Greek Cultural Achievements

6th Grade UBD - Unit 6 - Greek Cultural Achievements

Preview

Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle- Socrates, Plato, and

Aristotle each developed distinctive philosophies.

They were similar to and different from other

philosophies.

Achievements of the Ancient Greeks- The ancient

Greeks were responsible for many cultural

achievements. These influenced societies around

them as well as future civilizations.

Alexander the Great- Alexander the Great

conquered the Persian Empire. He spread Greek ideas

and culture.

Reach Into Your Background

Plays were an important

part of Greek culture. A

play is a form of

literature written by a

playwright, usually

consisting of scripted

dialogue between

characters that is

intended for

performance. What are

the names of some

plays you know about? (

5 minutes)

Partner Activity

Work with a neighbor and compare your answer with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)

Key Term

Amphitheate

r-  A round or

oval building,

typically

unroofed, with

a central

space for the

presentation

of dramatic

events. 

Key Idea- Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle

The philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and

Aristotle greatly influenced political and

cultural life in ancient Greece. These

philosophies were passed on through

the ages. They influenced leaders

throughout Western history.

The Golden Age of Greece

During the classical

period of ancient Greece

(about 479–323 BCE),

philosophy, literature,

architecture, and

sculpture flourished.

As a result, this period

came to be known as the

Golden Age of Greece. 

The Golden Age of Greece

Philosophy, the search for

wisdom became an

important part of life in

Athens.

Greeks built palaces and

temples that still stand. The

influence of their

architecture and sculpture

can be seen in many modern

buildings and works of art.

SocratesVideo- Socrates

Key Term

Socrates- A

ancient Greek

philosopher

who lived in

Athens during

its Golden Age

teacher of

Plato.

Key Term

Socratic

Method- A

method of

teaching by

question and

answer; used

by Socrates.

Socrates

Socrates, the famous Greek

philosopher and teacher,

developed a method of

teaching that involved

asking questions and

engaging people in

debate. 

This approach came to be

called the Socratic method.

Socrates

Over the years,

Socrates attracted

many followers.

However, his

teaching often

opposed commonly

held beliefs of Greek

society and offended

powerful Athenians.

Socrates

Eventually, Socrates was

tried in court, convicted

of treason, and executed.

Socrates did not write

down his own ideas, but

many of his followers

wrote about him and his

teachings.

These writings influenced

many thinkers throughout

the ages.

PlatoVideo- Plato

Key Term

Plato- Ancient

Athenian

philosopher;

pupil of

Socrates;

teacher of

Aristotle.

Plato 

Plato was

Socrates’s most

important student.

He established a

school called the

Academy that

provided instruction

in mathematics,

science, and

philosophy. 

Plato 

He also wrote a series of

dialogues, which often

depicted Socrates debating

moral and ethical issues.

These works criticized

popular views on concepts

like justice, courage, and

moderation. 

Plato 

One of Plato’s

most famous

dialogues is a

work called

the Republic, whic

h describes an

ideal state.

Key Term

Aristotle- One

of the greatest

of the ancient

Athenian

philosophers;

pupil of Plato;

teacher of

Alexander the

Great.

Aristotle

Plato also had a

famous student,

Aristotle, who

analyzed the process

of logical thinking and

wrote books on many

topics, including

forms of government. 

Aristotle

Aristotle thought that monarchies,

aristocracies, and democracies all had serious

flaws.

Because of this, he reasoned that a

constitutional monarchy would work best.

With this type of government, a constitution

limits the power of the monarch.

Key Ideas- Achievements of the Ancient Greeks

The ancient Greeks developed the first version of

democracy.

The ancient Greeks developed a complex mythology. It

shaped Roman mythology.

The Olympic Games began in ancient Greece.

The Greek language forms the basis of many English

words.

Homer wrote the epic poems the Iliad and Odyssey.

Greek drama included comedy and tragedy.

Science and City PlanningVideo- Science and City Planning

Achievements of the Ancient Greeks

Ancient Greek thinkers were not just philosophers.

For generations, Greeks had traded with many

civilizations. They traded with Egyptians,

Phoenicians, Mesopotamians, and others.

From these groups, the Greeks adopted an alphabet.

They made coins. They learned innovations. As

Greek influence grew, Greek ideas led to innovations

in other societies. These ideas spread throughout the

region.

Math

Pythagoras, a

mathematician and

philosopher, developed

what has come to be

called the Pythagorean

Theorem, an important

and well-known

mathematical

equation. 

Pythagorean Theorem

This famous equation, a2

+ b2 = c2, shows the

relationship between the

sides of a right triangle.

It is still used in geometry

today.

People use it to calculate

everything from the

heights of tall buildings to

the diagonal on a TV

screen.

Key Term

Hippocrates-

Medical

practitioner

who is

regarded as

the father of

medicine;

author of the

Hippocratic

oath.

Science

Hippocrates was a doctor

who lived during the

Classical period.

He studied the causes of

diseases and their

possible cures.

He also wrote about the

roles and responsibilities

of doctors to their

patients.

Science

In one work,

Hippocrates wrote

an oath. Those

who took the oath

swore to protect

patients from

harm. They swore

to live an ethical

life.

Science

Today, doctors still

make a similar

pledge. It is called

the Hippocratic Oath.

They make this

pledge before they

are licensed to

practice medicine.

Architecture

One of the best examples

of Greek architecture is the

Parthenon, a temple

dedicated to the goddess

Athena.

Ancient Greek architecture

has had a significant

impact on Western

architecture.

Art

During the

classical period,

the ancient

Greeks also

developed

sculptures that

were natural

and lifelike.

Greek MythologyVideo- Greek Mythology

Key Term

Mythology-

The study of

myths,

legends, or

folk tales.

Mount OlympusVideo- Mount Olympus

Religion in Ancient Greece

The ancient Greeks

practiced

polytheism, or the

belief in many gods.

They believed in 12

major gods and

goddesses, known

as the Olympians. 

Religion in Ancient Greece

The Greeks also

believed that their

gods and

goddesses could

speak through

certain human

priests and

priestesses known

as oracles.

Religion in Ancient Greece

 The Greeks consulted

these oracles for advice

in making decisions.

The Greeks thought that

their gods and

goddesses were involved

in their daily lives and

sometimes controlled

events.

Religion in Ancient Greece

Ancient Greek

religious beliefs

also informed their

myths, or stories

about heroes and

gods that

explained the

world around them

and human

behavior. 

Religion in Ancient Greece

The mythology of

ancient Greece

impacted other

societies in its own

time, and still

influences world

literature today.

The Olympics

The ancient Greeks created the

Olympics, an athletic competition that

was part of a religious festival

honoring the god Zeus. 

At first, the games only involved

running a race. Later, other events

were added, including longer races,

javelin throwing, and jumping.

The Olympics

After Rome conquered

Greece, the Romans banned

the games in 393 CE.

However, they were

revived in 1896 with the

first modern Olympic games

in Athens.

Since then, the Games have

become one of the most

important international

athletic events in the world.

Language and Literature

Literature was an

important element of

Greek culture.

The ancient Greeks

wrote many types of

literature but were

most well known for

their poetry and

drama. 

Language and Literature

The poet Homer is

believed to have

written the Iliad and

the Odyssey, two epic

poems. The ancient

Greeks also wrote

plays, including

tragedies and

comedies.

Key Term

Epic- A long

narrative

poem that

describes

heroic

deeds. It

can be

either

written or

oral.

Language and Literature

The Greek

language has

had a significant

impact on

English.

Many English

words are

derived from

Greek words.

Language and Literature

English also uses Greek

word parts to create

words that did not exist

in ancient Greek, such

as telephone and teles

cope (using the Greek

prefix tele-, which

means farseeing).

Key Ideas- Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great won a series of victories over

the Persian army. He gained control of the Persian

Empire.

Alexander helped the cultural exchange between

the Macedonians and the Persians.

Alexander conquered lands in Asia. The conquests

of Alexander spread Greek ideas and culture

throughout these lands.

The conquests of Alexander caused Greek and

Asian cultures to mix.

Alexander the GreatVideo- Alexander the Great

Key Term

Alexander the

Great- was a

king of

Macedonia, an

area just north of

Greece, in the

300s BCE. He is

known as one of

the greatest

military leaders

and conquerors

the world has

ever known.

Alexander the Great

In 336 BCE,

Alexander the

Great became

king of

Macedonia, a

northern Greek

state. Alexander

had been a

student of

Aristotle’s. 

Alexander the Great

From his base in Greece, he

conquered many lands and

defeated the Persian

Empire, creating a great

empire.

By 331 BCE, Alexander had

conquered present-day

Turkey, the east coast of

the Mediterranean, and

Egypt. 

Alexander the Great

Alexander went on to

conquer Babylon, Susa, and

Persepolis.

During the fighting, Darius

III of Persia was killed and

Alexander became the

undisputed king of Asia.

However, Alexander failed

to set up a stable

government.

Cultural Impact of Alexander the Great

After his sudden death in 323 BCE, at age 32, his

empire broke apart into several states. But

Alexander’s conquests had a lasting effect on the

world, as Greek ideas, architecture, and culture

spread throughout the Asian lands he conquered. 

In return, Asian ideas and culture influenced Greece.

This intermingling of Greek and Asian cultures

produced a unique civilization called the Hellenistic

Civilization.

Hellenistic CivilizationVideo- Hellenistic Civilization

Independent Activity

What has been the

“muddiest” point so

far in this lesson? That

is, what topic remains

the least clear to you?

(4 minutes)

Partner Activity

Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)