Ancient Greece spanned from the 8th century BC to the 1st century BC in the Mediterranean region. It was composed of city-states called poleis scattered across the Balkan peninsula and islands. The natural environment influenced Greek civilization by facilitating sea trade and isolating the poleis, preventing unification. Though independent, the poleis were united by a common Greek language and religion. Greek culture spread widely and formed the foundations of Western civilization.

1. ANCIENT GREECE

2.  The ancient name was Hellas
Land of the Hellenes
 Chronology: from 8th Century B.C to the 1st Century B.C
 Location: In the Mediterranean Sea. It was composed of the Balkan
peninsula, Peloponnese, Islands and later the coast of Asia Minor.
Privileged position between Asia, Africa and Europe

4.  The natural environment influenced the development of ancient Greek
Civilisation in the following ways:
- Proximity to the sea: developed important commercial activities
throughout the sea
- Its mountains territory and islands: It contributed to the isolation and
independence of the Greek cities( poleis), which never became an unified
state.
 Even though each polis was independent, they had some unity due to:
- They had a common culture. They spoke the same language, Greek, and
had the same religion.
Greek culture spread along the Mediterranean coast and had big
influence.
Origin of the Western civilisation

5. Prehistoric period
3000 B.C to 750 B.C
Archaic Age
8th to 6th centuries B.C
Classical Age
5th to 4th centuries B.C
Hellenistic Age
4th century to 1st century B.C

6. 2.1 The origins of Greek civilisation: Prehistory
Cretan or Minoan civilisation
Center: Island of Crete
Splendour: Kingdom of King Minos
Capital: Knossos
•They built great palaces
Mycenaean civilisation
Location: Peloponnese Peninsula
Capital: Mycenae
Dark Age
•Is so called because there is little
information a and vey few artistic remains
•Communities began to form poleis.

7. Knossos palace

9. 2.2 Archaic age: colonisation
Chronology: 8th- 6th centuries B.C
Poleis( city-state). During this period were created:
- Independent.
- Each had its own laws, its government, its army.
- There were more than 200 poleis. The most important: Athens and
Sparta. Each one began to produce coins
Colonisation took place
Poleis Started to founded colonies
around the Mediterranean Sea
were completely independent from
their cities of origin (metropolis)

11. Colony in Spain
Ampurias

13. Colonisation:
Causes:
- Population grew and there was not enough farmland to grow crops(
not enough food for all the population)
- Merchants and artisans wanted to expand their trade.
Consequences:
-Greek culture spread( money, alphabet, art, etc)
Political organisation:
Aristocracy began to hold public positions
oppressed the weakest
social groups
“Aristoi” : the best
Tyrants took power
there was a tyranny (dictatorship)

14. 2.3 Classical Age
Chronology: from 5th to 4th century
The most splendid period. Athens and Sparta the most important poleis
Athens
People protested(revolution)against the abuse of power by the tyrants.
Reforms were introduced
Solon the Lawmaker created the democratic basis
Democracy was created
( Citizens got political power)
Government of the people
Institutions of democracy system:
Ekklesia(Assembly)
Council( Boule)
Magistrates

15. 2.3 Classical Age
Institutions
Ekklesia (Assembly)
Council
Every Athenian citizen.
Citizens had to be over
18 years of age.
They had to be male.
Functions:
Voted on the laws
Elected magistrates
Decided war and peace
People who were
part of the Boule
were chosen among
all the citizens.
Function:
Prepared the laws
to be voted on by
the Ekklesia
Pericles was the most important
ruler
“The Age of Pericles”
Magistrates
They were civil
servants that
executed the
decisions of the
Assembly

16. 2.3 Classical Age
Sparta
The political system was oligarchy
Few people held the power
Few people had full rights
Gerousia
Presented the laws
Two kings ruled the city
They were assisted by other institutions:
Apella
Voted the laws
Lycurgus the Lawmaker wrote the laws that ruled Sparta.

17. 2.3 Classical Age
Military conflics
In this period there were several conflicts. The most significant were:
The Persian Wars
=
The Median Wars 494-479 B.C
-They fought the Persians over control of the coast of Asia Minor.
-There were two wars.
- Athens organised the Delian League: military alliance between the poleis
- Greeks won
- Important battles: Marathon, Salamina, etc
The Peloponnesian Wars
431- 404 B.C
- Conflicts between Greek poleis (civil war)
There were continuous struggles between Athens and Sparta in order to
impose their supremacy over all the Greeks
- Sparta won and dominated over the rest of poleis

18. 2.4 Hellenistic Age
Macedonia was a kingdom to the north of Greece
While the poleis were fighting each other , King Philip II of Macedonia
organised a great army to control Greece and began the expansion
of Macedonia
Alexander the Great
( The son of Philip II)
Continued the expansion
Created a great empire from Greece to the
Indian frontier

19. Acropolis:
The poleis had two different parts
Lower part
Acropolis
“upper city”
-on the highest part
-Religious space
-numerous temples
-fortified
Where people lived
The main square: Agora

20. ECONOMY
• Agriculture and livestock: vines,
olives and cereals
“Mediterranean triad”
• Crafts
• Trade: with colonies. Silver coins
SOCIETY
• Citizens: Men over 18. Could vote,
elected to hold public office and
take part in political
• Non citizens: foreigners, no
political rights.
• Slaves: no freedom.

21. The ancient Greeks were polytheistic
Gods had human appearance and sentiments but they were immortal and had
supernatural powers. It is said that they lived on Mount Olympus.
The temple was the house of the gods.
Each city worshipped its own gods.
They made offerings and sacrifices to the gods.
They also believed in heroes: born of a deity and a human.
The tales of gods and heroes are known as mythology
The Olympic Games were dedicated to Zeus.
The Greeks believed in oracles: the gods ´answers to human questions.
The messages were transmitted via signs that only priest could interpret.
The messages expressed the will of the gods, so you should follow their
advice.

22. Arts
Sciences
• Philosophy: Plato, Aristotle, etc
• Literature: Invented the theatre( comedy
and tragedy). Homer: Iliad and Odyssey.
• History appeared for the fist time:
Herodotus
• Mathematics: Pythagoras..
• Hippocrates in medicine.
• They made important advances in
astronomy.
Plato
Aristotle

23. Alphabet

24. Architecture:
Characteristics:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Proportion and balance
Materials: Stone or marble.
They painted the buildings
Support: Columns
three styles
Doric
Ionic
Corinthian
5. Buildings had a triangular pediment at the front
Pediment

25. Capital
Shaft
Base
Doric
-The simplest
-No base
-Shaft wider at
the bottom
- Capital smooth
Ionic
-It has base
-Shaft taller and thinner
-Capital with scrolls
Corinthian
-It has base
-Shaft thinner than the others
-Capital decorated
with acanthus leaves

29. Atenea nike

30. Zeus

31. Architecture:
Types of constructions:
Temples
Tombs
Theatres
Stadiums
Hippodromes
Gymnasiums
The layout of some Greek cities was grid-like with streets crossing each other.

32. Layout of a Greek city

33. Parts of a Greek temple
opisthodomos
Naos or cella
pronaos

35. Stadium

36. Theatre of Epidaurus

37. Mausoleum of Halicanassus

38. Sculpture and ceramics
General Characteristics:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Humans represented
Importance of the naked human body
Idealised beauty
Proportion
Materials: stone ( marble) bronze
Archaic
Classical
Hellenistic

39. Periods
Archaic
Classical
Hellenistic
-Rigid- static
-Big eyes – almond shape eyes
-Forced smile- archaic smile
-Geometrical hair
-Kouros ( nude athlets) and Kore Dressed women
-Movement
-More realistic
-Idealised ( young, perfect body)
-Proportioned bodies
-Serene expression
-Feelings, effort, pain
-Realistic
-Figures were full of movement
( different postures: forced, tragic)

40. Archaic Period: Kouros

41. Archaic period: Kore

42. Classical Period
Discobolus of Myron

43. Classical Period
Praxiteles

44. Laocoon and his sons

46. Ceramics
-It is almost the only testimony of Greek painting
-Different shapes and sizes
-Decoration: geometrical patterns, animals, myths, daily life
- Colours:
3 types
Figures in different colours
on a white background
Figures in black
on a reddish background
Figures in red
on a black background