The Key Terms for page 173The Key Terms for page 173

Peninsula – how did the shape of the Peninsula – how did the shape of the land affect the way Greece land affect the way Greece developed?developed?

Acropolis (acro = high, polis =city) –Acropolis (acro = high, polis =city) –why do people build their important why do people build their important buildings on top of hills?buildings on top of hills?

The other key termsThe other key terms

Aristocrat – means “rule of the best”Aristocrat – means “rule of the best” Tyrant – having the support of middle Tyrant – having the support of middle

class traders and merchants along class traders and merchants along with lower class working people will with lower class working people will end up leading to….end up leading to….

Democracy! Invented in Greece! Democracy! Invented in Greece! 500s – 400s…B.C.!500s – 400s…B.C.!

1 (a)Geographic setting and 1 (a)Geographic setting and major landforms of Greece.major landforms of Greece.

The mountains The mountains isolated isolated communities from communities from one another and one another and made each separate made each separate community need to community need to be self-sufficient be self-sufficient and independent. and independent. This caused the This caused the different city-states different city-states to come into being.to come into being.

Also, Greece is in an excellent location in the Also, Greece is in an excellent location in the Mediterranean Sea and is made up of Mediterranean Sea and is made up of

peninsulas and rocky islands.peninsulas and rocky islands.

1 (b) How did the 1 (b) How did the geography effect Greek geography effect Greek

communities?communities? The mountains, peninsulas, and The mountains, peninsulas, and

islands cut off and isolated one city islands cut off and isolated one city from another.from another.

Each city-state developed Each city-state developed independently.independently.

2. (a) Describe two early 2. (a) Describe two early Greek civilizations.Greek civilizations.

MinoansMinoans were on were on the island of Cretethe island of Crete

They were great They were great traders.traders.

They had a writing They had a writing system.system.

Their main city was Their main city was Knossos.Knossos.

The The MycenaeansMycenaeans lived on the lived on the mainland.mainland.

They also had a They also had a writing system.writing system.

They were also great They were also great traders.traders.

After the Minoans After the Minoans declined, they declined, they became stronger.became stronger.

2 (b). Why were poems and 2 (b). Why were poems and myths important to the myths important to the

ancient Greeks?ancient Greeks? These writings taught about the These writings taught about the

Greek gods and goddesses.Greek gods and goddesses. They told about the great heroes and They told about the great heroes and

how they behaved.how they behaved. They unified the culture by being They unified the culture by being

passed down orally or in writing over passed down orally or in writing over the generations.the generations.

Two epic poems about the Trojan War: Two epic poems about the Trojan War: The Iliad and The OdysseyThe Iliad and The Odyssey

Troy – ruins of ancient cityTroy – ruins of ancient city

How did people remember their history during the How did people remember their history during the Dark Ages?Dark Ages?

1100s – 750 B.C.1100s – 750 B.C.

Poverty was everywherePoverty was everywhere Trade for food and goods no longer took Trade for food and goods no longer took

placeplace People moved away from GreecePeople moved away from Greece Writing disappearedWriting disappeared Through the telling of myths, Greek Through the telling of myths, Greek

traditions were preserved – oral traditions!traditions were preserved – oral traditions! People later began building villages on an People later began building villages on an

acropolis & gradually the dark ages endedacropolis & gradually the dark ages ended

Solon – paved the way to democracy Solon – paved the way to democracy by reforming the laws, he allowed the by reforming the laws, he allowed the

people to debate lawspeople to debate laws

3 (a).What were the 3 kinds of 3 (a).What were the 3 kinds of governments in Greek city-governments in Greek city-

states?states? After the Dark AgesAfter the Dark Ages, , aristocratsaristocrats controlled controlled

most of the good land and used wealth to most of the good land and used wealth to rule the city-states.rule the city-states.

In time, aristocracies were overthrown by In time, aristocracies were overthrown by tyrantstyrants who governed the city-states; who governed the city-states; usually the middle classes supported these usually the middle classes supported these tyrants.tyrants.

Lastly, the people of many city-states Lastly, the people of many city-states overthrew the harsh tyrants and formed self-overthrew the harsh tyrants and formed self-governing governing democraciesdemocracies..

3 (b) How did the rise of the middle 3 (b) How did the rise of the middle class help government become more class help government become more

democratic?democratic? Merchants and Merchants and

artisans formed a artisans formed a wealthy middle class. wealthy middle class.

They wanted to have They wanted to have a say in who became a say in who became their leader. Only their leader. Only male citizens could male citizens could vote. vote.

Only one in five Only one in five people were citizenspeople were citizens

Political shiftPolitical shift

Homer – the poetHomer – the poet

Not the cartoon!Not the cartoon!