NAME:______PERIOD:______

Ancient CivilizationsChapterFiveReading GuideMs.Cave

Classical Greece, 2000 BCE-300 BCE

Essential
Understandings / Essential Questions: / Essential Knowledge:
The physical geography of the Aegean Sea shaped the economic, social, and political development of Greek civilization.
The expansion of Greek civilization, through trade and colonization, led to the spread of Hellenic culture across the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Greek mythology was based on a polytheistic religion that was integral to the culture, politics, and art in ancient Greece.
Many of Western civilization’s symbols, metaphors, words, and idealized images come from ancient Greek mythology.
Classical Athens developed the first democratic government although not everyone could participate in decision-making. It became a foundation of modern democracies.
Contrasting philosophies of government divided the Greek city-states of Athens (democracy) and Sparta (oligarchy). / How did the mountains, seas, islands, harbors, peninsulas, and straits of the Aegean Basin shape Greek economic, social, and political development and patterns of trade and colonization?
How did mythology help the early Greek civilization explain the natural world and the human condition?
What impact did Greek mythology have on later civilizations and the contemporary world?
How did democracy develop in Athens?
How did Sparta differ from Athens? / Location and place:
  • Aegean Sea
  • Greek Peninsula, Europe, Asia Minor
  • Mediterranean Sea
  • Black Sea, Dardanelles
  • Athens, Sparta, Troy
  • Macedonia
  • Economic and social Development
  • Agriculture (limited arable land)
  • Commerce and the spread of Hellenic culture
  • Shift from barter to money economy (coins)
  • Political development
  • Mountainous terrain helped and hindered the development of city-states
  • Greek cities were designed to promote civic and commercial life.
  • Colonization related to overpopulation and the search for arable land.
Greek Mythology:
  • Based on polytheistic religion
  • Explanations of natural phenomena, human qualities, and life events
Greek Gods and goddesses:
  • Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, and Aphrodite
  • Symbols & images in West literature, art, monumental architecture, politics
Social Structure and citizenship in the Greek polis:
  • Citizens (free adult males) had political rights and the responsibility of civic participation in government.
  • Women and foreigners had no political rights.
  • Slaves had no political rights.
Athens:
  • Stages in evolution of Athenian government: monarchy, aristocracy, tyranny, democracy
  • Tyrants who worked for reform: Draco, Salon
  • Origin of democratic principles:
  • Direct democracy, public debate, duties of the citizen.
Sparta:
  • Oligarchy (rule by a small group)
  • Rigid social structure
  • Militaristic

Section 1: pp.120-126 Cultures of the Mountains and the Sea

I.Vocabulary: Know the significance of the following terms.

Dorian / epic
Homer / Hubris(this is not in your text-I will discuss in class)
The Illiad / Minoans
Myth / The Odyssey
Mycenaean / Trojan War

II Chart: As you read, take notes to explain how each geographic characteristic INFLUENCED the history and culture of early Greek civilization. (What was the IMPACT of this geographical feature?)

)

1. Location “around” the sea / The impact was…
2. Rugged mountains / The impact was…
3. Little fertile farmland / The impact was …
4. Moderate climate / The impact was…

II. Answer:

  1. Why were the epics like theIlliad and the Odysseyso important to the Greeks during the Dorian period?

Section 2: 127-133 Warring City-States

I.Vocabulary: Know the significance of the following terms.

.

acropolis / aristocracy
democracy / helot
monarchy / oligarchy
Persians Wars / phalanx
polis / tyrant

II. Chart: Analyzing Causes/ Recognizing Effects: As you read about the growth of Greek city-states, answer the questions about the events in the timeline.

725 BCE / Sparta Conquers Messenia / 1. How did Sparta treat the Messenians?
650 BCE / Spartans put down a revolt by Messenians. / 2. What type of society did Sparta create in response to the revolt?
621 BCE / Draco writes the first legal code / 3. How did Athenians avoid major political upheavals?
594 BCE / Athenian aristocrats choose Solon to govern / 4. What economic and political reforms did Solon initiate?
500 BCE / Cleisthenes introduces political reforms in Athens. / 5. What steps did Cleisthenes take to create a limited democracy in Athens?
490 BCE / Athenians defeat Persians in battle at Marathon / 6. What advantages did the Greek soldiers have over the Persians?
479 BCE / Greeks defeat remaining Persian army / 7. What were the consequences of the Persian Wars?

II. Answer:

  1. How did Athens benefit from victory in the Persian Wars?
  1. How was living in Athens different from living in Sparta?
  1. The introduction of cheap iron weapons meant that ordinary Greek citizens could arm themselves. How might the ability to own weapons change the outlook of ordinary citizens?

Section 3: 134-139Democracy & Greece’s Golden Age

I.Vocabulary: Know the significance of the following terms.

Aristotle / Classical Art
comedy / Direct democracy
Peloponnesian War / philosopher
Plato / Socrates

II. Chart: As you read take notes about Athens’ golden age.

Pericles had three goals for Athens

1. How did Pericles strengthen democracy? / 2. What steps did Pericles take to strengthen & glorify Athens?

The Greeks invented Drama

3. What themes were common in Greek tragedy? / 4. What do the themes of Greek comedies suggest about the men and women of Athens?

Greek Philosophers search for truth.

5. What was Plato’s vision of the ideal society? / 6. What is the philosophic legacy of Aristotle?

Answer:

  1. Why do you think some Athenians found Socrates ideas so disturbing?
  1. How does the concept of hubris from Greek tragedy apply to the Peloponnesian War?
  1. Why was the rule of Pericles a “golden age” for Athens? Explain

Section 4 pp 142-145 Alexander’s Empire

I.Vocabulary: Know the significance of the following terms.

Seleucus / Antigonus
Darius III / Macedonia
Phillip II / Ptolemy
Alexander the Great

II. Answer:

  1. What happened to Alexander’s empire after his death?

Section 5 pp 146-149 & Sec 3 p.136The Spread of Hellenistic Culture

I. Vocabulary: Know the significance of the following terms.

Aeschylus: p.136 / Alexandria
Archimedes / Pythagorus
Colossus of Rhodes / Epicureanism
Eratosthenes / Phidias: p.136
Hellenistic / Euclid
Herodotus: p.136 / Sophocles: p.136
Stoicism / Thucydides: p.136

II. Answer:

  1. How did trade contribute to cultural diversity in the Hellenistic city of Alexandria?
  1. What four influences blended to form Hellenistic culture?
  1. How did Euclid influence some of the developments in astronomy during the Hellenistic period?
  1. Describe how the growth of Alexander’s empire spread Greek culture.
  1. What do you think was the greatest scientific advance of the Hellenistic period? Why?

Thesis: Write a thesis statement only answering ONE of the following questions. Identify which question you are answering.

  1. Analyze the factors that led to the rise of the Athenian Empire.
  2. Compare and contrast the Persian Empire and the Athenian Empire in TWO of the following areas: Government, Culture, Military, Culture.
  3. Compare and contrast Athens and Sparta in TWO of the following areas; Treatment of Women, Culture, Government.

Example: The factors that led to the rise of Athens were (1)…….., (2)……., (3)…….

Example: Although ______and ______were similar/different because ……………..,

they were more similar/different because …

1