Classical Greece

This is the time that most of us think of when we think of Ancient Greece. Athens was governed by
a democracy and great philosophers like Socrates and Plato arose. Also, the wars between Sparta
and Athens were during this time. This period ended with the rise and then death of Alexander the
Great in 323 BC

TIMELINE
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.
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.

Greco War
- The war between Greece allies and Persian Empire. (492-449 BCE)
At the beginning of the war, Persian didnt know about Sparta. Greece cities state started
to stay together. To be ready for a war between the Persian. However, when the Sparta
knew that Persian army was coming nearly. They began to prepare the fight by deciding to
have a war in the narrowest part. Thats called Thermopile. Eventually, all the Sparta
armies were dead.
Leonidas II : The best king of Sparta.
Geography
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.

Government
Oligarchy Democracy Monarchy
a small group of people having a system of government by the A singer ruler like a king. In
control of a country, organization, whole population or all the eligible Athens this ruler was called a
or institution. members of a state, typically Tyrant.
through elected representatives.

Alexander the Great

Born : July 20, 356 BC Pella, Macedon
Died : June 10, 323 BC Babylon

- After the greco war, Alexander the greats conquered the Greece allies.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

CONQUERED THE PERSIAN
EMPIRE AND CONTROLLED THE
LARGEST EMPIRE THE WORLD
HAS EVER SEEN
Peloponnesian War
- the war between Sparta and Athen. This war began after the Persian war.
There are 2 leagues in this war
1.) Delian leagues
2.)Peloponnesian legues

This war made Greece became very weak.

Society

Technology
-Since Greek coastal cities were sticked between the ocean and the sea.
Therefore, they developed navy for trading and frighting.

-All cities need fresh water. So, they developed the aqueduct. Basically, its a brick water pipe.

This is the terracing that saves water and

soil in mountainous environments.

Greek Architecture
They invented arches and columns.
And the most important one - advanced
mathematics
 Military
-This is a catapult which could throw 300 pound stones at
walls and building.

-This is very useful for greek armies.

This is a phalanx. It is a fighting formation which

soldiers will get in a tight box. They each have a
large shield and a long spear.

Religion

Greek religion was polytheistic which means they

believe in many gods.

1.) Zeus - King of the Gods

2.) Hera - Queen of the Gods
3.) Poseidon - the sea
4.) Hades - the underworld
5.) Hestia - Hearth/Home
6.) Athena - Wisdom/War
7.) Artemis - Moon
8.) Apollo - Light
9.) Aphrodite - Love
10.) Hephaestus - Fire/Forge
11.) Ares - War
12.) Hermes - Messenger
Sparta
was an isolate city-state that was culturally and political different from Athens.

- Sparta was an oligarchy which ruled by a few. They had only 2 kings.

- Spartan society was obsessed with war.

- Most of the boys was sent to military school at a young age.
- They didnt establish their own household until they were 30.
- They remained in the military until they were 60.
- Spartan women were encouraged to be physically fit in order to bear strong
sons.

Athens
Athenians were tough but were encouraged to engage in activities like art, philosophy, music.

Athens was a democracy whichs a system of government by the citizen.

Democracy in athen
- Debates on issues were public
- Decisions were made directly by casting vote
- All citizens could speak out at assemblies& votes.

What was democracy in Athens? (different to today)

In that time, only citizen in Athens can vote but today, all the people who live in the country can
vote.

The Athenians created democracy. Why?

To avoid the civil war