Ancient Greece Notes

Chapter 10: Ancient Greece (pp. 296-323)

Section 1: The Rise of City-States

Vocabulary:

• Polis: A community with its own government; a city-state.

• Citizen: A member of a polis.

• Acropolis: The hilltop above Mount Olympus.

• Politics: The study of government.

• Aristocracy: Ruled by heredity or inheritance.

Reading Questions:

1. How did the physical geography of Greece encourage the development of city-states?

   • Mountain ranges divided the city-states.

   • Ancient Greece developed into isolated, small, independent communities.

   • Each city-state had its own government.

2. What kinds of governments ruled Greek city-states?

   • Each city-state was known as a polis, which is a community with its own government.

   • A polis had a city center and a marketplace.

   • Most poleis ruled not only the city but also the surrounding villages.

   • Types of Government in Greece:

     • Tyranny:

       • Tyrants: A ruler who seized power by force.

       • Supported by the middle and working class.

       • The ruler had absolute power.

     • Aristocracy:

       • Ruled by heredity or inheritance.

     • Monarchy:

       • Ruled by a king.

     • Self-Government/Democracy:

       • "Rule by the people."

     • Oligarchy:

       • Political power held by a small group of people.

3. Why was the polis "the framework of Greek life"?

   • The polis was the center of Greek life.

4. What changes took place in the Greek world during the dark ages?

   • Culture and literacy declined.

   • Mainland Greeks moved to Ionia.

5. Compare the advantages and disadvantages for settlers of Greece's physical geography.

   • Advantages:

     • They could raise goats and sheep.

     • They could grow olives for oil and grapes for wine, which could facilitate trade.

   • Disadvantages:

     • Good farming soil was limited.

     • Mountains isolated people.

Section 10-1 Essential Question:

• Who held political power in Greek city-states?

  • Citizens held power in some city-states, kings or aristocrats in others.