Ms. Soles Social Studies: Europe and Russia Lesson 39 Ancient Greece.

Ms. Soles

Social Studies: Europe and Russia

Lesson 39

Ancient Greece

Off we go far, far away in miles and in time!

Google Earth

What other great contributions did the Ancient

Greeks leave our world?

ScienceMathematicsPhilosophyLiterature

Science

Ancient Greek mathematicians contributed many important developments to the field of mathematics, including the basic rules of geometry, the idea of formal mathematical proof, and discoveries in number theory, mathematical analysis, applied mathematics.

Science

The discoveries of several Greek mathematicians, including Pythagoras, Euclid, and Archimedes, are still used in mathematical teaching today.

Greek mathematician, 3rd century BC, as imagined by Raphael in this detail from The School of Athens.

The Greeks developed astronomy, which they treated as a branch of mathematics, to a highly sophisticated level. The first geometrical, three-dimensional models to explain the apparent motion of the planets were developed in the 4th century BC by Eudoxus of Cnidus and Callippus of Cyzicus.

1900 Diagram by Swerdlow, Using Hipparchus’

Observations

Their younger contemporary Heraclides Ponticus proposed that the Earth rotates around its axis. In the 3rd century BC Aristarchus of Samos was the first to suggest a heliocentric system, although only fragmentary descriptions of his idea survive.

Hipparchus was born in Nicaea (now Iznik, Turkey), and probably died on the island of Rhodes. He is known to have been a working astronomer at least from 162 to 127 BC.[2] Hipparchus is considered the greatest ancient astronomical observer.

Using the angles of shadows created at widely separated regions, estimated the circumference of the Earth with great accuracy.[22] In the 2nd century BC Hipparchus of Nicea made a number of contributions, including the first measurement of precession and the compilation of the first star catalog in which he proposed the modern system of apparent magnitudes.

With his solar and lunar theories and his trigonometry, he may have been the first to develop a reliable method to predict solar eclipses

1900 Diagram by Swerdlow, Using Hipparchus’

Observations

Eratosthenes276 BC-194 BC

He was the first person to use the word "geography" and invented the discipline of geography as we understand it.[3] He invented a system of latitude and longitude

He was the first person to calculate the circumference of the earth by using a measuring system using stades, or the length of stadiums during that time period (with remarkable accuracy). He was the first person to prove that the Earth was round.

Sphere: from Greek-”sphaira”

He was the first to calculate the tilt of the Earth's axis (also with remarkable accuracy).

He may also have accurately calculated the distance from the earth to the sun and invented the leap day.[

Earth’s Axial Tilt: 23.44’

He also created a map of the world based on the available geographical knowledge of the era. In addition, Eratosthenes was the founder of scientific chronology; he endeavored to fix the dates of the chief literary and political events from the conquest of Troy.

19th Century Reconstruction of Eratosthenes’ Map of the

known World. 194 BC

Named after EratosthenesEratosthenes Crater on the

Moon

Greek Philosophy

We have learned many things from the ancient Greeks, but perhaps the most important is the value of ideas. The Greeks believed in wisdom. Ancient Greece was remembered for its many great philosophers. Philosophers were people who discussed, debated, and studied wisdom.

The word philosophy comes from the Greek term meaning "the love of wisdom." The ancient Greeks were concerned with rhetorical skills. Rhetoric is speech that is used to persuade someone. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were three of the greatest philosophers of ancient Greece.

Socrates was a Greek philosopher who taught by asking questions. When teachers ask questions that encourage students to draw conclusions, they are using the "Socratic method" of teaching. The oracle of the prominent polis of Delphi pronounced Socrates the wisest man in Greece.

Socrates concluded that while others professed knowledge they did not have, he knew how little he knew. Socrates asked many questions, but he gave few answers. He often denied knowing the answers to the questions he asked.

Socrates was a well-known teacher in Athens. He drifted around the city with his students, engaging many people in arguments about "justice, bravery, and piety." What we know about Socrates comes from what others wrote about him. Socrates did not write any books because he believed in the superiority of argument over writing.

Most of what we know about Socrates comes from Plato, his most famous student. Plato called Socrates “the best of all men I have ever known.” When his mentor was executed, Plato left Greece for more than a decade. He returned to start the Academy, a school that would operate for more than 900 years.

Aristotle

Aristotle was the greatest scientist of the ancient world. He is considered the father of the natural sciences. Aristotle believed in using logic and reason, rather than the anger or pleasure of gods, to explain events.

Aristotle was born in Macedonia, a mountainous land north of the Greek peninsula. At that time, many Greeks believed Macedonia was a backward place with no culture. Aristotle moved to Athens and studied at Plato’s Academy. He remained at the school for more than twenty years until shortly after Plato died.

Aristotle then returned to Macedonia, where King Philip hired him to prepare his thirteen-year-old son, Alexander, for his future role as a military leader. His student would one day be known as known as Alexander the Great, one of the greatest military conquerors of all time

Once Alexander became King of Macedonia, Aristotle returned to Athens and opened a school he called the Lyceum. For the next twelve years, Aristotle organized his school as a center of research on astronomy, zoology, geography, geology, physics, anatomy, and many other fields.

Macedonia 800’s – 146 BC

Aristotle wrote 170 books, 47 of which still exist more than two thousand years later. Aristotle was also a philosopher who wrote about ethics, psychology, economics, theology, politics, and rhetoric. Later inventions like the telescope and microscope would prove many of Aristotle’s theories to be incorrect, but his ideas formed the basis of modern science.

Greek mythology

The ancient Greeks were polytheistic. This means they believed in many gods. Writers and artists use the stories and symbols of Greek myths to this day. While we no longer view the myths as religion, many people still enjoy reading them. Today, most people who live in the Western Hemisphere believe in one god. People who believe in one god are monotheistic.

Myths are traditional stories. The Greeks used myths to explain things they did not understand. At first, myths were passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Later, Greek poets created epic stories based on those legends. An epic is a long poem about great heroes and their deeds.

The Greek gods lived atop Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. Zeus was the head of the family of gods. He ruled the sky with his powerful thunderbolt. One of his brothers, Poseidon, ruled the sea; another brother, Hades, ruled the “underworld .” Zeus's wife, Hera, was the goddess of women and marriage.

Mt. Olympus

The Greeks would often consult priests or priestesses called oracles before making important decisions. They believed that the gods spoke to the oracles. The oracles were said to be able to read the rustling of leaves or marks on animals as signs from the gods. The oracles would often respond in unclear ways so it would be difficult for people to prove them wrong.

“Consulting the Oracle” by John William Waterhouse, showing 8 priestesses in a

temple of prophecy.

Review and Reflect

We have learned about so much that the Ancient Greeks left to the world in:

Science and MathematicsPhilosophyLiterature

Time to say “Good-bye”!As we spin around the earth

on our way home, think about those brilliant Greek

scientists, so very long ago, that knew so much about this “giant sphere” that we live

on!!

Google Earth

Resources

http://wikkipedia.com

http://MrDowling.com

http://www.history.com