Ancient Greece
MinoansTraded with Egypt and
MesopotamiaReached its height around
1600 B.C.EMycenaeans
1400-1200 B.C.E.Trojan War
Described in Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey (epic poems)
Early People of the Aegean Sea
After 750 B.C.E. Greeks evolved to strong city-states called a Polis
Build cities on two levels
Top level- Acropolis (temples)
Bottom level-main city
Rise of Greek City-States
Changes over time:Monarchy- king or queen has central power
Aristocracy-Power slowly shifted to wealthy land owners (nobility)
Oligarchy- control by powerful elite business class
Governing the City-States
SpartaWarrior society
AthensDemocracy- government by
the peopleBut only male land ownersMore focus on arts and
philosophy
Joined forces to fight the Persians in the Persian Wars.
Sparta and Athens
PhilosophersSocratesPlatoAristotle
PoetryDramaArtArchitecture
The Glory of Greece
Macedonean King- conquered a lot of land!
Blending of Greek, Egyptian, Persian, and Indian culture Hellenistic Civilization
This culture heavily influenced Rome
Alexander the Great