2010+Ancient+Greece+3

Name of Civilization: Ancient Greece

IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME!  Date: 2000-30 BCE

Government: 

- Ancient Athens was a city state (polis) in Greece. Other city states included Sparta, Thebes, Corinth, and Argos. City states were like mini countries in the sense that they had their own economies, were independent from each other, and were sovereign. Citizens were very loyal to their respective city states, and the duties and rights of the citizens were very important. Different City-States had different forms of Government, and there were often conflicts between them.

-From 508-322 B.C, the Athenian government was a democratic system. It was a direct democracy, because important issues were decided on by a direct vote from the people. These "people" were male citizens above the age of 18, for these were the only people who could vote.

-The actual word "democracy" comes from the Ancient Greek word // demokratia, // which in turn comes from the words // demos //, meaning "the people" , and // kratos //, meaning "power". In the eighth century, Athens and Attica (the name of the territory surrounding Athens) was under monarchial rule. The system of government then transitioned to an oligarchy in the 7th century. The oligarchy was ruled by a few prominent families. However, the Athenian commoners began to resent the rich aristocrats. In 594 B.C the Athenians appointed a trusted Aristocrat named Solon to repair the issue. Solon made many reforms including encouraging exports from Athens, banning debt slavery, and opening high government positions to more citizens. Although Solon made many beneficial changes, a tyrant named Pisistratus later came to power in 546 B.C. He took land and money from the nobles and gave it to the poor. Later, in 507 B.C a leader named Cleisthenes came to rule. Here, the big leap to Democracy occurred. Cleisthenes started the council of 500, who oversaw government work and created laws for the assembly, which was made an official legislative body. The council of 500 was created by lot, where all citizens placed their names. All male citizens above 30 were part of the legislative assembly.

- The Athenian Democratic system declined in 338 B.C, after the First Battle of Chaeronea. In the battle Phillip II, the King of Macedon, and his son, Alexander the Great, defeated the Athenian and Theban forces. Though Alexander died in 323 B.C, another Macedonian Army under Antipater arrived and again defeated the Athenians. The City was then controlled by an oligarchic group who answered to the Macedonian government. Although "democracy" was still in place, Athens was really ruled by these people. The scale that Athenian Democracy operated and functioned on would not be seen again until the modern age. Cleisthenes [|220px-Cleisthenes.jpg]   R eligion:
 * The ancient Greeks had many gods. They had some main gods, also known as the Olympians: Zeus, god of the sky, Hera, goddess of marriage, Poseidon, god of the sea, Hades, god of the Underworld, Demeter, goddess of agriculture, Apollo, god of music, Artemis, goddess of the hunt, Hephaestus, god of blacksmiths, Athena, goddess of wisdom, Ares, god of war, Aphrodite, goddess of love, Hermes, god of thieves, Hestia, goddess of the hearth, and Dionysus, god of wine.
 * In many Greek myths, there was a hero who was usually a demigod, a child of a god and a mortal. A few examples are: Hercules, Theseus, Perseus, Achilles.
 * According to Greek mythology, the gods were very much like humans except they were immortal and much more powerful.
 * Along with gods, Greek mythology had demigods, titans, and monsters. An example of some monsters from Greek mythology are: Charybdis, Scylla, the Sirens, the Minotaur, the Sphinx. An example of some titans from Greek mythology are: Cronos, Rhea, Prometheus. They also had some other divine beings such as the Muses and the Fates.
 * One of the important religious centers in Ancient Greece was the city of Olympia. At Olympia, there is a famous statue of Zeus that is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.


 * [[image:http://ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/assets/mediaserver/WorldHistoryAncient/1031/1031331w.jpg caption="Statue of Zeus at Olympia"]] ||
 * Statue of Zeus at Olympia ||

 E conomy:
 * Farming was the job that the majority of Greeks had. Families were occupied trying to grow enough food to survive. Poor and even wealthy families had to farm which was not complicated, because most Greeks lived on steep mountains in a rocky terrain good for family-run farms. But most of the land in Greece was un-even, and not good fertile soil for farming.
 * <span style="color: #ff7500; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Families grew crops such as grapes and olives. Many of their crops we harvested in small batches, but were very valuable and took very skilled agricultural workers to cultivate these crops.
 * <span style="color: #ff7500; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As time pasted Greek economy became more complicated. They then has to trade with other regions which made them realize that they had to make more olive and wine to trade and for themselves, which took more time and effort.
 * <span style="color: #ff7500; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Because of this trading, slaves became more essential to the Greeks to help with farming. Slaves brought great knowledge and shared it with the Greek's. Without the slaves help the Greek's would not be able to write, build their temples, make their artwork, or develop the beginnings of philosophy.

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">rt:   <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"> T echnology:
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">In Ancient Greece, sculpture was one of the most significant art forms.
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">One of the most important Greek sculptors was Phidias. He was the director of the construction of one of the most famous temples, the Parthenon, in Athens, and was believed to have seen the gods which is what made his sculptures so accurate. His most famous work was the statue of Zeus at Olympia.
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The style of Greek art was considered classical.
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Before the fifth century B.C., Greek art, especially sculpture, was mainly human forms that were somewhat unrealistic and very rigid. After, the art became more realistic and natural.
 * In about 650 B.C. the power of the middle class increased, therefore the military technology changed. The way that they changes is that iron weapons and tools replaced bronze ones. Because iron was much cheaper than bronze, regular people could afford war weapons such as helmets, shields, and swords.
 * Greek philosophy began with Greek thinkers of the ancient world. Many Greek philosophers mostly thought about subjects that us today would call science, mathematics, or political theory. They did not only limit themselves to these subjects, but stuck to these subjects for the most interesting and advanced knowledge.
 * The Greek's invented the use of steam to operate some experimental machines and toys, which made it easier to improve weapons for the use of war.

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Society: <span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"> -There were three general social classes in Ancient Athens. The highest were citizens, who were men over the age of 18. Next were freemen, who were foreigners and women, and slaves, who were the lowest social class. Women took care of the family and the house. Poorer women worked in the fields, or a workshop. Slaves did labor and performed odd-jobs and other tasks for a family.

- A citizen of Athens was expected to perform his duties that came with his citizenship. These duties included attending the Athenian lawmaking assembly (the Ecclesia), and being on the court jury. Citizens also went to the agora, or market, where they discussed politics and bought and sold items. In addition, they went to festivals, feasts, athletic events, the theatre, lectures, poetry readings, and think tanks.

-In Athens, it was important that men were educated. At school, which they attended from either 7-14 or 7-18, boys studied reading, writing, literature, music, legends, and participated in sports like wrestling. Young men interested in higher education went to philosophers like Plato and Aristotle to receive further teaching. Most women did not receive an education other than learning how to care for the home. However, the wealthy sometimes hired tutors for their daughters.

- Pericles was a ruler of Athens in the 5th century B.C. He was known as a wise leader and made many social and government-related reforms. Pericles believed that all citizens, no matter what their social class, should be able to take part in the government. Also, Pericles supported the arts, and associated with artists, writers, and philosophers. In addition, Pericles built many temples dedicated to the gods and rebuilt the Acropolis. These projects created new jobs for architects and craftsmen. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> Pericles <span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; url(http: //www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">[|images]   <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">  <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> Summary of your civilizations achievements: <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000080; font-family: Arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"> The achievements of the Ancient Greeks were truly astounding. Indeed, in every aspect of the GREATS, these people have left their mark, and have shown how advanced they were. Our nation, 2,500 years later, still runs on the basic idea of Greek Democracy, and our modern-day states are somewhat like their city-states. We still read tales about the adventures of the Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses and trade and farm just like the Ancient Greeks did so long before us. We are still awed by the sculptors and structures the Ancient Greeks made, and travel thousands of miles to see these grand and beautiful creations. The weapons the Greeks made enabled them to conquer countless peoples, and they harnessed steam about 2,300 years before we used it on our steam boats and in our factories. The Ancient Greeks also developed a formal education system, and developed citizenship and the rights that go with it. The Ancient Greeks were truly an advanced and highly developed civilization that has stood the test of time.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> Pericles <span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">[|images]  <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">By: <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Maya Rosenthal <span style="color: #ff7500; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Karlie O'Driscoll <span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"> Siddharth Singh