Ancient Greek Civilization

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Ancient Greek Civilization
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How did Greek civilization begin?

• Began with the Minoans.
• Peaceful people who flourished on the island of
  Crete from 3000 to 1450 B.C.E.
• Advances with wove/dyed cloth, constructed stone
  roads/bridges, built highly advanced drainage
  systems and aqueducts (royal family had showers
  and toilets that could be flushed)
• The Minoans were either conquered by or succeed
  by the Mycenaeans

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• Crete and the mainland of Greece including the
  Aegean Sea and Troy

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Mycenaeans flourished from 1650 to 1200 B.C.E.

• Crete was struck by a 200 foot tidal wave, which
  weakened the Minoans. (volcanic eruption)
• The Mycenaeans lived on the mainland Greeks
• They were skilled horsemen, charioteers, and
  accomplished sailors who ruled the Aegean.
• Mycenaean culture revolved around their fortified
  palaces, called acropolises (top cities) cities
  included Sparta, Corinth, Athens, Thebes
• 1200 B.C.E. the Mycenaean attacked the city of
  Troy (key to the profitable Black Sea Trade) this
  launched the Trojan War (10 years of war led to
  the writing by Homer in the Iliad) Mycenaeans
  won!

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The poet Homer

• Pg 116
• Iliad
• Odyssey
• What did Homer reveal about ancient Greek?

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Greek City-States

• Ancient Greece was made up of many independent
  communities called city-states who all shared
  the same language/culture
• Most successful city, Athens, established many of
  the ideas that underlie Western civilization!
• But although democratic government started in
  Greece, only men could become citizens and vote
  women (and slaves) were excluded.

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• Evaluate the Greek city-states (pgs 118-120)
• 1. Land boundaries?
• 2. How count on the sea?
• 3. How did the alphabet evolve?
• 4. Why and how did the citizens have some
  power in the government?
• 5. Explain how Greece evolved into a
  Democracy?