of the polis was like a Early government-ruler of the polis was like a king.king.– Monarchy is a government in which a king or Monarchy is a government in which a king or

queen exercises central powerqueen exercises central power• Power shifted to a class of noble landownersPower shifted to a class of noble landowners

– They got power for themselves and ruled They got power for themselves and ruled according to according to aristocracy-rule by landholding elitearistocracy-rule by landholding elite

• Trade expanded and a new middle class Trade expanded and a new middle class emergedemerged– This caused and This caused and oligarchy-power in the hands of oligarchy-power in the hands of

small, powerful elitesmall, powerful elite

Two different city-statesTwo different city-states

• SpartaSparta

• AthensAthens

Unity in GreeceUnity in Greece

• Despite the rivalries between city-Despite the rivalries between city-states there were forces for unity.states there were forces for unity.– ReligionReligion

Religion in GreeceReligion in Greece

• The Greeks were The Greeks were polytheisticpolytheistic

• They believed that their They believed that their gods lived on Mt. Olympus gods lived on Mt. Olympus in Northern Greece.in Northern Greece.

• Zeus was King of the godsZeus was King of the gods and presided over the and presided over the affairs of humans and affairs of humans and gods.gods.– His wife was Hera and his His wife was Hera and his

children included:children included:• Aphrodite-goddess of Aphrodite-goddess of

love, Ares-god of war, and love, Ares-god of war, and Athena-goddess of Athena-goddess of wisdomwisdom