Archaic Period

900 – 479 BCE

Classical Period

500 – 300 BCE

Hellenistic

Period

300 – 146 BCE

Ancient Roman Empire 146 BCE – 400 CE

Context Knowledge

OVERVIEW Year Group: 4

Term: Spring Text: Iliad/Odyssey Author: Homer/Gillian Cross

Geographical Focus

City-state Greece was made up of individual city-states that were each run like their own country. They each had their own king, army and laws. Across Greece these city-states shared languages, religion and some customs.

Key city states

Mycenae, Sparta, Thessaly, Ithaca, Argos, Salamis, Pylos, Athens. Troy (not part of Greece, but am important city-state on the other side of the Aegean sea)

Seas Aegean Sea (between Greece and Troy)

Mediterranean Sea (on the other side of Greece)

Sea of Crete (below Greece)

Transport Sea travel was very important because Greece was made up of lots of Islands.

Late Bronze Age 1200 – 500 BCE

146 BCE Rome

conquers Greece

Religious Practices

The Ancient Greeks believe in many different gods, each of them was in charge of a different aspect of life.

12 Olympian Gods (lived on Mount Olympus) Hades lived in and ruled over the underworld

Zeus king of the gods, lightning, thunder

Poseidon seas, earthquakes, horses, storms at sea

Hera Marriage, wife of Zeus

Demeter seasons, harvest, crops

Hestia hearth

Ares war

Athena wisdom, battle strategy

Apollo medicine, music, poetry, sun

Artemis hunting, archery, moon

Aphrodite love and beauty

Hephaestus metal and metalwork

Hermes messenger

Hades* Underworld and death

Lesser Gods Thetis, Iris, Persephone, Dionysus, Eris, Eros

Demigods Humans who have a god/goddess as a parent; half gods. They usually have something that makes them special or stand out and they often become heroes.

Temples The place where Greeks went to worship, usually built to honour a specific god.

Sacrifice Killing an animal as an offering or gift to a god.

Afterlife The Greeks believed once you died your soul went to the underworld. If you were heroic you went to the Fields of Elysium. If you were ordinary you went to the Asphodel Meadows.

Culture and Customs

Men Expected to train in the army. Worked and had a say in how the city-state was run.

Women Not allowed to work, stayed at home to look after children and the house, cooked and made embroidered cloth. Not allowed to leave the house alone.

Honour Acting with courage and loyalty. All Greeks were expected to be honourable.

Xenia (Hospitality)

Treating all guests well even if you didn’t know/like them; feed, clothe & offer a bed.

Sport Sport was used as a way to show how heroic, honourable and strong a man was. Sporting contests were very popular.

Myths & Storytelling

Myths are stories told to explain the world around you. Stories were told as a way of sharing beliefs, customs and history.

Authorial Focus

Author Homer

Epic poet born somewhere between 12th – 8th century BCE. First person to write down the well-known stories of the Trojan War around 3000 years ago.

Warfare

Trojan War: Approximately 1200 BCE

Getting to Troy

The Greeks sailed to Troy from their different city-states. They camped on the beaches once they arrived

United city-states

The Trojan War was important because it was the first time all the Greek cities states joined together as one country.

Walls of Troy

The Trojan War went on for such a long time because Troy had very strong, high walls.

Honour Fighting for you city-state was the best way to demonstrate your honour.

The Ancient Greeks 900 BCE – 146 BCE

c. 1200 BCE

The Trojan War

BCE 0 CE

Geography

What is a city-

state?

It was made up of lots of city-

states.

Name three Greek

city-states

Mycenae, Sparta, Thessaly, Ithaca, Argos, Salamis, Pylos, Athens.

In what ways was a

city-state like a

country?

Each city state had its own king,

army and laws.

What did city-states

share?

City States shared the same

language, religion and some

customs.

How did people

move around

Ancient Greece?

The Ancient Greeks mainly used

boats to get around the sea.

Religious Practices

Who was the king of the gods?

Zeus was the king of the gods.

Name the 12/13 Olympians.

Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, Hestia, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Ares, Athene, Hephaestus, Hermes and Hades.

Who was the god/goddess of love?

Aphrodite was the goddess of love.

Who would you pray to if you were going into battle?

You would pray to Ares, or possible Athene, for a good outcome in battle.

What is the purpose of a temple?

A temple is where the Ancient Greeks go to worship a specific god.

What is a sacrifice?

An animal that is killed as a gift to the god.

Where would Achilles or Hector hope to go after death?

A hero would hope to go to The Elysian Fields.

Customs

What is a myth? A myth is a story told to help you

understand the world around you.

How and why did

the Ancient

Greeks tell

stories?

The Ancient Greeks told stories orally to

entertain each other, as well as pass on

customs and history.

If a stranger

turned up at your

door, what would

you have to do?

If a stranger turned up at your door you

would have to feed and clothe them and

offer them a bed.

What was this

custom called?

This custom is called Xenia.

Why was sport so

important to the

Ancient Greeks?

Sport so important to the Ancient Greeks

because it was a way to show how strong

and heroic you were and to celebrate the

gods.

What is honour? Honour is behaving in a way that shows

you have courage and are loyal.

Warfare

How did the Greeks

get to Troy?

The Greeks sailed to Troy from their

individual city-states.

When did the Trojan

War happen?

The Trojan War happened around 1200

BCE.

Why was Troy so

difficult to conquer?

Troy was difficult to conquer because its

walls were incredibly high and strong.

Why was the Trojan

War so important

for the Greeks?

The Trojan was the first important

because it was the first time all the

Greek city-states joined together as one

country.

Author

Who first wrote down the

Iliad and the Odyssey?

Homer

When did he write it

down?

He wrote it around 3000 years

ago.

What type of text did her

write?

He wrote epic poems.

TEXT KNOWLEDGE ORGANISER THE ILIAD – HOMER/GILLIAN CROSS

Features

Hook A golden apple sparks war between gods and men

Closure Achilles returns to the fight, spelling the end of Troy

Setting The beaches of Troy, a city-state in Ancient Greece off the coast of Turkey

Problem/Dilemma Achilles, the mighty warrior, refuses to fight

Characters

Greeks Menelaus, Agamemnon, Achilles, (Patroclus , Odysseus)

Trojans Hector, Paris, (Helen, Priam)

Gods Zeus, Aphrodite, Athene, Hera, Apollo, Poseidon, Thetis

Story Type

Genre Paraphrased epic poem

Theme War, beauty, honour

Plot Type Quest/ tragedy

Narrative

Narrative Viewpoint Third person

Narrative Conflict Man Vs. Man & Man Vs. Supernatural

Viewpoint of the author Omniscient narration

Mood Serious, tense

Tone Honour will be rewarded

Language and Structure

Structure and Grammar Short sentences, episodic chapters, fronted adverbials

Types of Sentences Mainly simple and compound sentences and dialogue

Punctuation Exclamation marks, semi-colons, inverted commas

Rhetoric Similes, foreshadowing, anthropomorphism, metaphor, pathos, repetition, lists, pathetic fallacy

An epithet is a descriptive phrase used as a nickname for certain characters, they were used by oral storytellers to help them remember important things about characters and quickly remind the listener about that character’s personality. Examples: Quick-witted Odysseus, Noble Ajax, Hector, Tamer of Horses, Might Achilles

TEXT KNOWLEDGE ORGANISER THE ILIAD – HOMER/GILLIAN CROSS

Quiz

What are the main settings of the Iliad?

The beaches outside Troy

Who are the main characters?

Greeks: Menelaus, Agamemnon, Achilles, (Patroclus , Odysseus) Trojans: Hector, Paris, (Helen, Priam) Gods: Zeus, Aphrodite, Athene, Hera, Apollo, Poseidon, Thetis

What genre is the book?

Epic poem (paraphrased)

What are the main themes of the book?

War, beauty, honour,

What plot type is the book?

Tragedy

What narrative conflict does the book follow?

Man vs. Man & Man Vs. Supernatural

What is the mood of the book?

Serious, tense

What is the author’s viewpoint?

Honour will be rewarded

What epithets are used to describe the characters?

Quick-witted Odysseus, Noble Ajax, Hector, Tamer of Horses, Might Achilles

Why does the author employ these?

To remind the reader or listener of the character’s traits

TEXT KNOWLEDGE ORGANISER THE ODYSSEY – HOMER/GILLIAN CROSS

Features

Hook Odysseus must go to war and leave Penelope and Telemachus

Closure Odysseus finally returns home to Penelope and Telemachus

Setting

Troy, at sea, Ithaca Odyseesu’ Journey: City of Cicones, Island of the Lotus Eaters, Island of Cyclops, Island of Aeolus, Land of the Laestrygonians, Circe’s Island, Underworld, Land of the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, Helios’ Island, Calypsos’ Island, Lond of the Phaeacians

Problem/Dilemma Odysseus cannot return home

Characters

Humans Odysseus, Penelope, Telemachus

Gods Athene and Poseidon

Story Type

Genre Paraphrased epic poem

Theme Homecoming; honour

Plot Type Voyage and return

Narrative

Narrative Viewpoint Third person

Narrative Conflict Man Vs. nature & Man Vs. supernatural

Viewpoint of the author Omniscient narration

Mood Tense

Tone Honour and perseverance will be rewarded

Language and Structure

Structure and Grammar Episodic chapters, fronted adverbials

Types of Sentences Short sentences, sentences with subordinating clauses and dialogue

Punctuation Exclamation marks, semi-colons, inverted commas

Rhetoric Similes, foreshadowing, anthropomorphism, metaphors, pathos, repetition, lists, pathetic fallacy

An epithet is a descriptive phrase used as a nickname for certain characters, they were used by oral storytellers to help them remember important things about characters and quickly remind the listener about that character’s personality. Examples: Quick-witted Odysseus, Faithful Penelope

TEXT KNOWLEDGE ORGANISER THE ODYSSEY – HOMER/GILLIAN CROSS

Quiz

What are the main settings of The Odyssey?

Ithaca; at sea; various Greek islands

Who are the main characters?

Humans: Odysseus, Penelope, Telemachus Gods: Athene, Poseidon

What genre is the book?

Epic poem (paraphrased)

What are the main themes of the book?

Homecoming; honour

What plot type is the book?

Voyage and return

What narrative conflict does the book follow?

Man Vs. nature & Man Vs. supernatural

What is the mood of the book?

Tense

What is the author’s viewpoint?

Honour and perseverance will be rewarded

What epithets are used to describe the characters?

Quick-witted Odysseus , Faithful Penelope

Why does the author employ these?

To remind the reader of the character’s traits