Grade 11 History Ancient Greece Unit

2. Archaic PeriodArchaic Period
750 – 500 BCE750 – 500 BCE
Significant events
1) national literature (Homer)
2) resurgence of trade
3) colonization of Sicily and Italy
4) Olympic Games -776 BCE
5) stone sculptures of human
figure
6) rise of city states (polis)

3. Classical Greece (500 – 336 BCE)Classical Greece (500 – 336 BCE)
• Polis (city states) = all had its own form
of government, laws and money
(Corinth, Thebes, Athens, Sparta)
• Dominance of Athens as political
power (Delian League)
• construction of Parthenon and Acropolis
• Full development of democracy under
Pericles of Athens
• Classical age of Greece produced great
literature, poetry, philosophy, drama,
philosophical thinkers and art

4. Oracle of DelphiOracle of Delphi
• Dating back to 1400 BC, the
Oracle of Delphi was the most
important shrine in all Greece as the sanctuary of
Apollo
• Built around a sacred spring, Delphi was
considered to be the center (literally navel) of the
world
• questions about the future were answered by the
Pythia, the priestess of Apollo
• answers, usually cryptic or ambiguous
• Arguments over the correct interpretation of
an oracle were common, but the oracle was
always happy to give another prophecy if
more gold was provided
• It is believed that pythias were high on
hallucinative gases

5. Athenian DemocracyAthenian Democracy
“Demos” = people; “kratos” = rule“Demos” = people; “kratos” = rule
Originally Athens was ruled by a
Monarchy and Kings.
Then came the rise of an
aristocracy & an oligarchy that ruled.
The Aristocracy ruled as members of a Hoplite Army
c. 675-650 BCE (see next slide)

6. HOPLITESHOPLITES
These soldiers:
-were heavily armored -had large round shields
-shin protectors -helmets -spears
-stood side by side (6-10 deep) -easily defeated the old style

7. HOPLITESHOPLITES
-Originally the soldiers came from the Aristocracy (Upper
Classes)
-However the numbers of aristocrats shrank so regular citizens
would join  this gave ordinary citizens more power

8. Athenian DemocracyAthenian Democracy
Democratic Reforms by Solon and Cleisthenes
created the Three Pillars of Athenians Democracy.
They include:
1. Council of 500 2. Assembly 3. Courts
•Athens lived under a radically democratic government from
508 until 322 BCE. The People governed themselves, debating
and voting individually on issues great and small, from matters
of war and peace to the proper qualifications for ferry-boat
captains

9. Athenian DemocracyAthenian Democracy
Council of 500
- It represented the full-time government of
Athens
-It consisted of 500 citizens; 50 men from each of
the 10 tribes of Attica
-They served for one year and could issue
decrees (laws)
-However, there main role was to prepare the
governing agenda for the Assembly

10. ASSEMBLY
-The regular gathering of male Athenian citizens
who listened to, discusses and voted on decrees
that affected every aspect of Athenian life
-Things like: financial matters, religious matters,
public festivals, war, peace treaties and
regulations of ferry boats
Athenian DemocracyAthenian Democracy

11. Courts
•Juries of citizens would listen to cases, vote on guilt
or innocence of their fellow citizens and vote on
punishments for those found guilty
Athenian DemocracyAthenian Democracy

12. How effective was AthenianHow effective was Athenian
Democracy?Democracy?
• Ancient Athens is often referred to as the cradle of
democracy
• Democracy flourished during the Golden Age of Athens
(4th
Century BCE) under Pericles
• Direct Democracy= All the male citizens gathered,
discussed the issues, and then voted on them
• However, Athenian democracy was flawed. Only male
citizens were allowed to take part in running the
government (made up approx. 10% of population).
Women, slaves and foreigners were excluded from
public affairs. The policy of ostracism also created
some instability as the Assembly could exile a
speaker / leader by vote if they feel they are too