World History Pre-AP – Duez NAME________________________________ PD:

Chapter 4 “Ancient Greece & Alexander the Great” Time: 2 Weeks

Big Ideas:
1. The geography of the Greek Islands led to the formation of tightly controlled city-state units where unique cultures flourished and democracy was
born.
2. In Athens, leadership shifted between reform-minded aristocrats and tyrants, until land reform and an assembly served as the foundations of
Athenian democracy.
3. The Greek religion focused on performing rituals to gain the favor of the Greek gods. To learn the will of the gods, Greeks made use of oracles.
4. During the Hellenistic Era, Greek colonies thrived in Southwest Asia, and important works of science, philosophy, art, and architecture were
produced throughout the Hellenistic world.
Early Greek civilization consisted of many small, independent city-states. Trade led to Greek colonies, and Greek civilization gradually
spread throughout the Mediterranean world. Countless works of art, architecture, philosophy, drama, and literature were created, and
a direct democracy thrived. Macedonian Alexander the Great built an empire and spread Greek culture to Southwest Asia.
Section 1 • The Minoan civilization flourished on Crete as early as 2800 B.C. Most historians believe it was destroyed by the
The First Mycenaeans from the Greek mainland. The Mycenaean civilization consisted of powerful monarchies that
Greek flourished between 1600 and 1100 B.C. After the collapse of this civilization, Greece entered a period known as
Civilizations the Dark Age. Food production decreased, and the population declined.
• Greeks sailed extensively on the Aegean Sea and settled on islands and in Asia Minor. Iron replaced bronze in
the making of tools and weapons. During the eighth century, the Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet, and
Homer wrote his famous epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Tholos Ephors Helots
Hoplites Phalanx Pedagogue
Acropolis Agora Polis
Section • Independent city-states became the focus of Greek life. Trade and the search for new farmland led to colonies
2, 3, 4 throughout the western Mediterranean. Trade also produced a new group of wealthy individuals who resented
The Greek the power of the aristocrats. The new rich, along with many peasants, supported the rise of tyrants who
City-States seized power from the aristocrats. When the rule of tyrants declined, some city-states became oligarchies.
& Classical • In Sparta, a military state, a small group of men decided what issues to place before adult male voters:
Greece Oligarchy
• In Athens, aristocratic rule dissolved into political strife between peasants and aristocrats. Leadership shifted
between reform-minded aristocrats and tyrants, until land reform and an assembly served as the foundations of
Athenian democracy.
Cleisthenes Oracle Philosophy
Solon Epic Poems Arete
• As the Greeks spread throughout the Mediterranean, they came into conflict with the Persians. Although Athens
itself was partly destroyed in a war, Greece emerged victorious, and Athens became the center of power of a
Greek empire.
• Pericles was the dominant figure in Athens and undertook the rebuilding of the city. During the Age of
Pericles, the Greek empire expanded. At home, a direct democracy flourished, in which all adult male
citizens could vote. A woman's primary role was to be a good wife, mother, and manager of the household.
Distrust between Athens and Sparta led to the Great Peloponnesian War. After Athens was badly defeated,
Sparta, Athens, and Thebes struggled to dominate Greek affairs.
• Religion was central to daily life in Greece. The Greek religion focused on performing rituals to gain the favor
of the Greek gods. To learn the will of the gods, Greeks made use of oracles. Greek drama developed during
this period.
• Classical Greek philosophers, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, devoted themselves to rational thought
as a means of understanding the nature of the universe. Aristotle also created the foundations of Western
science. Historians such as Herodotus and Thucydides originated the writing of history in Western civilization
with their lengthy works on the Persian and Peloponnesian wars.
Section 5 • In 359 B.C. Philip II came to the throne in powerful Macedonia. He longed to unite Greece and Macedonia
Alexander and did conquer Greece.
and the
Hellenistic
• Philip's son Alexander, who became known as Alexander the Great, within a few years defeated the Persian
Empire and expanded his empire as far east as modern Pakistan. Although Alexander's empire was short-lived,
Kingdoms it was successful in spreading Greek culture in the region. During the Hellenistic Era, Greek colonies thrived in
Southwest Asia, and important works of science, philosophy, art, and architecture were produced throughout
the Hellenistic world.
Stoicism Sophocles Ostracism
Debate in class with Philosophical Chairs and write a reflection about:
Where would you rather live?
The Democracy of Athens? Or the military oligarchy of Sparta?
Questions from Chapter 4: Quiz is on Friday, October 1st
Due on Wednesday, Sept. 29 6. R.C. Pg. 122 Test is on Tuesday, October 5th
1. R.C. Pg. 111 7. R.C. Pg. 124 *dates are always subject to change.
2. R.C. Pg. 113 8. #6 on Pg. 125 Project for the 2nd six week’s period: We will be
3. R.C. Pg. 120 9. R.C. #1 Pg. 132
4. #4 on page 120 10. R.C. #2 Pg. 132 working on the Leaders Project.
5. #8 on page 120