Greece(750-500 BC)

I. Early History & Daily Life• In General • Geography & Women

II. Religion & ActivitiesA. Gods & MythsB. Worship

III. Sparta• Totalitarianism

IV. AthensA. DemokratiaB. Limits

Key Terms• Polis• Acropolis• Agora• Kyrios• Polis• Zeus • Hera• Persephone• Athena• Olympic Games• Helots & Equals• Assembly• Council of 500

Ancient Greece

Their impact on us today…• System of government, theater, arts, sports, etc.• Alphabet-modified the 30 character alphabet &

spread it throughout Mediterranean world

Daily Life-Food

• Olives were an important crop• Grains & fish were common;

meat was mostly for celebrations; goats & sheep = dairy & wool; honey

• Figs & grapes were grown; grapes were used for wine

Geography & Polis

• Organization of each was very similar:• Acropolis-(high city) located on a hill• Agora-public places for a market or public

meetings

• Polis is often defined as “city-state.”

Women’s Roles

• A woman was always under the control of her “Kyrios” (her master) & marriage was arranged.

• A wife’s duties:– Manage the household– Provide a male heir

• Women were supposed to remain inside the home.

Religion For The Greeks

Polytheists: They worshiped many different gods and goddesses. Who lived at…..

Role Of Greek Religion/Mythology

1. Promoted acceptable behavior: modesty, intelligence, heroism, patriotism. Sometimes they intervened in people’s lives.

2. Answered some questions about nature.

Zeus

Father of the gods

Hera(Romans-Juno)

Wife of Zeus; goddess of marriage and childbirth

Poseidon

Brother of Zeus; god of seas and earthquakes

Hades

Brother of Zeus; god of the underworld

Percy = Similar to Perseus

Demeter

Sister of Zeus; goddess of agriculture and fertility

Persephone

Daughter of Zeus & Demeter; wife of Hades; influenced cycle of seasons

Pictured here as queen of the Underworld

Apollo

Son of Zeus; god of prophesy, poetry, music, and healing.

Temple At Delphi(In Honor Of Apollo)

Athena

Daughter of Zeus; goddess of wisdom and arts/crafts; born from the head of Zeus.

Olympic Games

• Held in honor of Zeus.• Celebrated human

heroism & perfection.

• Winners received only a small prize, but returned home as heroes.

Sparta

• All aspects of life were controlled by the state; VERY militaristic:

1. Upon birth, children were inspected for health

2. At age 7 male citizens began military training; from age 20-60 male citizens served in military

3. Male citizens lived in barracks until age 30• To eliminate tie to family

and replace it with a tie to polis of Sparta King Leonidas in

“300”

Sparta: The Bottom Line

A Totalitarian State

Sparta(Politics = Oligarchy/Rule by a few)

• Power was held by the Council; 30 male citizens over age 60

• Council members = elected for life by a vote of male citizens

• Council members choose two Kings among themselves

Helots & Equals

• Equals: Adult male citizens

• Helots: slaves who cultivated the land (Greeks had a prejudice against manual labor)

• Helots outnumbered citizens 7 to 1

Greek Slaves

Women In Sparta

• Had more authority than in many other Greek city-states– Often spoke openly

about politics; could own & inherit property in their own right

Queen Gorgo of Sparta

Contrast to Sparta--Women’s Roles

• A woman was always under the control of her “Kyrios” (her master) & marriage was arranged

• A wife’s duties:– Manage the household– Provide a male heir

• Women were supposed to remain inside the homeWomen in

“Domestic Sphere”

Athens (Politics = Democracy/rule by many)

• Famous for its democracy:– Political power was

held by the Assembly

Assembly Of Athens• Assembly = included all adult male citizens who

passed all laws• Council of 500 (members of Assembly) = Power

1. Set the Assembly’s agenda

2. Made recommendations

How To Join The Council of 500

• Most male citizens would serve at least one term:– Each district sent 50 representatives chosen

at random– Minimum age of 30; two term limit for each

during one’s lifetime• Each day’s leader was chosen at random

How To Join The Council of 500

• Most male citizens would serve at least one term:– Each district sent 50

representatives chosen at random

– Minimum age of 30; two term limit for each during one’s lifetime

• Each day’s leader was chosen at random

Council Members Discuss Policy

Court System & Juries

• Jury Pool-6,000 adult male citizen volunteers

• Of those, 501 were chosen at random to serve as jurors

Justice is “balanced”

Ostracism

• Athenians voted for “man most dangerous”

• If one received 6,000 votes he “won”

• “Winner” was exiled for 10 years

Ostracism Ballot (Themistocles)

Limits To Demokratia

2. Only adult male citizens had power; 44,000 out of 350,000 in Athens (440 BC)

3. Women had no political power

4. Slavery existed

1. Ostracism

Role/Function Of Laws/ReligionRegion Religion Laws Misc.

Mesopotamia Religion explains natural events; Laws are written & provide ethics-but Church /State are one

Polytheistic; uncertainty & instability

Palestine (Judaism)

Some natural events, ethical behavior (Ten Commandments)

Written down

First to worship a single God

Greece

(Athens = Democracy)

(Sparta = Totalitarian)

Promoted acceptable behavior; natural events; patriotism

Written & posted in public; limited democracy

Polytheistic; involved in people’s lives

Greece(750-500 BC)

I. Early History & Daily Life• In General • Geography & Women

II. Religion & ActivitiesA. Gods & MythsB. Worship

III. Sparta• Totalitarianism

IV. AthensA. DemokratiaB. Limits

Key Terms• Polis• Acropolis• Agora• Kyrios• Polis• Zeus • Hera• Persephone• Athena• Olympic Games• Helots & Equals• Assembly• Council of 500