Intro to Ancient Greeks

Acropolis

"high city"

Polis

A Greek city/state

What was the Greek ideal of a man?

A strong soldier who was athletic and intelligent

Phalanx

A tight set of lined soldiers with shields.

Who was the Oracle at Delphi?

A woman (or women) in the town of Delphi claimed to be able to speak with the gods. People would travel there and make sacrifices to speak with the gods.

Who was Homer?

A writer from the Dorian period (sometime between 1200 and 800 BCE) who wrote The Iliad and the Odyssey

What was the origin of democracy in ancient Greece?

Because every adult male had to be a soldier, they reasoned that they should also have a say in the government.

Why do we study Ancient Greece?

Because it is the basis of western civilization

Why do we say the Greek gods were anthropomorphic?

Because they behaved like humans and showed human emotions

Why did many different forms of government develop in the Greek poli?

Because they were geographically separated and very independent

How did the poli fight each other?

By opposing phalanxes. They would push each other until one phalanx broke apart

What two cultures preceded ancient Greece?

Crete (now a Greek island) and Mycenae

What did Greece import

Food (wheat, barley)

How did the trade economy affect Greek culture?

Greeks encountered many different cultures

How did geography affect greek development?

It kept the city/states separate. The polis developed separately.

Describe the geography of Greece

Many mountains and narrow valleys, many islands

What were some characteristics of Dorian culture?

Many small poli (city/states) that were 1. tight knit communities, 2 fiercely independent, 3. centered around the Acropolis (temple), 4. in constant battle with each other

What ideas did Greeks "borrow" from other cultures?

Math (Egypt), Alphabet (Phoenicians)

What did Greece export?

Olive oil, timber, marble, wine (considered luxury goods)

Oligarchy

Rule by a few wealthy people

Monarchy

Rule by one - usually passed down from father to son

Describe agriculture in ancient Greece

Soil was poor, so not great agriculture

What united the different Greek poli?

Their religion

What did the ancient Greeks do to win the favor of the Gods?

They held festivals, offered sacrifices, and held athletic competitions (Olympics)

What was the basis of the Greek economy?

Trade

oracle

a person who sees the future?

The Dorians invaded the Greek mainland in what year?

about 1000 BCE

When did a new Greek culture begin to emerge from the Dorian invasion?

around 800 BCE

anthropomorphic

being like people

Democracy

rule of the people

All adult Greek males had to be

soldiers