Ch4,Sec1-2:TheEarlyGreeks,
Sparta,andAthens
WhereisGreece
•  ApeninsulainEurope
–  Hadwateron3sides
•  Mountainsandseasseparatedthem.
–  Manyislands,rockysoil,andmildclimate
EconomyofearlyGreeks
•  Fishing,sailors,
andtraders
•  Farming
–  Soilhardtogrowcrops
–  Grewwheat,barley,olives,andgrapes
–  Raisedsheepandgoats
Minoans
• 
• 
• 
• 
1stpeoplethatlivedonIslandofCrete.
Traders,greatsailors,veryadvancedforLme
Daringandskilledpeople-BullLeaping
Earthquake/TsunamioraRackedby
MycenaeansledtofallofMinoans
WhoweretheMycenaeans?
•  OriginallyfromAsia
•  Tookoverpartsof
EuropestarLngin1900
B.C.
•  FirstGreekkings
•  Warriorsbecamethe
firstnoblesofGreece
SetupoftheMycenaeanKingdom
• 
• 
• 
• 
Kingdomwasprotectedbyapalaceonthehill
Farms/estateswereoutsidethewalls
Slaves/farmersworkedtheland
PalacesusedforprotecLon,trading,and
businesses
InfluenceoftheMinoansonthe
Mycenaeans
• 
• 
• 
• 
Learnedhowtobuildweapons/boats
LearnednavigaLonbythestars/sun
Worshippedthesamegods
TookoverMinoantraderoutes
ConsoftheDarkAgesofGreece
•  Between1200-1100B.C.,theMycenaean
kingdomsstartedtofall
•  Tradingstopped
•  Povertywashigh
•  LackofeducaLon
•  LiRlefoodwasgrown
ProsoftheDarkAgesofGreece
•  PopulaLonspreadtonew
areas-spreadculture
•  DoriansinvadedGreecein
SW
–  Broughtironweaponsand
tools
–  Increasedpowerandfarming
•  NewGreekalphabetwas
created
Greecestartstocolonize
•  Greeksneededmorefood
•  CiLeswereoverpopulated
•  CreatedcoloniesinItaly,France,Spain,N.
Africa,andW.Asia
•  Firstgrouptouse
coinsfortrade
•  Peoplespecialized
inonejob
RiseofthePolis
•  Noblesoverthrewkings
•  Createdapolis-“city-state”
–  1,500differentcity-statescreated
•  Acropolis-religious/safeplacesatthetopof
thehill
•  Agora-undertheacropolisfortradingand
debate
GreekCiLzenship
•  Ranthepolis
•  CiLzens-peoplewhowereequalstoeach
otherandhaverightsandresponsibiliLes
–  Righttovote,holdoffice,ownproperty,and
defendthemselvesincourt
–  Hadtoservethegov’tandfightinwars
•  Originallyhadtobefreemenwhoownedland
CiLzenSoldiers
•  Footsoldierswerecalledhoplites
•  Hadashield,shortsword,anda
9aspear
•  Soldiersfoughtforthepolisand
notthecountry
RiseofGreekTyrants
•  Noblesgavemoneytoothernobles/farmers
•  Tooklandifdebtwasnotrepaid
–  Virtualslavery
•  Tyrantsusedarmiestobeatthepowerful
noblesandrulewithulLmatepower
–  Tookoverhugeareasofland
–  Peopledidnotwantonepersonincharge
Problem
•  Whatproblemsdoyouseewithone
unelectedpersonrulingoveronehugearea?
SpartanGovernment
•  WasanOligarchy:
–  Afewpeopleheldpower
•  Twokingsranthecouncilofelders
–  28ciLzensover60yrsold
–  Presentedlawstoanassembly
•  Assembly
–  Allmenover30yrsold
–  Chose5mencalledephorstoenforce/manage
laws/taxes
BoysintheSpartanArmy
•  Conquerednewlandsto
gainpower
–  Helots-slavesoftheSpartans
•  Stronganddeterminedpeople
•  Boystakenfromfamiliesatage7tolearnthe
Greekwayoflife
•  20-30yrsold-foughtinGreekarmy
•  30-60yrsold-couldgohomebuthadtoreturnto
thearmyifawarwasstarted
GirlsofSparta
•  Trainedinsports
–  Running,wrestling,andjavelin
•  Wiveslivedathomewhilehusbandslivedwith
thearmy
•  Couldownlandandgowheretheywanted
–  Hadlotsofindependence
EducaLoninAthens
•  Boys
–  taughttoread,write,anddomath
–  Playedsports,sang,andplayedthelyre
–  BecameciLzensat18whentheyfinishedschool
•  Girls
–  Stayedathome
–  TaughtbytheirmotherstodohouseholdduLes
–  Wealthyfamiliesgavegirlsaboy’seducaLon
EarlyGovernmentofAthens
•  Wasanoligarchyrunbynobles
–  Peoplehadfewrights/powers
•  Farmerssoldthemselvesintoslaverytopay
offdebts
Solon(Noble)
•  canceledthedebtandfreedthefarmers
•  Createdanassemblyof400ciLzenstomake
laws
•  StartofaDemocraLcgov’t:
–  AllciLzensshareinrunningthegov’t
Peisistratus(noble)
•  Tookawaylargeestatesfromthenoblesand
gavethelandtothefarmers
•  Loanedfarmersmoney
•  Gavethepoorjobs
Cleisthenes(noble)
•  Reorganizedtheassembly
•  AllmaleciLzenscould
–  beintheassembly
–  voteonlaws
–  debatetopics
–  hearcourtcases
–  appointarmygenerals
•  Createdacouncilof500tomakelaws,dealwith
othercountries,andhandlemoney
–  ChosenbyloReryinsteadofvoLng