Classical Greece notes
- Geography- allowed for great opportunity for trade and travel.
- Land- Mountains covered about ¾ of ancient Greece. Mountains divided in different regions. Played big roles in wars.
- Climate- Upper 40’s in winter. Lower 80’s in summer. Climate allowed for many different outdoor activities.
- Minoan’s- created an elegant civilization the had great power that started around 3000 B.C. Minoan’s culture influenced the Mycenaean’s. Writing language, design, trade, used ships to trade goods.
- Mycenaean’s- were heavily influenced by the Minoans. Came from Indo-Europeans migrants. Dominated Greece from 1600- 1100 b.c.
- Dorian- spoke a kind of Greek. Not advanced as the others. No writing system. Focused more on storytelling. Best storyteller is Homer.
Dorian Pierod
- Change- dorian and the mycenaean people started less with culture of their anestors. Goverment made the transition from tribal or clan ontrol to more formal goverments called city-states.
- Goverment- a polis- made up of a ciy and its surrounding countryside. Citizens of the polis would com together and meet at an acropolis to dicuss their city gov. Not all city-states had the same form a gov.
- Monarchy- state ruled by king. Rule is hereditary. Some rulers claim that they have a divine right to rule. Practiced in Mycenae by 2000 B.C.
- Aristocracy- State ruled by nobility. Rule is hereditary and bassed on ties, social rank, and wealth. Social status and wealth support rulers authority. Practiced in Athens prior to 594 B.C.
- Oligarchy- ruled by a small group of citizens. rule is based on wealth and ability. Ruling group controlz the military. Practiced in Sparta by 500 B.C.
- Direct Democarcy- ruled by the citizens. Ruled is based on citizenship. Majority rule decides the vote. Parcticed in Athens by 500 B.C. Just becaused you lived there, you weren't a citizen.
- Athens- about 600 B.C. they were takig steps toward a democarcy.
Key Players
- Darco- developed a legal code based on the idea that all Athenians, rich and poor, were qual under law. Very harsh punishments for nearly any crime. He belived in debt slavary. The word Draconnain has come to mean.
- Solon- started that no citizen should own another. Organized Athens into four socil classes based on wealth. only top thress classes could hold political office.
- Cleisthenes- Broke Athens up based on religion insted of wealth.
- Created the Councial of Five Hundred- poposed laws, counseled the assembly, members were chosen at random.
- Limited Democarcy- reforms aloowed for a limited democray. Requirments- free, adult, property onwer, born in Athens.
Sparta
- Located in southern part of greece.
- Was cut off from the rest of Greece by the Gulf of Cornif.
- Goverment- Assembled by citizens. Councial of Elders, 30 older citizens, proposed laws on the assembly to vote one. Five elceted officls that carred out the laws that were passed by the assembly. Two kings that ruled over sparta's military.
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