Ancient Greece

Modern Greece

• Modern Greece is located in southeast Europe, near the Mediterranean Sea.

Ancient Greece

• Key features of civilization in Ancient Greece:-

  • Government: Each polis had its own form of government including monarchies, oligarchies, and democracies.

  • Religion: Ancient Greeks had a complex polytheistic religion with gods and goddesses associated with various aspects of life and nature; they built temples and held festivals in their honor.

  • Arts & Culture: Known for advancements in philosophy, literature, drama, sculpture, and architecture, with iconic structures like the Parthenon. Celebrated theater, poetry, and the Olympic Games.

  • Warfare: City-states had armies for defense and were often in conflict with each other; Sparta was particularly known for its military focus.

  • Agriculture: Relied on farming, with crops like olives, grapes, and grains adapted to the Mediterranean climate.

• Additional features of civilization not discussed in the video:-

  • City: Urban centers serving as hubs for trade, culture, and political administration.

  • Complex social structure: Distinct social classes including citizens, slaves, and metics (foreign residents).

  • Science and technology: Made advancements in mathematics, astronomy, engineering, and medicine.

  • Money and trade: Developed coinage and engaged in extensive trade networks throughout the Mediterranean.

Four Early River Valley Civilizations

• Egypt: Nile River

• Mesopotamia: Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

• Indian Civilization: Indus River

• Ancient China: Huang He (Yellow) River

Ancient Greece Geography

• Included the Greek peninsula, Crete, the western coast of Asia Minor, and islands in the Aegean Sea.

• Key geographical features:-

  • Mountains: Influenced the development of independent city-states due to natural barriers.

Greek City-States

• The Greek landscape is mountainous.

• Features from a map of Greece:-

  • Coastline: Provided access to trade and maritime activities.

  • Mountains: Separated city-states, leading to independent development.

  • Used for transportation and communication.

Greek Peninsula

• Ancient Greeks settled on plains/flat land.

• Villages banded together to form strong trading centers, known as city-states.

• Hundreds of city-states formed in ancient Greece.

Polis

• The ancient Greek name for a city-state is \"polis.\"

• The territory of a polis was usually fairly limited.

• Each polis had its own government.

Separation of City-States

• Greek city-states were separated by natural relief.-

  • Olympia and Mycenae were separated by mountains.

  • Sparta and Knossos were separated by the sea.

• This separation led to the development of independent city-states.

Unification

• The ancient Greek city-states did not unite under one ruler.

• Difficult to have one central government.

• Natural barriers, such as mountains and seas, contributed to this.

Greek City-States (750 B.C.)

• Greek people were divided into independent city-states (polis) within each valley and its surrounding mountains.

City-States Government

• No central government in ancient Greece.

• Each city-state had its own form of government.

• Different forms of government in city-states:-

  • Monarchy: rule of a king

  • Oligarchy: rule of the few

  • Democracy: rule of the people

• Examples:-

  • Corinth was ruled by kings (monarchy).

  • Sparta was ruled by a small group of men (oligarchy).

  • Athens experimented with democracy.

Armies

• City-states had armies for defense.

Cultural Differences

• The mountainous relief of the Greek peninsula contributed to cultural differences among the city-states.

• Separation by mountains and seas made inter-state communication and contact difficult.

• City-states did not influence each other significantly.

• Reasons for cultural differences:-

  • Different forms of government

  • Geographical separation by mountains and seas

Athens vs. Sparta

• Both Athens and Sparta were ancient Greek city-states.

• They had different cultures and forms of government.

Athens

• Could choose different jobs: farmer, fisherman, craftsman, or trader.

• Received education and could enjoy childhood.

• Well-rounded education: reading, writing, arithmetic, literature, music, and physical education.

• Great thinkers like Socrates (father of philosophy).

• Could enjoy cultural activity like drama in ancient theaters.

• Interested in art and literature; playwrights wrote comedies and tragedies.

• Center of arts and architecture (e.g., Parthenon).

• Trade-based economy; trade relations important.

• Boys received education; girls learned from their mothers (e.g., cooking, cleaning, spinning thread, weaving cloth).

• Women had more rights; could own property and remarry.

• Had many slaves who were skilled craftsmen, clerks, teachers, household managers, farmers, factory workers, and silver mine workers.

• Slaves could marry, sell extra crops, and buy freedom.

• Democracy: all male citizens could join the Assembly and discuss politics; the Assembly was the highest authority.

Sparta

• Focused on military and physical trainings for strength and discipline.

• Reading and writing were not valued.

• Economy based on farming and conquest.

• Military lifestyle; fought and conquered.

• Women should also be physically strong; trained to fight.

• Housewives married around age 15; could not own or inherit property, could not vote or attend the assembly.

• Oligarchy: ruled by a small group of people (Council of Elders + Ephors).

• Had political power.

• Physically strong.

• Strong military state.

• Had slaves to work for them.

Government

• Government is the group of people who control and make decisions for a country.

• Different duties of the government:-

  • Legislative: makes laws

  • Executive: administers laws

  • Judicial: interprets laws

Democracy

• The word “democracy” comes from the Greek words “demos” (people) and “kratos” (power/force).

• Democracy means government by the people.

• All people share the power; all matters are decided by the people.

Athenian Democracy

• All male citizens aged 20 or above could join the assembly and discuss politics.

• Formed by all Athenian citizens (adult males aged over 20); conquered peoples and slaves could not join.

• 6000 jurors were chosen from among the citizens by lots, each group (formed by 600 jurors) would be in charge of a court.

Legislative Power

• The assembly and council made laws.

• Athenian citizens had the power to propose bills in the Council.

• Athenian citizens had the power to discuss and pass bills in the Assembly.

Council

• Council members met every day and were paid.

• They drafted proposals for the Assembly to vote on.

• They monitored the carrying out of policies.

Judiciary Power

• People could be jurors.

Executive Power

• People could be officials to carry out government policy.

• The officials had to report on their work to the citizens at the end of the year (monitored).

• The officials would carry out policies that were pleasing to the citizens and would be responsible and do their jobs well.

Spartan Government

• All male Spartans aged over 18 were citizens and had the right to vote and take part in government affairs.

Council of Elders

• There were 30 members, including two kings and 28 elders chosen from nobles aged over 60.

• The Council could withdraw and re-submit the bills again, meaning that the Assembly could not reject any bills.

Assembly

• It was formed by Spartan citizens.

• They elected the elders and the five ephors.

• The Assembly voted on the bills proposed by the Council of Elders but had no right to discuss the bills.

Power of the Assembly and Council of Elders

• They had the power to make law.

• The members of the Council of Elders proposed the bills, and the Assembly voted on them.

• The Council of Elders could withdraw and resubmit the bills.

Ephors

• There were five overseers.

• All citizens were eligible to run in the election.

• They supervised the kings and helped run the government.

• The ephors were elected annually and were chosen from the entire body of citizens.

• Responsibilities:-

  • Supervised the rulings of the kings and checked their power if they exceeded their authority.

  • Arrested the kings if they committed a crime against the Spartan constitution.

  • Joined a king during a military campaign to ensure they did not abuse their power while abroad.

  • Protected the people from the oppression of the kings.

  • Controlled the treasury and supervised public works and the agora, or marketplace.

Kings

• The two kings were chosen from two royal families.

• They were only given power in time of war.

• They were supervised by the 5 Ephors.

• The kings could be put on trial, fined, or