The ancient civilization of Greece was located in southeastern Europe along the coast of the

Mediterranean Sea. The geography of the region helped to shape the government and culture of
the Ancient Greeks. Geographical formations including mountains, seas, and islands formed
natural barriers between the Greek city-states and forced the Greeks to settle along the coast.

Greek Settlements
The Greeks set up colonies throughout the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. This included
settlements in modern-day Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, and parts of North Africa. These
colonies helped to spread the Greek culture throughout the region. Interesting Facts about the
Geography of Ancient Greece the Greeks called their land "Hellas." The English word "Greece"
comes from the Roman word for the country "Graecia." Under the rule of Alexander the Great,
Greece expanded into a large empire that included Egypt and stretched all the way to India. The
Pindus Mountain Range runs north to south along much of mainland Greece. It is sometimes
called the "spine of Greece." The Greek philosopher Plato once said that "we live around the
sea like frogs around a pond."

The City of Athens

Athens is one of the great cities of the world. During the time of the Ancient Greeks it was the
center of power, art, science, and philosophy in the world. Athens is one of the oldest cities in
the world as well, with recorded history going back over 3400 years. It is the birth place of
democracy and the heart of the Ancient Greek civilization. Athens is named after the Greek
goddess Athena. She was the goddess of wisdom, war, and civilization and the patron of the
city of Athens. Her shrine, the Parthenon, sits on top of a hill in the center of the city.

The Agora
The agora was the center of commerce and government for ancient Athens. It had a large open
area for meetings which was surrounded by buildings. Many of the buildings were temples,
including temples built to Zeus, Hephaestus, and Apollo. Some of the buildings were
government buildings like the Mint, where coins were made, and the Strategeion, where the 10
military leaders of Athens called the Strategoi met. The agora was a place for people to meet
and discuss ideas on philosophy and government. This is the place where the democracy of
ancient Greece first came to life.

The Acropolis
The Acropolis was built on a hill in the middle of the city of Athens. Surrounded by stone walls,
it was originally built as a citadel and fortress where the people could retreat when the city was
attacked. Later, many temples and buildings were built here to overlook the city. It was still
used as a fortress for some time, however.

The Acropolis of Athens

At the center of the Acropolis is the Parthenon. This building was dedicated to the goddess
Athena and was also used to store gold. Other temples were in the acropolis such as the Temple
of Athena Nike and the Erchtheum. On the slope of the acropolis were theatres where plays and
1
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
festivals were celebrated. The largest was the Theatre of Dionysus, god of wine and patron of
the theatre. There were competitions held here to see who had written the best play. Up to
25,000 people could attend and the design was so good that all could see and hear the play.

The Age of Pericles

The city of Ancient Athens reached its peak during the leadership of Pericles from 461 to 429
BC, called the Age of Pericles. During this time, Pericles promoted democracy, the arts, and
literature. He also built many of the cities great structures including rebuilding much of the
Acropolis and building the Parthenon.

City of Sparta
Sparta was one of the most powerful city-states in Ancient Greece. It is famous for its powerful
army as well as its battles with the city-state of Athens during the Peloponnesian War. Sparta
was located in a valley on the banks of the Eurotas River in the south-eastern portion of Greece.
The lands it controlled were called Laconia and Messenia. Greek Hoplite by Johnny Shumate
Warrior Society Unlike their counterparts in the city of Athens, the Spartans didn't study
philosophy, art, or theatre, they studied war. The Spartans were widely considered to have the
strongest army and the best soldiers of any city-state in Ancient Greece. All Spartan men
trained to become warriors from the day they were born.

The Spartan Army

The Spartan Army fought in a Phalanx formation. They would line up side by side and several
men deep. Then they would lock their shields together and advance on the enemy stabbing them
with their spears. The Spartans spent their lives drilling and practicing their formations and it
showed in battle. They rarely broke formation and could defeat much larger armies. The basic
equipment used by the Spartans included their shield (called an aspis), a spear (called a dory),
and a short sword (called a xiphos). They also wore a crimson tunic so their bloody wounds
wouldn't show. The most important piece of equipment to a Spartan was their shield. The
biggest disgrace a soldier could suffer was to lose his shield in battle. Social Classes Spartan
society was divided into specific social classes.

Spartan
At the top of Spartan society was the Spartan citizen. There were relatively few Spartan
citizens. Spartan citizens were those people who could trace their ancestry to the original people
who formed the city of Sparta. There were a few exceptions where adopted sons who performed
well in battle could be given citizenship.

Perioikoi
The perioikoi were free people who lived in Spartan lands, but were not Spartan citizens. They
could travel to other cities, could own land, and were allowed to trade. Many of the perioikoi
were Laconians who were defeated by the Spartans.

2
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
Helot
The helots were the largest portion of the population. They were basically slaves or serfs to the
Spartans. They farmed their own land, but had to give half of their crops to the Spartans as
payment. Helots were beaten once a year and were forced to wear clothing made from animal
skins. Helots caught trying to escape were generally killed. Spartan boys were trained to be
soldiers from their youth. They were raised by their mothers until the age of seven and then they
would enter a military school called the Agoge. At the Agoge the boys were trained how to
fight, but also learned how to read and write. The Agoge was a tough school. The boys lived in
barracks and were often beaten to make them tough. They were given little to eat in order to get
used to what life would be like when they went to war. The boys were encouraged to fight one
another. When the boys turned 20 they entered into the Spartan army. Spartan girls also went to
school at the age of seven. Their school wasn't as tough as the boys, but they did train in
athletics and exercise. It was important that the women stay fit so they would have strong sons

Who could fight for Sparta?

The women of Sparta had more freedom and education than most Greek city-states at the time.
Girls usually were married at the age of 18. History The city of Sparta rose to power around 650
BC. From 492 BC to 449 BC, the Spartans led the Greek city-states in a war against the
Persians. It was during the Persian Wars that the Spartans fought the famous battle of
Thermopylae where 300 Spartans held off hundreds of thousands of Persians allowing the
Greek army to escape. After the Persian Wars, Sparta went to war against Athens in the
Peloponnesian War. The two city-states fought from 431 BC to 404 BC with Sparta eventually
triumphing over Athens. Sparta began to decline in the coming years and lost the Battle of
Leuctra to Thebes in 371 BC. However, it remained an independent city-state until Greece was
conquered by the Roman Empire in 146 BC. Interesting Facts about Sparta Boys were
encouraged to steal food. If they were caught, they were punished, not for stealing, but for
getting caught. Spartan men were required to stay fit and ready to fight until the age of 60. The
term "Spartan" is often used to describe something simple or without comfort. The Spartans
considered themselves to be direct descendants of the Greek hero Hercules. Sparta was ruled by
two kings who had equal power. There was also a council of five men called the ephors who
watched over the kings. Laws were made by a council of 30 elders which included the two
kings.

Minoans and Mycenaean

The Minoans and the Mycenaean were two of the early civilizations that developed in Greece.
The Minoans lived on the Greek islands and built a huge palace on the island of Crete. The
Mycenaean lived mostly on mainland Greece and were the first people to speak the Greek
language.

Minoans
The Minoans built a large civilization on the island of Crete that flourished from around 2600
BC to 1400 BC. They built a powerful and long lasting civilization based on a strong navy and
trade throughout the Mediterranean Sea. The Minoans had their own written language which
3
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
 archeologists call "Linear A." City of Knossos At the center of the Minoan civilization was the
city of Knossos. Knossos had a huge palace and a population of over 10,000 people at its peak.
Many beautiful pieces of art and pottery have been found within the palace. According to Greek
Mythology, the city was once ruled by King Minos. In the myth, King Minos built a large
labyrinth under the palace where a monster called the Minotaur lived.

Mycenaean
The Mycenaean developed on mainland Greece and ruled the region from around 1600 BC to
1100 BC. They are sometimes called the first Greeks because they were the first to speak the
Greek language. Their largest city was called Mycenae, which gives the culture its name.
Mycenae was a large city that had a population of around 30,000 people at its peak. There were
other Mycenaean cities that grew into major city-states during the height of Ancient Greece
such as Thebes and Athens. The Mycenaean developed trade throughout the Mediterranean.
They built large trade ships and traveled to places like Egypt where they traded goods like olive
oil and wine for metals and ivory.

Mycenaean Conquer the Minoans

The Minoan civilization began to weaken around 1450 BC. Archeologists think this might have
been due to a natural disaster such as an earthquake. The Mycenaean took over the islands of
the Minoans and adopted much of the Minoan culture. They adapted the writing of the Minoans
to their own language. Today this writing is called "Linear B." Collapse of the Mycenaean.
The Mycenaean civilization began to collapse around 1250 BC when many of their cities were
burnt to the ground. After this, they continued to decline and were not a major power in the
region. Archeologists are unsure of what caused the collapse. It might have been foreign
invaders such as the Sea Peoples or the Dorians. It may also have been a natural disaster such as
an earthquake or drought. Dark Ages of Greece After the fall of the Mycenaean, Greece entered
into a dark age. The Greek Dark Age was a period of decline, famine, and lower population
throughout the region. This period lasted from around 1100 BC to 800 BC.

Start of the Greek Archaic Period

The civilization that is often referred to as "Ancient Greece" began around 800 BC. The first
part of this period is called the Greek Archaic Period. During this time, many Greek city-states
began to form and gain power. Early Greek culture began to take shape including the
development of Greek philosophy and theater.

Interesting Facts about Early Greek History and Origins

 The Minoans were named after King Minos of Crete from Greek Mythology.
 An important symbol to the Minoans was the two-headed axe.
 Mycenaean warriors wore helmets armored with boar tusks.

Daily Life
Greek homes were built around an outdoor courtyard. The courtyard was the center of activity.
It usually had a well for water, an altar to worship the gods, and was a good place for the kids to
4
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
play. Around the courtyard were the rooms of the house. Different rooms included a work
room, a store room, and bedrooms. Most of the time there also was a room called an andron
where the men of the house would hang out and entertain their male friends or business
associates. Sometimes there was a separate entrance to this room so visiting men would not see
the women of the house. Generally the woman stayed away from the men in the house,
especially visiting men. Oftentimes the house had a room set aside just for the women called a
gynaikon. The walls of Greek homes were made from sun dried bricks with small windows set
high in the walls. They were designed to keep the house cool in the summer and warm in the
winter.

When a Greek child was born, the father could decide whether to keep the child or not. If the
child appeared weak or was a girl, sometimes the father would abandon the child. Once a child
was accepted by the father, he or she was treated well. Greek children had toys and spent the
day playing games. When boys became seven years old, they started school. They learned math,
reading, and writing. Sometimes they would also learn a musical instrument. When they got
older they learned how to debate. Girls did not go to school. Children were considered adults by
the age of 13.

The Ancient Greeks mostly ate bread dipped in wine, cheeses, fish, olives, and vegetables. Meat
like pork or beef was only eaten on rare occasions such as festivals. Watered down wine was
the main drink. The men would often have dinner parties for their friends. They would start at
sundown and run until late. Only the men attended, women were not allowed.

The ancient Greeks wore a tunic called a chitin. Both men and women wore the chitin. It was a
basic tunic made from a single rectangle of cloth cut into two. It was fastened at different places
and a belt was used at the waist. There were chitins of different lengths and colors. They were
generally made out of a thin wool material. Some people could afford linen or even silk chitins.
Jobs in Ancient Greece There were many jobs for men in Ancient Greece including farmer,
fisherman, soldier, teacher, government worker, and craftsman. The women, however, were
generally homemakers and would raise the children and cook the meals.

The two most popular materials were wool and linen. Wool was made from the fleeces of local
sheep and linen from flax that came from Egypt. Linen was a light fabric that was great in the
summers. Wool was warmer and good for the winters. In the later periods of Ancient Greece,
the wealthy were able to buy clothes made of cotton and silk.

Typical Clothing for Women

The typical garment worn by women in Ancient Greece was a long tunic called the peplos. The
peplos was a long piece of cloth that was fastened about the waist with a belt. Part of the peplos
was folded down over the belt to make it appear as if it was two pieces of clothing. Sometimes a
smaller tunic called a chiton was worn under the peplos. Women sometimes wore a wrap over
their peplos called a himation. It could be draped in different ways according to the current
fashion.
5
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
Typical Clothing for Men
Men generally wore a tunic called a chiton. The men's tunic could be shorter than the women's,
especially if they were working outside. Men also wore a wrap called the himation. Sometimes
the himation was worn without a chiton and was draped similar to a Roman toga. When hunting
or going to war, the men sometimes wore a cloak called a chlamys.

Shoe/Footwear
A lot of the time, the Ancient Greeks went barefoot, especially when at home. When wearing
footwear, they usually wore leather sandals.

Jewelry and Makeup

Wealthy Greeks wore jewelry made from precious metals like gold and silver. They wore rings,
necklaces, and earrings. Women would sometimes have jewelry sown into the fabric of their
clothing. The most popular type of jewelry was a decorated pin or fastener used to attach their
wrap or cloak. One of the most desired features of a Greek woman was to have pale skin. This
showed that she wasn't poor or a slave that had to work outside. Women would use makeup to
powder their skin and make it appear lighter. They also sometimes used lipstick.

Hair Fashion
The Ancient Greeks loved to style their hair. Men generally wore their hair short, but they
parted their hair and used oils and perfumes in it. Women wore their hair long. This helped to
separate them from slave women who had their hair cut short. Women wore complicated
hairstyles with braids, curls, and decorations such as headbands and ribbons.

Women History
Women in Ancient Greece were considered second class citizens to men. Before getting
married, girls were subject to their father and had to obey his commands. After getting married,
wives were subject to their husbands. Women were looked down upon by men and were
considered no smarter than children. Staying at Home Women were expected to stay at home
and manage the household. In the city-state of Athens, men sometimes wouldn't allow their
wives to leave the home. They were basically prisoners in their own homes. Women managed
the household slaves and even lived in a separate part of the house.

Wealthy Women
Women married to wealthy men were often confined to their homes. Their jobs were to manage
the household and to bear sons for the husband. They lived in a separate area of the home from
the men and even ate their meals separate from the men. They had servants who helped with
raising the children, doing household chores, and running errands. Most women, even wealthy
women, helped to weave cloth for the family's clothing.

Poor Women
Poor women often had more freedom than wealthy women because they couldn't afford as
many slaves. Because they didn't have a lot of slaves, poor women needed to leave the house to
6
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
run errands, fetch water, and shop. They sometime took jobs as servants for the wealthy or
worked in the local shops. In some Greek city-states, such as Athens, women had few legal
rights. In Athens, women generally couldn't own property, couldn't vote, and weren't allowed to
participate in the government. In other city-states, women had a few more rights, but still had
less rights than men.

Marriage
Women usually had no say in who they married. They were "given" in marriage by their father
to another man. Sometimes very young girls were wed to older men. Slave Women Slave
women were the lowest class in Ancient Greece. They not only were slaves, but they were also
women. Women in Sparta Life was different for the women of the city-state of Sparta. In
Sparta, women were respected as the "mothers of warriors." Although they were not considered
equal with men, they had more rights and freedom than the women of Athens. They were
educated, played sports, allowed to walk around the city freely, and were also able to own
property.

Slaves
Historians aren't sure exactly how many slaves the Greeks owned, but they usually estimate that
between 30 and 40 percent of the population were slaves. Even the poorest families owned at
least one slave with some wealthy families owning hundreds. Where did the slaves come from?
Most of the slaves were foreigners who had been captured in war or purchased through the
slave trade. Slaves did a wide variety of work depending on their skills and who owned them.
Some slaves performed hard labor in the mines or on farms. Other slaves did household chores
or worked as artisans in the city. There were different types of slaves in Ancient Greece and
different rules depending on the city where the slave lived. However, in general, slaves had few
rights. They had to work long hours doing whatever job their owner demanded. Slaves couldn't
own property and had fewer rights than citizens. In most cases, they could not be put to death
without a fair trial. Slaves were sometimes set free by their owners (called "manumission").
Owners may also allow the slave to save up money and buy their own freedom. Freed slaves
were still not considered full citizens and often had obligations to their former owners. It was
sometimes difficult to tell a slave from a free person in Ancient Greece. Slave women often had
their hair cut short. This would have marked them as a slave because free women kept their hair
long. Sometimes slaves were marked with scars or tattoos so they could be recognized as
slaves.

Slaves of the Spartans

The Spartans ruled over a group of people called the Helots. The Helots were treated like slaves
by the Spartans. They farmed the land and performed other manual labor for the Spartans. There
were actually a lot more Helots than Spartans. In order to keep control, the Spartans had secret
police who kept track of the Helots and killed anyone who they thought might rebel.

7
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
 Government
The Ancient Greeks may be most famous for their ideas and philosophies on government and
politics. It was in Greece, and particularly Athens, that democracy was first conceived and used
as a primary form of government. The Greek City-State Ancient Greece was made up of city-
states. A city-state was a major city and the surrounding areas. Each city-state had its own rule
and government. Sometimes the city-states fought each other. Athens and Sparta were the two
largest city-states and they had many wars and battles. Types of Government There were three
main types of government:

 Democracy - A government ruled by the people, or assembly. Officials and leaders were elected
and all citizens had a say.
 Monarchy - A single ruler like a king. In Athens this ruler was called a Tyrant.
 Oligarchy - When the government is ruled by a small group.

Over time some city-states, like Athens would change governments. Sometimes they were ruled
by Tyrants and, at other times, they were a democracy.

Athenian Democracy
Democracy in Ancient Greece was very direct. What this means is that all the citizens voted on
all the laws. Rather than vote for representatives, like we do, each citizen was expected to vote
for every law. They did have officials to run the government, however. Most of these officials
were chosen by a lottery. So every citizen had a chance, regardless of their popularity or wealth,
to become an official. A few key positions were voted on, such as the treasurer and the 10
generals who ran the army (also called the strategoi).

In order to vote, you had to be a citizen. However, not everyone who lived in Athens was a
citizen. Only men who had completed their military training were counted as citizens. Bodies of
Government There were three main bodies of the government: the Assembly, the Council of
500, and the Courts. The Assembly included all citizens who showed up to vote. Everyone who
was a citizen could participate as part of the assembly. The assembly would decide on new laws
and important decisions, like whether or not to go to war. The Council oversaw much of the
day-to-day running of the government. The Council was determined by lottery. If your name
was chosen, then you would be on the council for one year. The Courts handled lawsuits and
trials. The courts had large juries to help make decisions. For private lawsuits the jury was at
least 201 people, for public lawsuits the jury was at least 501 people.

Architecture
The Ancient Greeks had a unique style of architecture that is still copied today in government
buildings and major monuments throughout the world. Greek architecture is known for tall
columns, intricate detail, symmetry, harmony, and balance. The Greeks built all sorts of
buildings. The main examples of Greek architecture that survive today are the large temples that
they built to their gods.

8
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
Greek Columns
The Greeks built most of their temples and government buildings in three types of styles: Doric,
Ionic, and Corinthian. These styles (also called "orders") were reflected in the type of columns
they used. Most all of the columns had grooves down the sides called fluting. This gave the
columns a feeling of depth and balance.
Doric - Doric columns were the most simple and the thickest of the Greek styles. They had no
decoration at the base and a simple capital at the top. Doric columns tapered so they were wider
on the bottom than at the top.

Ionic - Ionic columns were thinner than the Doric and had a base at the bottom. The capital at
the top was decorated with scrolls on each side.

Corinthian - The most decorative of the three orders was the Corinthian. The capital was
decorated with scrolls and the leaves of the acanthus plant. The Corinthian order became
popular in the later era of Greece and also was heavily copied by the Romans. Greek Orders by
Pearson Scott Foremen Temples Greek temples were grand buildings with a fairly simple
design. The outside was surrounded by a row of columns. Above the columns was a decorative
panel of sculpture called the frieze. Above the frieze was a triangle shaped area with more
sculptures called the pediment. Inside the temple was an inner chamber that housed the statue of
the god or goddess of the temple.

The Parthenon Source:

The most famous temple of Ancient Greece is the Parthenon located on the Acropolis in the city
of Athens. It was built for the goddess Athena. The Parthenon was built in the Doric style of
architecture. It had 46 outer columns each 6 feet in diameter and 34 feet tall. The inner chamber
contained a large gold and ivory statue of Athena. Other Buildings Besides temples, the Greeks
built numerous other types of public buildings and structures. They built large theaters that
could hold over 10,000 people. The theaters were usually built into the side of a hill and were
designed with acoustics that allowed even the back rows to hear the actors. They also built
covered walkways called "stoas" where merchants would sell goods and people held public
meetings. Other public buildings included the gymnasium, court house, council building, and
sports stadium.

Architectural Elements
Column - The column is the most prominent element in Ancient Greek architecture. Columns
supported the roof, but also gave buildings a feeling of order, strength, and balance.
Capital - The capital was a design at the top of the column. Some were plain (like the Doric)
and some were fancy (like the Corinthian).
Frieze - The frieze was a decorative panel above the columns that contained relief sculptures.
The sculptures often told a story or recorded an important event.
Pediment - The pediment was a triangle located at each end of the building between the frieze
and the roof. It also contained decorative sculptures.
Cella - The inner chamber in a temple was called the cella or the naos.
9
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
 Propylaea - A processional gateway. The most famous one is at the entrance to the Acropolis
in Athens.

Interesting Facts about the Architecture of Ancient Greece

 The "tholos" was a small circular temple built by the Greeks.
 Major construction projects were managed by an architect who directed the workers and
craftsmen.
 Many of the Greek temples and sculptures were painted with bright colors.
 Roofs generally were constructed with a small slope and covered with ceramic terracotta tiles.
 Most temples were built on a base that included two or three steps. This raised the temple above
the surrounding land.

Olympics
The Greeks started the Olympic Games almost 3000 years ago in 776 BC. They were held
nearly every four years for over a thousand years until they were stopped in 393 AD. In order to
participate, athletes had to be a free man (no slaves) who spoke Greek. There may have also
been a rule about age. Apparently they wanted the athletes to be youthful, or at least youthful
looking. From what we know, athletes were supposed to only be men, however, there are
records of at least one woman winning an event, probably as an owner in a chariot race. Before
the start of the games, athletes also had to take a vow to Zeus that they had been training for ten
months. The winners of the games were considered heroes. They got olive branches for
winning, but also became famous. Sometimes they received large sums of money from their
home town. Where were the games held? The Olympic Games were held in Olympia, hence the
name Olympics. They were held there because the gods lived on Mount Olympus and the
games were in honor of the king of the gods, Zeus. Athletes would travel to Olympia from
many different Greek city-states and sometimes from far away Greek colonies to compete.

Politics and Religion

Religion played a big part in the games. Eventually the games lasted five days with the first and
last day devoted to honoring the gods. One hundred oxen were sacrificed to Zeus during the
games. Politics played a role in the games as well. During the games a truce was observed
between warring city-states. Athletes were allowed to pass through enemy territory to get to the
games.

Greek Alphabet
The Ancient Greeks developed an alphabet for writing. Their common language and writing
was one of the things that bound the Greeks together. The Greek alphabet is still used today. It
is even used in the United States where Greek letters are popular as mathematical symbols and
are used in college fraternities and sororities. The Greeks learned about writing and the alphabet
from the Phoenicians. They took much of their alphabet from the Phoenician alphabet, but they
added a few new letters. They also assigned some of the letters to vowel sounds. The Greek
alphabet was the first alphabet to use vowels.

10
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
 The Letters
There are 24 letters in the Greek alphabet. Letter alpha beta gamma delta epsilon zeta eta theta
iota kappa lamda mu nu xi omicron pi rho sigma tau upsilon phi chi psi omega

Greek Numbers
Greek letters were also used for writing Greek numerals. The first nine letters (from alpha to
theta) were used for the numbers 1 to 9. The next nine letters (from iota to koppa) were used for
multiples of 10 from 10 to 90. Finally, the next nine letters (from rho to sampi) were used for
100 to 900. For example, the numbers 1, 2, and 3 are alpha, beta, and gamma.

Greek Letters in Science and Math

A lot of Greek letters are used in science and math. They are usually used for constants,
variables, and functions. Some examples include:
 Δ Delta - a difference or change in quantity
 π Pi - the constant 3.14159… used in calculating the circumference and volume of a circle
 θ Theta - is often used to represent an angle
 Σ Sigma - is used to represent a summation of a number of items

http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_greece/glossary_and_terms.php

Timeline History

11
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
The history of Ancient Greece can be divided up into different periods. The three main periods
we will cover here are the Archaic Period, the Classical Period, and the Hellenistic Period.

During the Archaic Period the Greek government began to form with the rise of the city-states
such as Athens and Sparta. This was also when the Greeks began to explore philosophy and
theatre.

The Classical Period began with the introduction of democracy in Athens. Athens also rose to
new heights in art and philosophy. It was during this period that Athens and Sparta fought in the
Peloponnesian Wars. Near the end of the Classical Period Alexander the Great rose to power
conquering much of Europe and Western Asia.

The death of Alexander the Great ushered in the Hellenistic Period. Greece declined in power
until it was finally conquered by Rome.

Greek Archaic Period (800 BC - 480 BC)

776 BC - The first Olympic Games takes place. The games would take place every 4 years in
honor of the Greek god Zeus.
757 BC - First Messenian War begins. This is a war between Sparta and Messenia that will last
many years.
750 BC - Homer begins to write the Iliad and Odyssey. These epic poems become two of the
most famous literary works in Greek literature.
650 BC - The Greek Tyrants come into power. Cypselus is the first Tyrant of Corinth.
621 BC - A lawyer named Draco introduces strict new laws in Athens that are punishable by
death. These are called Draconian laws.
600 BC - The first Greek coins are introduced.
570 BC - Pythagoras is born. He will make major advances in science, math, and philosophy.
We still use the Pythagorean Theorem today to help with geometry.
508 BC - Democracy is introduced in Athens by Cleisthenes. He establishes a constitution and
is often called the "Father of Athenian Democracy". This is one of the great accomplishments of
the Greek culture.

Greek Classical Period (480 BC - 323 BC)

490 BC - The Greeks fight the Persians in the Greek/Persian Wars. Two famous battles are the
Battle of Marathon in 490 BC and the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC. The Greeks win and the
Persians retreat.
468 BC - Sophocles begins to write plays for the theatre. Soon the theater becomes a very
popular form of entertainment in Greece.
440 BC - Famous playwright Euripides wins first prize for the best play in Athens.
432 BC - The temple to Athena, the Parthenon, is completed in Athens on the Acropolis. Today
this is the most famous surviving building of Ancient Greece.
431 BC - The wars between Sparta and Athens begin. They are called the Peloponnesian Wars.
The wars will last 27 years with Sparta eventually conquering Athens in 404 BC.
12
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
399 BC - The famous Greek philosopher Socrates is put to death for corrupting the youth of
Athens with his teachings.
386 BC - Greek philosopher and student of Socrates, Plato, founds the first institution of higher
learning in the western world. It's called the Academy.
342 BC - The great philosopher, scientist, and mathematician, Aristotle, begins to tutor
Alexander (later to be called Alexander the Great).
336 BC - Alexander the Great becomes king when his father, Philip of Macedon is assassinated.
333 BC - Alexander begins his conquests and defeats the Persians.
332 BC - Alexander conquers Egypt. He establishes the new capital of Egypt at Alexandria.
Over the next several years Alexander would greatly expand his empire, conquering much of
Persia on the way to India.

Greek Hellenistic Period (323 BC - 146 BC)

323 BC - The Hellenistic period begins when Alexander the Great dies. The Ancient Greek
civilization begins its decline and the Ancient Romans start to gain power.
300 BC - Euclid, a Greek mathematician, writes Elements. This famous writing will have an
impact on mathematics for years to come.
146 BC - Rome conquers Greece making it part of the Roman Empire. Take a ten question quiz
about this page.

http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_greece/glossary_and_terms.php

Glossary and Terms History

13
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
Acropolis - An acropolis is a fortified citadel within a larger city. It is usually located on top of
a hill and at the center of the city. The most famous acropolis is the Acropolis of Athens.
Agora - The agora was the central meeting place in Ancient Greek cities. Democracy was born
at the agora in Athens.
Alexander the Great - A ruler of Ancient Greece who conquered much of the civilized world
from Greece to India including Egypt.
Archaic Period - The historical period of Ancient Greece from 800 BC to 480 BC. During this
time the city-states of Athens and Sparta began to form. Greek philosophy and theatre began to
develop as well.
Aristotle - A Greek philosopher who introduced the idea of observing and recording nature. He
also tutored Alexander the Great and began his own school in Athens.
Assembly - In Athens the Assembly consisted of the group of citizens who showed up to vote.
Athens - One of the most powerful Greek city-states, Athens was the birthplace of democracy.
Chiton - A type of clothing worn by the Greeks. It was often made from a single piece of cloth
with a belt at the waist.
City-state - A city-state consisted of a large city and the surrounding areas. Ancient Greece
consisted of a number of independent city-states such as Athens, Thebes, and Sparta. Classical
Period - The historical period of Ancient Greece from 480 BC to 323 BC. During this time
Athens was ruled by democracy. Also, Sparta and Athens fought the Peloponnesian War. It
ended with the rise of Alexander the Great.
Cuirass - A piece of armor, usually made from metal that covered the front of the torso.
Delian League - A group of Greek city-states that joined together to fight against the Persian
Empire.
Democracy - A form of government where citizens have a say in how they are ruled including
choosing their leaders and deciding on laws.
Ephors - The ephors were five leaders in Sparta who were chosen to oversee the Spartan kings.
They were elected annually.
Helots - The helots were the serfs or slaves that worked for the Spartans. The majority of the
people who Sparta ruled were helots.
Hellenistic Period - The Hellenistic Period of Ancient Greece lasted from 323 BC when
Alexander the Great came to power to 146 BC when Rome conquered Greece.
Homer - A Greek epic poet who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Hoplite - The hoplites were the citizen-soldiers of the Greek city-states.
Macedonia - A region of northern Ancient Greece, Macedonia was home to the Greek kings
Philip II and Alexander the Great.
Oligarchy - A type of government where the power is held by a few people.
Olympics - An athletic event held by the Ancient Greeks every four years.
Peloponnese - A large peninsula located in southern Greece. Many powerful Greek city-states
were located here including Sparta, Argos, and Corinth.
Pericles - A leader of Athens during its golden age, Pericles promoted the arts and literature in
the city. He also had many of the major structures built including the Parthenon.
Plato - A Greek philosopher who founded the Academy in Athens and wrote many
philosophical dialogues. Polis - The Greek name for a city-state.
14
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
Socrates - A Greek philosopher who is considered to be the founder of western philosophy.
Sparta - A power Greek city-state and rival to Athens, Sparta's culture was based around
warfare and preparing for battle.
Titans - The Titans were the first Greek gods. They were overthrown by their children, the
Olympians.
Trireme - A type of boat used by the Ancient Greeks. It had three rows of oars on each side.
Tyrant - The ruler of a Greek city-state, a tyrant was like a king. Today the word tyrant is used
to describe a ruler who rules unfairly or unjustly.

http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_greece/glossary_and_terms.php

Greek History

15
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
Greek history is an interesting look at a wonderful era of human invention, philosophy, art and
architecture. The earliest civilizations in Greece were in two different areas: on the island of
Crete and on the mainland of Greece.
PRE-GREEK CIVILIZATIONS

The civilization on Crete was called the Minoan civilization. Even though the people from
Crete were not Greek, they had an important impact on Greek civilization and culture. Crete
was a powerful and wealthy empire, and Greeks on the mainland absorbed much of their culture
and products, like myths, pottery, writing, and painting styles.

The civilization based on the mainland is called the Mycenaean civilization. The people on the
Greek mainland began settling there around 2000 BC. Because the geography of Greece is
made up of small valleys, many independent communities developed, rather than one unified
state.

Ancient Greek Art

Ancient Greek culture was full of different types of art. Ancient Greeks decorated almost every
part of their lives, from their buildings and city streets to the inside of their homes, many
objects in Greek life were created with beauty in mind. Greek artists created masterpieces in
painting, metal work, mosaic, sculpture, architecture, literature, and pottery.

Painting: Until recently, archaeologists only knew about Greek painting through ancient Greek
stories. These stories, which were written by authors such as Pliny and Pausanias, describe
large, monumental paintings. But unfortunately, not a lot of these paintings remain.

16
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
Metalwork: Greeks were very skilled at working with metal, and they worked with many
different types. Bronze is a special type of metal, which is mostly made up of copper, with
another metal added, such as tin or zinc. Bronze is a hard and strong metal, and it was a very
popular choice for statues and other decorations.

Greeks also used iron, which is a harder metal, as well as precious metals such as gold and
silver. Even though there are many examples of beautiful metal work from ancient Greece,
there used to be even more. Because metal can be melted down and made into something else,
many metal sculptures and other metal items were melted down so they could be used for other
things.

Besides bronze, gold, and silver sculptures, the Greeks made many things out of metals. Many
of these things were beautifully decorated. They made bowls and vases, cauldrons, knives and
daggers, shields, armor, decorative wreaths, drinking cups, and lanterns. They also made fine
jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pins, and rings. Most of the decorations found on
jewelry were flowers and leaves, mythical creatures, lions, and snakes.

Mosaic: Another one of the lasting artistic legacies from the ancient Greeks is the art of the
mosaic. A mosaic is a picture made up of small pieces of glass, pottery, or small tiles.
Thousands of small pieces of colored tiles are placed together so that all together they make up
a picture.

Greeks decorated their houses with mosaics, both on the walls as well as on the floor. In
Macedonia, archaeologists have found houses that have brightly painted walls and mosaic
floors.

Ancient Greek Literature

The art of writing was lost to Greece from around 1200 BC, and for nearly 500 years Greece
entered an age of illiteracy. But around 750 BC, Grecian traders came into contact with
Phoenicians, who used a script called an alphabet.

This alphabet was a wonderful invention, because it allowed them to use just around thirty
letters or so to make many different sounds, and it was also much easier to use than pictorial
scripts, such as cuneiform. The Greeks adopted this alphabet and added vowels, which made it
even more versatile and easy to use. This early version of the alphabet is actually very similar to
the alphabet we use today! At first, the newfound creation of writing was used by the
government for the proclamation of laws, so that ordinary people could understand them.
Writing was later used to record public decisions and records, and then finally as more and
more citizens became literate, or able to read, Greek literature was developed.

Epic Literature: The greatest literatures of the early Greek period were the Homeric Epics.
These were epic poems which described the glorious deeds of great Grecian heroes. Epic poems
are long poems, which don’t rhyme, and describe a serious topic, which is usually important to
17
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
a culture. Homeric Epics described the great deeds of the warriors of Greece, who led the war
against Troy, a rival state.

The Library of Alexandria: The kings of Egypt created a giant library, the Library of
Alexandria, where they stored all of the great works of Greek poets, historians, philosophers,
scientists, and other writers. This library was so big that it probably contained over a half a
million papyrus scrolls! It was a symbol of the growing scholarship of the Late Greek period,
because it was an area where thinkers and writers could perform literary, historical, and
scientific studies.

The Burning of the Library: We will never know exactly what texts or how many pieces of
literature were actually in the library of Alexandria, because in 48 BC, the library was burned
down in a siege by the Greek emperor. More than 40,000 works of Greek philosophy, literature,
history, and science were sadly burnt and lost to history for all time.

Agriculture And Industry

Most of the people in ancient Greece had jobs much like we do today. Many people were
farmers, who sold or traded their fruits and vegetables at market in order to get what they
needed to take care of their family.

There was also a wealthy class of Greeks, who didn’t need to work as much, and who could
afford to send themselves or their children to schools. Some of these schools were like Plato’s
Academy, where they could learn about philosophy and intellectual reasoning. Other schools
were specialized, like schools for painting or sculpture.

There was also a set of skilled craftsmen in ancient Greece. These artisans were the ones who
created beautiful sculptures, decorated the inside walls of houses with elaborate paintings, or
created mosaics with thousands of small tiles. Other craftsmen made pottery, coins and jewelry,
and other items that were used on a daily basis in

Greek Philosophy
One of the most unique and wonderful of Greek inventions was philosophy. Philosophy was the
special way Greeks attempted to make sense out of the world, in a non-religious way. This
means that rather than using myths and stories to understand the world, they would use their
intelligence and reasoning skills.

“Philo-” means love, and “-sophia” means wisdom, so the word “philosophy” really means “the
love of wisdom.” Basically, philosophy is thinking about the world and making sense out of it.

For example, early Greeks began asking the question, “What exists?” They questioned the
world around them and tried to make sense out of what they saw. Other, different philosophies
were developed, each of which tried to make sense out of the world.

18
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
 Eventually, their ideas built upon each other until very complicated philosophies were
developed. These early thinkers were so influential that their ideas are still around today, and
people still study them in colleges and universities.

The earliest of Greek philosophers tried to answer the question of what exists by coming up
with a number of different ideas.

The Four Elements: Thales, who lived around 600 BC (nearly 2,600 years ago!) determined
that everything was made up of water, which he thought was the single primal element. This
idea helped one of his students, Anaximander, to come up with his own idea that everything
was made up of an element he called the “boundless,” which was divided up into hot and cold,
and wet and dry. It was these early ideas that helped later philosophers to classify the entire
world according to the four elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

Greek Education
The Greeks loved to learn! They believed that learning was one of the best ways you could
spend your time. They didn’t see going to school as a chore at all. They looked forward to the
chance to improve their minds.

In Greece’s very early history, only wealthy men were educated. Young boys usually had their
own tutors who taught them math, writing, and military training. The things children were
taught also depended on where they lived in Greece. If a boy grew up in Sparta, for example,
his entire education was spent preparing him for the military. In Athens, which was less focused
on the military, students learned several subjects.

As boys grew older, they were also taught music, literature, astronomy, and rhetoric. As Greece
became more democratic, rhetoric became an important subject for children to study. Greeks
believed that in a democracy, a person should be able to speak well! They learned rhetoric by
memorizing famous speeches from the past. They were also taught poetry by memorizing entire
poems.

Greek girls were not taught the same subjects as boys. They were usually taught reading and
writing, but were not taught other subjects. Instead, they were taught skills that would help them
be good homemakers. They were taught to cook, sew, and care for children. Like boys, girls
were sometimes given a different education depending on where they lived. In Sparta, even
girls were given light military duties. They were also expected to do a lot of exercise so that
they would have healthy babies who could serve in the army. In Sparta, girls were usually given
more education that girls in Athens. But it was almost all physical training.

There were two kinds of education in Greece:

 Formal: this was done in a school or was provided by a private tutor. (Alexander the Great’s
private tutor was Aristotle!)
19
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
 Informal: this was usually done in the home, by an unpaid teacher, sometimes a slave.
Formal education was usually only for the sons of wealthy Greek families. Women, slaves, and
the children of poor families were not given a formal education.

Greeks loved to learn, but they also wanted to develop their personalities and their bodies. They
believed that education should make you a better person. Young children were taught morals to
help them become good people. Greek education also taught that exercise was important. The
last few years of a boy’s education would usually be spent in the gymnasium. In the
gymnasium, he worked on perfecting his appearance and his health. This training also prepared
young men for war.

Throughout their education, Greeks studied music and dance. They enjoyed music and believed
that it made life more pleasant. It was common for educated Greeks to play several instruments.
The Greeks loved philosophy, too. But be glad you weren’t a philosopher in ancient Greece.
Greeks believed that philosophers had not learned everything they needed to know until they
reached thirty –five!

The Ancient Greek House

The architecture of Greek houses in ancient times was designed to keep their residents cool
during the hot summers and keep them warm in winter. The houses were also designed to align
with the social practices of the time.

What Construction Materials Were Used?

What we know about ancient Greek houses comes from writing and pictures from those times.
The reason is that most houses were made of mud and they crumbled away in a few years. They
were constantly being rebuilt. The houses were generally small with walled gardens or
courtyards in the center. The roofs were made with clay tiles. The windows were small and had
no glass. They were covered in wood shutters to keep the scorching sun away.

The Law in Ancient Greece

From 1200-900 B.C.E, the Ancient Greeks had no official court system. During this time
period, if you committed a murder, you would most likely be killed by the members of the
victim’s family. It wasn’t until the middle of the 7th century B.C.E. that official laws were
established and the concept of trial by a jury of peers began.

Family Laws
Solon wrote many family laws that provided guidelines for men, women, and their
relationships. He wrote laws pertaining to marriage, adoption, and inheritances. The penalties
for these laws were not determined in advance, but were set by the head of the family. The role
of women in Greek law was very small. Women’s official guardian or kyrios was in charge.
The kyrios was either a girl’s father or her husband. On occasion, women did make court
appearances to present evidence in a murder case or to try to appeal to the emotions of the jury
for pity.
20
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
Public Laws
Public laws established guidelines for how public functions and services should be conducted.
For example, these types of laws would establish the export and import of goods and the
amount of land a man could own.

Procedural Laws
Procedural laws told judges and juries how to use other laws. For example, a procedural law
would outline how many witnesses there should be in a murder trial.

http://www.historyforkids.net/ancient-greece.html

Classical Greece
Classical Greece was the period from about 500–323 BC. It had a civilization and style which
was considered by later observers to be outstanding. Politically, the classical period was
dominated by Athens and the Delian League during the 5th century, or from the beginning of
the Greco-Persian Wars to the Peloponnesian Warin 404 BC.
It was a period in Greek culture of about 200 years in the 5th through 4th centuries BC.

Culture
It influenced the cultures of ancient Rome and still has an enduring effect on Western
civilization. Much of modern Western politics, artistic thought, scientific thought, literature,
and philosophy derives from this ancient society.

Dominance of Athens
The Persian Wars ushered in a century of Athenian dominance in Greek affairs. Athens was the
unchallenged master of the sea and also the leading commercial power. The leading statesman
of this time was Pericles, who used the tribute paid by the members of the Delian League to
build the Parthenon and other great monuments of Classical Athens.
The wealth of Athens attracted talented, skilled people from all over Greece, and also created a
wealthy leisure class who became patrons of the arts. The Athenian state sponsored learning
and the arts, particularly architecture. Athens became the centre of Greek literature, philosophy
(see Greek philosophy), and the arts (see Greek theatre). Some of the greatest figures of
Western cultural and intellectual history lived in Athens during this period: the
dramatists Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripides, and Sophocles; the
philosophers Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates; the historians Herodotus, Thucydides,
and Xenophon; the poet Simonides; and the sculptor Pheidias. The city became, in Pericles'
words, "the school of Hellas".

21
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
4th century BC
The end of the Peloponnesian War left Sparta the master of Greece, but the narrow outlook of
the Spartan warrior elite did not suit them to this role. Within a few years the Democratic Party
regained power in Athens and in other cities.
The Peloponnesian War was a radical turning point for the Greek world. After 403 BC, things
became more complicated, with a number of cities trying to create similar empires over others,
all of which proved short-lived.
The Corinthian War revealed a significant dynamic that was occurring in Greece. While Athens
and Sparta fought each other to exhaustion, Thebes was rising to a position of dominance
among the various Greek city-states.

The fall of Sparta

This empire was powerful but short-lived. In 405 BC, the Spartans were masters of all - of
Athens’ allies and of Athens itself - and their power was undivided. By the end of the century,
they could not even defend their own city.
The Athenians forbade themselves any return to the situation in the 5th century. In Aristotle's
decree, Athens claimed its goal was to prevent Spartan hegemony, with the Spartans clearly
denounced as "warmongers".

Legacy of Classical Greece

Though somewhat eclipsed by technology today, the sense of a legacy was strongly felt by post-
Renaissance European elite, who saw themselves as the spiritual heirs of Greece. As late as
1939 Will Durant could write "excepting machinery, there is hardly anything secular in our
culture that does not come from Greece," and conversely "there is nothing in Greek civilization
that doesn't illuminate our own".

https://kids.kiddle.co/Classical_Greece

22
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV
Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9keQHIG_EQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR84c-kr0f4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHNwfA1OFpI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxcSJu5SEMw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_kMOjk9PC8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TesuQeX2cUo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha14EWKwlOQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr4faJfqyG0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrbHjCk_ZYg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pk9_bCt87U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ablxq730gDE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRW8vcpYIyc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-Mgb1mav_U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA6Y7gG3OLs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJCm8W5RZes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdHHus8IgYA

23
Prepared on 7th November 2017, Unit 3 Civilization for Grade IV