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Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its

development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.

Section 1: Geography and the Early GreeksEssential Question:What factors shaped

government in Greece?

The Big Idea:

Greece’s geography and its nearness to the

sea strongly influenced the development of

trade and the growth of city-states.

If you were there…You live on the rocky coast on a bright blue sea.

Across from the water you see dozens of islands and points of land jutting

into the sea. Rugged mountains rise steeply behind your village. It is hard to

travel across the mountains in order to visit other villages or towns. Near your

home is a sheltered cove where its easy to anchor a boat.

What could you do to make a living here?

❖ The Greeks created city-states for protection and

security.

Main Ideas

❖ Geography helped shape early Greek civilization.

❖ Trading cultures develop in the Minoan and

Mycenaean civilizations.



Greece Physical Map

What bodies of water surround Greece?



The Greeks lived on rocky, mountainous land surrounded by water. The

mainland of Greece is a peninsula, and the area of land that is surrounded by

three sides of water.

Geography Shapes and Greek Up Civilization

Because of the mountains farming was very difficult. Travel across the mountains was

also very difficult. People in ancient Greece created their own governments in the

mountains. They spoke the same language.

Mountains and Settlements

Sea and ShipsBecause travel was very difficult in ancient Greece, the early Greek turned to the seas.

To the west was the Ionian (eye-OH-nee-uhn) Sea and to the east was the Aegean (ee-

JEE-uhn) Sea.



The Minoans traded olive oil, wood, pottery all around the eastern

Mediterranean for gold, silver, and jewels. Sometime in the mid 1600s

BC a huge volcano erupted and created a huge wave that flooded much

of Crete. This eruption might have led to the end of the Minoan

civilization.

The Minoans

The Mycenaeans The Mycenaeans were the first culture to speak the Greek language. They built great

fortresses and set up colonies in northern Greece and Italy. The Mycenaeans did not always

conduct trade peacefully. They often attacked other kingdoms. Some historians believe the

Mycenaeans attacked the city of Troy, possibly starting the legendary Trojan War. In the

1200s BC invaders from Europe swept into Greece. At a time when earthquakes were

destroying cities in Greece, the culture slid into a period of warfare and disorder called the

Dark Age.



Greeks Create City-States

After the Mycenaean's (my-suh-NEE-unhs) civilization crumbled in 300

years, the Greeks joined together in small groups for protection and stability.

These groups set up independent city-states.

The Greek word for city state is polis (PAH-luhs).

The creation of city-states marked the beginning

of the Greece’s classical age. A classical age is one

that is marked by great achievements.



Life in a City-State Greek cities were built high hills surrounded by a

great fortress, or fort. The fortress stood high on a hill

called the acropolis.

The acropolis was surrounded by walls for protection. Life in the city often focused on the

Greek marketplace. Farmers brought their crops to the market place to trade for goods

made by craftsman. The market place also acted as a meeting place. The city-state became

the foundation of Greek civilization. As years passes life in Greece became more settled.

People no longer had to fear raiders swooping down on their cities. The population grew

the Greeks established colonies in distant lands. These colonies set up their own

independent polis. Among these city-states were Istanbul in Turkey, Naples in Italy, and

Marseille in France. Although the city-states were independent they often traded with one

another. They would trade metals such as iron and copper for olive oil and wine.Reading Check-did the Greeks develop city-states?



Section 2: Government in AthensEssential Question:What factors shaped


The Big Idea:The people of Athens tried many different

forms of government before creating a

democracy.

If you were there…For many years your city has been ruled by a

small group of rich men. The have generally been good leaders. They have

built new buildings and protected the city from enemies. But now a new

leader wants to let all free men run the government. It won’t matter whether

they are rich or poor. Some people worry about giving power to ordinary

people. What do you think of this new government?



❖ Ancient democracy was different than

modern democracy.

❖ Aristocrats and tyrants ruled early Athens.

Main Ideas

❖ Athens created the world’s first democracy.



Aristocrats and Tyrants RuleGreece is the birthplace of democracy, a type of government in which

people rule themselves.

The word democracy comes from the Greek words, rule of the people.

Reading Check-did the Greeks develop city-states?

Rule by a Few PeopleThe Athens, the city where democracy was born, started with a different kind of

government.

A government in which only a few people have power is called an oligarchy (AH-luh-

gar-kee).

A rich group of land owners, called, took power and ran the government. aristocrats



Aristocrats and Tyrants RuleThe aristocrats dominated Athenian society. They ran the city. They served as judges

and generals.

Reading Check-Did the Greeks develop city-states?

In the 590’s BC a man named Solon created laws that were much fairer. He gave rights

to non aristocrats.

Men living in Athens became citizens, or people that had the right to participate in

government.

In the 600’s BC a group or rebels tried to overthrow the government and

failed. A man named Draco created a new set of laws that very harsh. For

example, minor crimes such as loitering became punishable by death.



The Rise of TyrantsIn 546 BC, a man named Peisistratus (py-sis-truth-uhs) overthrew the oligarchy. He

became the ruler of Athens.

Reading Check- What is a tyrant?

Peisistratus brought peace and prosperity to Athens.

He built temples and began new policies that unified

the city. He built temples and large monuments.

Many aristocrats attacked the tyrants and took

power back from the city.

He was called a tyrant, which meant a leader that held power through the use of

force.



Athens Creates DemocracyCleisthenes (KLYS-thuh-neez), a new leader, did not want the

aristocrats to dominate Athenian society. He thought they had too

much power and influence. He called upon the support of the people to

overthrow the government and establish a new form of government. He

developed the first democracy, so he became known as the father of

democracy.

Under Cleisthenes, all citizens of Athens could participate in the assembly, gathering

of citizens, and the creation of laws. The new government encouraged speeches and

debates by the people. Voting was done by a show of hands or sometimes they held

secret votes. Because the assembly was so large, it sometimes made it hard to make

decisions. In this case sometimes a special council was set up to make decisions.

Democracy Under Cleisthenes



As time passed, citizens gained more power, they served on juries to decide on

cases. Most juries had from 200 to 6,000 people. Most juries had an odd number

of members to prevent ties. Today our modern juries have only twelve people.

Changes in Athenian Democracy

Athens remained a democracy for 170 years. It reached

its height under Pericles (PER-uh-kleez). Pericles led the

government from 460 BC until his death in 429 BC.

Pericles believed participating in government was just as

important as defending the Athens in war. He began to

pay people who served on juries and he introduced

democracy into other parts of Greece.



The democracy created by the founders of the United States is a representative

democracy or a republic.

Representative Democracy

For example, Americans elect senators and

representatives to Congress, a body that makes our

county’s laws. Americans don’t vote on each law

that Congress passes but trust their chosen

representative to vote for them.

Reading Check- How are direct democracy and representative democracy different?

In a republic, citizens elect officials to represent them in government.

These elected officials make decisions and laws for the country and

enforce them.



Section 3: Greek Mythology and LiteratureEssential Question:What factors shaped


The Big Idea:The ancient Greeks created myths and works of

literature that influence the way we speak and

write today.

If you were there… As a farmer in ancient Greece, your way of

life depends of events in nature. The crops you grow the sunshine and rain,

though thunder and lightning scare you. When you look up at the night sky,

you wonder about the twinkling lights you see there. You know that at certain

times of the year, the weather will turn cold and gray of plants will die. Then,

a few months later, green plants will grow again.

How might you explain these natural events?



❖ The Greek myths explain the world.

❖ Ancient Greek literature provides some of the

world’s greatest poems and stories.

Main Ideas

❖ Greek literature lives on in influences our world

even today.



Myths Explain the World

These gods or the center of Greek mythology-a body of stories about gods

and heroes that tried to explain how the world works.

Ancient Greece believed in many gods.

Greek Gods

People today have scientific explanations for

events like thunder and earthquakes. The ancient

Greeks did not. They believe their gods caused

these events to happen, and they created myths to

explain the gods’ actions.



The Olympian Gods

Zeus- king of the gods

Hera- queen of the gods

Poseidon- god of the sea

Hades-god of the underworld

Athena- goddess of wisdom

Apollo- god of the sun

Ares- god of war

Aphrodite-god of love

Demeter-goddess of agriculture

Hephaestus-god of craftsman and blacksmiths

The Greek Gods



The Greek Gods



Gods and MythologyThe Greeks saw of the work of the gods in all the events around them. For example, if

the Greek people had a volcano eruption they would tell stories about their gods to

explain the eruption. They would tell stories about the god, Hephaestus (hi-FES-tuhs),

who lived underground. The fire and lava that poured out of the volcanoes, the Greeks

said, came from huge fires in the god’s forge. At this forge he created weapons and

armor for other gods

Greek people believed the gods caused daily events. For example, they believed the

goddess of agriculture, Demeter (di-MEE-tuhr), created the seasons. Demeter had a

daughter who was kidnapped by another god. The desperate goddess begged the god to let

her daughter go, and eventually he agreed to let a return to her mother for six months

every year. During the winter, Demeter is separated from her daughter and misses her. In

her grief, she doesn’t let plants grow. When a guy comes home, if the goddess is happy,

and summer comes to Greece. To the Greeks this explains why winter comes every year.



Gods and

Mythology



Not all Greek myths were about gods. Many were about the adventures of great

heroes. Some of the heroes were real people, others were not. Geek people loved to tell

stories of heroes. Every city had their favorite hero.

Heroes and Mythology

For example, the people of Athens told stories about the hero, Theseus. According to

legend. He travel to Crete and killed the Minotaur, a terrible monster that was half

human and half bull. Greece told myths of the Jason and how we sailed across the seas

in search of great treasure, fighting enemies the whole way.

Reading Check-How did the Greeks use myths to explain the world around them?



Ancient Greek Literature

Homer and a Epic Poetry

Because the Greeks loved myths and stories, it was no surprise if they

created great works of literature.

The Iliad tells the story of the last years of the Trojan war. The Odyssey describe the

challenges that Greek hero Odysseus (oh-DI-sec-uhs) faced on his way home from the

war. For 10 years Odysseus tries to get home, but many obstacles stand in his way. He

has to fight his way past terrible monsters, powerful magicians, and even angry gods.

Both the Iliad and the Odyssey are great tales of adventure. They were both taught in

ancient Greek schools. Homer’s poems influence later writers. Homers poems are

considered some of the greatest literary works ever produced.

Among the earliest Greek writings are two great epic poems, the Iliad and the

Odyssey, by a poet named Homer.



Lyric Poetry

Other poets wrote poems set to music. During a performance a

poet would play a stringed instrument called a lyre. These poets

were called lyric poets after the instrument they played.

Most poets were men.The most famous

lyric poet was a woman called Sappho

(SAF-oh). Most of her poems were about

love and relationships. They were

beautiful and emotional.



Fables

In most of Aesop’s fables animals are the main characters. A famous fable by

Aesop was “The Tortoise and the Hare,” teaches us that is better to work

slowly and carefully than to hurry and make mistakes. In “The Boy Who

Cried Wolf” Aesop warns the reader not to play pranks on people.

Aesop (EE-sahp), was famous for his fables. Fables are short stories that

teach the reader lessons about life or give advice on how to live.

Other Greeks told stories to teach people important lessons.

Reading Check- Why did the Greeks tell fables?



Greek Literature Lives

Language

Greek literature has influenced modern language and literature. Some of the words

you use and some stories you hear come from ancient Greece.

Many modern words and expressions come from ancient Greece. For example, we call

a long journey an “odyssey”. The word “titanic”, which means very large and

powerful, comes from ancient Greece.

Literature and the ArtsGreek myths have inspired artists for centuries. Artists and sculptors have used Greek

gods as subjects for their works. Hercules, for example, has been the subject of many

films ranging from classic to Disney cartoons.

Reading Check- How did the Greek myths influence later language and art?

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