Ancient Greece Notes
Ancient Greece Notes
Ancient Greece Notes
I. City-States
A. Greece is composed of many
steep mountains
1. The topography made it
difficult for the Greek
people to unite and farm
B. Isolated communities became
independent states
1. Each city-state had its
own government, laws, and
army
D. Natural harbors and favorable winds allowed Greeks to trade with other
civilizations
C. Boys entered military training at age 7 and did not leave military
service until they were 60
D. Sparta was a military power. However, Spartans had no freedom
and produced nothing in art, literature, or science
V. Persian Wars
A. Athens and a coalition of other Greek city-states defended itself
against a Persian invasion
B. The Persian Wars were recorded by the Greek historian
Herodotus
1. He is considered the worlds first historian
IX. Architecture
A. Made many well
proportioned marble buildings
such as the Parthenon
B. Many buildings used
columns that are still common
today
1. Doric
2. Ionic
3. Corinthian
X. Sculpture
A. Emphasized beauty
and perfection
B. Idealized the human
body
B. Socrates:
1. He wanted Athenians
to think for themselves
and not imitate
their elders
2. His way of teaching
became known as the
Socratic Method
a. This method
taught people to answer
questions about love,
honor, and justice
C. Plato:
1. Student of Socrates
2. He wrote dialogues,
or imaginary
conversations among
several people
3. His most famous
dialogue was The
Republic, which
answered the question;
what is justice?
D. Aristotle:
1. Student of Plato
2. Philosopher and scientist
3. He believed the best
government would have aspects of
monarchy,
aristocracy, and
democracy
a. Powerful leader
b. Aristocratic
advisors
c. Democratic
assembly
C. After conquering North Africa, the Middle East, and part of India,
Alexanders troops wanted to return home
1. They had been fighting for 13 years
D. On the return journey, Alexander became ill and died in Babylon