2. LIFE, SOCIETY & CULTURE IN ANCIENT GREECE
GOVERNMENT
(MALE CITIZENS - DEMOCRACY)
MALE CITIZENS
MALE CHILDREN
WOMEN, FOREIGNERS & FEMALE
CHILDREN
SLAVES
Native free men were the
only citizens.
SOCIAL PYRAMID
3. LIFE, SOCIETY & CULTURE IN ANCIENT GREECE
Men could go to the
theatre.
Theatres were built outside, usually on
a hillside. All of the actors were men -
they even played the female roles.
Each actor played several parts in the
play by wearing a different mask for
each part. Greeks invented theatre.
Women couldn’t go to the theatre. They used
to be at home. They learned spinning,
weaving, sewing,… Women didn't participate
in politics or public life. Serving as a priestess
in one of the temples was one of the only
public duties that a woman might perform.
In the home, the women's rooms were in the
back. The front rooms were sometimes used by
the men for "symposia" (banquets). The only
women who attended these parties were the
entertainers who played music and danced for
the guests.
4. Greek houses were
made up of two or
three rooms, built
around an open air
courtyard or patio,
made of stone, wood
or clay bricks.
ANCIENT GREEK HOUSE
Courtyard or patio
Larger homes might also
have a kitchen, a
bathroom, a men's
dining room (Andron),
and perhaps a woman's
sitting area
(Gynaeceum).
Symposium, social events with
food and wine, were held in the
andron.
LIFE, SOCIETY & CULTURE IN ANCIENT GREECE
5. CLOTHING
LIFE, SOCIETY & CULTURE IN ANCIENT GREECE
Men and women used to wear simple
tunics and warm cloaks, made of linen or
wool, dyed a bright color, or white; a belt
and sandals.
The ancient Greeks could buy clothes in the
agora, the marketplace, but that was
expensive.
Only rich people could wear much jewellery:
rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces,…
They used perfume, made by boiling flowers
and herbs.
The first real hat, called petasos, was
invented by the ancient Greeks.
6. FOOD
LIFE, SOCIETY & CULTURE IN ANCIENT GREECE
•The soil was not very fertile along the coastline. But the ancient
Greeks used systems of irrigation to help solve that problem.
• People in the countryside worked in agriculture and were very
poor. Many farms were very small.
• All over Greece, the people grew olives, grapes, and figs. They
kept goats, for milk and cheese. They also grew wheat to make
bread. Fish, seafood, and home-made wine were very popular.
Greeks didn’t use to eat it meat.
8. ECONOMY IN ANCIENT GREECE
TRADE
It consists of exchanging or buying products like fish, fruits,
vegetables, pots, jewellery, clothes,…
LONG DISTANCE TRADE
Rich merchants had ships and sailed
across the Mediterranean Sea.
Products from Greek polis were sold
and imported.
They used silver coins
(each polis had its own currency)
LOCAL TRADE
There were small shops in Greek
polis.
Peasants went to the polis to sell
their products (crops).
Craftsmen sold their products in
their workshops.
The place where they used to do
this was a market called Agora.
9. ECONOMY IN ANCIENT GREECE
CRAFTS
It consists of making pottery,
clothes (made of fabric: leather,
linen,…), furniture (made of
wood),… by hand.
Greeks made excellent
pottery which they
exported to other places
by boat or wagons.
MEANS OF
TRANSPORT
CHARIOTS
FOOT
(mainly)
BOAT
CARTS
(TO CARRY
PEOPLE OR
PRODUCTS).
ANIMALS:
HORSES,
MULES
AND
DONKEYS.
MEANS OF
COMMUNICATION
STENTOROPHONIC
HORN
(TO DELIVER
MESSAGES TO
THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE)
COMMUNICATING
TO THE GODS
SPEAKING
WRITTEN
MESSAGES
(GREEK
ALPHABET)
SIGNS (Ex.
Raising the
torch)
11. ECONOMY IN ANCIENT GREECE
MINING / METALLURGY
Mining consists of removing minerals and stones from nature.
Minerals can be on the surface or underground. Examples: gold,
iron, bronze, silver, copper,…
Metallurgy consists of extracting metals
from minerals and mix them.
12. JOBS IN ANCIENT GREECE
SOLDIER / WARRIOR SAILOR
FISHERMAN
ARCHITECT
18. RELIGION IN ANCIENT GREECE
POLYTHEISTIC
It consists of believing in many gods. Ancient Greeks were polytheistic.
In the past, people used to believe in different gods or goddesses to
understand the life events. For instance, Egyptians were polytheistic too.
Monotheistic means that people believe in the existence of one god.
Nowadays, most religions are monotheistic, like ours.
