8.1 The Rise of City-States

1. 8.1The Rise of City-States

2. Geography of the Greek World • There was no country called Greece in the ancient world • The area was near both Europe and Asia • This put them in the middle of trade routes where they were exposed to new goods, customs, and ideas

3. Geography of the Greek World • A Rugged Land • Greece is a peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea • This peninsula also has other peninsulas including the Peloponnesian • About 2,000BC Greeks settled into the mainland of Greece and the islands around it. • The Peninsula is covered with mountains • Only 25% of the land is farmable • This isolated the people of the area from each other • Created a spirit of independence

4. Geography of the Greek World • Surrounded by the Sea • The sea brought them in contact with more of the world • Became fishermen • Skilled sailors and merchants • Sailed across much of the Mediterranean Sea • Had contact with the older cultures of North Africa and Asia

5. Geography of the Greek World • A Mediterranean Climate • Mild wet winters and hot dry summers • Hard to grow grains • Good for growing grapes and olives • Traded the grapes and olives for grain

6. Early Greek History • Minoan Civilization • Writing • Stone palace • Running water • Traded throughout the Mediterranean • Made tools of iron • Mycenaeans conquered the Minoans for their iron making ability

7. Early Greek History • Mycenaeans • Influenced by the Minoans • Governed by a monarchy • Made Bronze weapons and pottery • Traded for copper, ivory and other luxuries • Destroyed by the Dorians

8. Early Greek History • The Dark Age • After the Mycenaean was destroyed the Greeks lost the ability to read and write • People migrated to the lands across the Aegean Sea called Ionia (Turkey today) • Told stories of the heroic time of the Mycenaeans • This included the stories of the Trojan War

9. The Trojan War • The Legend of the Trojan War • 10 year long war • Mycenaeans versus the Ionian city of Troy • Ended with the “gift” of the Trojan Horse • The story was told and sung for hundreds of years • until the Greeks developed their own alphabet (based on the Phoenicians) • The poet Homer finally wrote the stories down in the epic poem the Illiad • Along with the Odyssey, these stories contain and shape Greek culture

10. The Trojan War • The Legend of the Trojan War • 10 year long war • Mycenaeans versus the Ionian city of Troy • Ended with the “gift” of the Trojan Horse • The story was told and sung for hundreds of years • until the Greeks developed their own alphabet (based on the Phoenicians) • The poet Homer finally wrote the stories down in the epic poem the Illiad • Along with the Odyssey, these stories contain and shape Greek culture

11. Emergence of City-States • The Polis • Each polis had its own government • Included the city and the surrounding countryside • Each polis had a market place, government center and an agora • An agora is an open space and it was used for a market and other public events • The population of a city-state was small enough that ALL citizens could participate in government

12. Emergence of City-States • The High City • Acropolis = high city • Public buildings& temples were located here • Could be used as a fortress

13. Emergence of City-States • Politics in the Polis • The word politics (the art and practice of government) comes from the word polis • The polis was often governed by an aristocracy – rule by the best people • But these governments were often different • sometimes by a king, monarchy - rule by one • Some cities began to be ruled by the citizens – democracy – rule by the people • Even in the democracies foreigners, women and slaves were not allowed to vote

14. Emergence of City-States • Pride in the Polis • The Polis was the center of Greek culture • Citizens were loyal and expected to sacrifice and even die to protect the polis 300