Classical Greece City-States Comparison ATHENS Limited democracy Laws made by Assembly Only male citizens in Assembly Trade

rade with other citystates Education for boys Women inferior BOTH SPARTA Monarchy with two kings Military society Trade and travel not allowed Military training for all boys Girls trained to be mothers of soldiers Women obey men Women own property

Common language Shared heroes Olympic Games Same gods and religious beliefs

The Greeks were polytheistic. They worshipped many gods and created a mythology. Everyday experiences were explained in terms of gods. The gods had human flaws and characteristics. The Greek city-states united for victory against the invading Persians during the Persian Wars 490 BC-479 BC. From 460 BC to 429 BC Pericles ruled Athens. Athens thrived during the Age of Pericles. It prospered in its economic life and cultural life. This period of prosperity is called a Golden Age. Athens was weakened during the 27 year Peloponnesian War. Athens never recovered its greatness after being defeated by Sparta in 404 BC. Sparta would also be defeated by the Kingdom of Macedonia in 359 BC.

Alexander the Great and Hellenistic Culture Macedonia was a mountain kingdom north of Greece. In the 300s BC King Philip of Macedonia conquered Greece which had weakened itself through civil war. His son, Alexander the Great, went on to build an empire that included the Nile Valley, Persia, and parts of India. Alex spread Greek culture through his conquests. Cultural diffusion created a blend of Greek, Persian, and Indian life. This culture was called Hellenistic culture. Hellenistic culture gave more rights and opportunities to women, who gained political power. Alexanders empire fell apart after his death but Hellenistic culture lived on.

Greek and Hellenistic Contributions Philosophy: Greek thinkers tried to use observation and reason to understand why things happened. The Greeks called these thinkers philosophers, a word that means lovers of wisdom. Three of the most famous Greek philosophers were Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Socrates Developed the Socratic method: learning about beliefs and ideas by asking questions Government put him to death Plato Aristotle Believed one strong and good leader should rule Believed people learn through reason

Believed government should control the lives of people Divided society into three classes: workers, philosophers, and soldiers

Literature: The first Greek plays developed from religious festivals. Stories of the gods were usually the plots for plays. Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides wrote tragedies or stories of human conflict. Other Greek playwrights wrote comedies.

The Greek poet Homer wrote the epics The Iliad and The Odyssey. These epics continue to inspire writers in our lifetime. Greeks applied observation and logic to their writing of history. Herodotus is often called the Father of History because of his careful writing of history.

Art and Architecture: The Greeks believed in beauty, balance, and order in the universe. Their art and architecture reflected these ideas. Greek paintings and statues were lifelike but they also showed the human body in its most perfect form. The Parthenon was the most famous Greek building. It contained Greek columns which are still used today.

Science: The astronomer Aristarchus discovered that the earth rotates on its axis and moves around the sun. Archimedes explored the principles of the lever and pulley. Hippocrates, a Greek physician, studies the causes of illness and looked for cures.

Mathematics: Pythagoras developed a formula to measure the sides of a right triangle. Euclid wrote a book that would be the basis for modern geometry.