It s All Gr k to Me 700 B

It’s All Gr k to Me 700 B. C. to 145 B. C.

Section 1: City-States • Polis – “city-state” – Geographic & political center of Greek Life – City was in the inner & farms on the outer

Acropolis – Built on an Acropolis: fortified(military) limestone hill

Agora • Bottom of hill was the agora: open marketplace – Political & legal center, shops, water for the women

Running the City-States • Own government & laws • Contained 5, 000 to 10, 000 citizens • Only males from Greece could vote – Citzens could vote, own property, and hold gov. positions • Polis gave them sense of belonging and civic & personal honor

Section 2: Sparta • Aristocrats (nobles) took over gov. – Led by 2 Kings who lead the army and conducted religious services • Aristocrats = only Spartan citizens Assembly: passed laws & made decisions about war Ephors: Public affairs and education of the young Council of Elders: suggested laws & was high court

Helots and Perioeci • Spartans believed in totalitarianism – Gov. that uses force & power to rule • Helots: enslaved people who farmed the land • Perioeci: merchants and artisans who lived in villages – Neither enslaved ppl nor citizens • Helots & Perioeci outnumber aristocrats • Aristocrats trained for army & war

Spartan Way of Life • Goal: to be militarily strong – Did not believe in change b/c it would weaken way of life • Newborns check to see if they were healthy • Men – At 7, sent to military camps to be educated & to train for fighting • Strict Rules: silence, 1 piece of clothing, slept outdoors, measured weight – Expected to marry at 20 & Became hoplites – Left army at 60 • Women – – – Had more freedom then other women in Greece Had public schooling – read & write Owned land Loved sports such as wrestling & racing Told men to come home w/ their shields or on them

Section 3: Athens • 750 BC – Set up an oligarchy • 594 – Solon made plans to change gov. – Made constitution: set of principles & rules for ruling • Broke power of rich, established an assembly, offered citizenship, and trade • 508 – Spartans overthrown by Cleisthenes – Created 1 st democratic society

Democratic Constitution • Freedom of speech • Opened assembly • Council of Five Hundred – Handled daily business – Chosen by lot • Required to educate sons • At 18, took an oath of citizenship

Daily Life in Athens • Young children would read Aesop’s fables • Youth were to develop artistic and intellectual talents • Men – – – Boys from wealthy families would go to school Age 12: Phys. Ed. was most important 18 to 20: went to military training school Clothing: wool tunics or himation Hair: Short (young) & Long (old) Did the shopping

• Women – – – – Only did physical activities at festivals No schooling Clothing: long wool or linen tunics Hair: Long but pulled up in bun or pony tail Marriages were arranged Confined to certain part of the house Jobs: cook, weave, raise children No social life w/ husband • Homes – Large, airy luxurious buildings made of mud brick

Persian Wars • 545 B. C. – Persia conquered Ionia • Ionians w/help from mainland Greece revolted against the Persians – Persians won • Darius (Persian King) wanted to continue to punish the Greeks

Battle of Marathon • 490 – Darius & Persians sailed to Marathon – They then decided to sail to Athens • Athenians decided to surprise attack the Persians – Ran down the hills of Marathon – Athenians defeated the Persians • Afraid that the Persians would still come to Athens after, Athenians sent Pheidippides to tell them: “Nike”

Battle of Thermopylae • Athenians triremes built – Made strong navy • Xerxes (New King of Persia) brings his large army back to Northern Greece • Sparta & Athens teamed together • Met the Persians at the narrow pass

• For the first few days, the Greeks esp. the Spartans held off the Persians – While doing so, people of Athens were told to flee • A Greek traitor helped the Persians through the mountain pass – Persian were able to surround the Greeks – 300 Spartans and 700 Greeks stayed to fight to the bitter end • 1 Spartan survived the war • Athens burned

Battle of Salamis • Persians moved toward Athens • Greek army went to Salamis & waited for Persians – Themistocles tricked the Persians • Caused Persians to come through narrow pass – Difficult: Too many ships & large ships • Greeks destroyed Persians

Battle of Plataea • Xerxes went back to Persia • ½ his army stayed in N. Greece – They decided to go South • Greeks crushed the Persians

Delian League & Athenian Empire • Delian League: protective group head-quarted on the island of Delos • Most city-states joined – Sparta did not Effects of the Delian League in Athens in other city-states • Controlled ships • Led gov. ’s of other city-states • Gained more power over others • Rebuilt palaces & temples • Had a common navy • Had to use Athenian money • Controlled by Athens • Disliked the Athenian power

Peloponnesian War • 433 BC – Athens aligned themselves with Corinth a Sparta ally – Sparta accused Athens of aggression & threatened war • • • 431 – War starts when Sparta allies attack Athens’ ally 1 st Phase – 10 years of fighting 2 nd Phase – Nicias – a truce of 6 years 3 rd Phase – Athens lost attack on Sicily Ended with a crushing defeat of Athens by Sparta set up a King in Athens – Athens was never again as strong even though they would revolt and set up a democracy once again

Decline of City-States 1. Lost sense of community 2. Money issues 3. Harsh rule by the Spartans and then Thebes