Greek Civilization Quiz

Ancient Greece Geography

• Greece was the first civilization in Europe, extending into western Asia.
• Settlements were established in river valleys and surrounded by mountains and seas.
• The mainland of Greece is on the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula.
• A peninsula is a body of land surrounded by water on three sides.
• Key seas surrounding Greece include the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas.

Island Civilization (Minoans)

• Greek myths described a civilization on the island of Crete.
• In 1900 CE, Arthur Evans, a British archaeologist, discovered the Minoan city of Knossos.
• Knossos housed a palace belonging to King Minos.
• Minoan civilization flourished from approximately 2500 BCE to 1450 BCE.
• The cause of their collapse is unknown, but possible reasons include undersea earthquakes or invasion.

Mycenaeans

• The Mycenaeans were traders who adopted Minoan culture, including ship-building and navigation by the stars.
• They worshipped Minoan gods.
• Mycenaean civilization lasted from approximately 2000 BCE to 1100 BCE.
• Their collapse is attributed to internal conflicts and earthquakes.
• Heinrich Schliemann made important discoveries concerning the Mycenaeans in the 1800s.
• Mycenaean palaces were fortified; these centers of government held records of wealth.

The Greek Dark Age

• After the Mycenaean collapse, groups migrated, and the region experienced conflict.
• A Greek-speaking group, the Dorians, invaded the Greek mainland.
• Greece suffered a 300-year period of hardship and uncertainty, known as the Dark Age.
• Focus was solely on survival, with writing ceasing.
• The Dorians introduced significant developments including iron weapons and tools in Greece, a period transitioning into the Archaic Period.

The Rise of the Greeks

• By 750 BCE, the Hellenes (Greeks), originally from the Greek islands, had returned to mainland Greece.
• They brought new knowledge and skills to the region, restarting a flourishing culture.
• The Greeks started trading with other civilizations, like the Egyptians and Phoenicians.
• The rise of trade highlighted the need for a better way of keeping records, leading to the adoption of the Greek alphabet.
• The alphabet was adopted from the Phoenicians, with 24 letters each having its own distinct sound.
• This innovation facilitated reading and writing, marking a shift from oral storytelling.
• The Greek alphabet provided a standard for communication across the region.

Greek Numerals and Alphabet

• The Greek alphabet's letters were also used for numerals.

Recovering from the Dark Age

• Greece's population surged after the Dark Age, leading to food shortages.
• Greeks established colonies along the Mediterranean Sea, resulting in cultural diffusion and new ideas and skills.

Polis (Greek City-States)

• Greek communities, owing to their mountainous terrain and sea access, became fiercely loyal to themselves.
• This led to the formation of numerous city-states, or polis.
• A polis consisted of a major city and its surrounding territories or villages.
• The acropolis, a fortified hilltop in each polis, served as a refuge and a site for religious worship.
• Athens, with approximately 300,000 citizens, had the most extensive population compared to other Greek city-states.

Greek Citizenship

• Ancient Greece directly impacted modern countries, including the U.S., influencing the concept of citizenship.
• Greek citizens enjoyed various rights, such as land ownership, holding public office, voting, and legally defending themselves.
• Citizens had responsibilities like fulfilling government roles and defending their communities militarily.
• Initial requirements for Greek citizenship exclusively included male, free, landowning individuals born in the polis.
• Later, these standards were modified to include and recognize the citizenship of children and women, although they did not gain equal rights with men.

Greek Armies (Hoplites)

• Citizens were obliged to participate in the military, thereby earning their rights.
• Citizen soldiers (hoplites) were outfitted with heavy armor and carried a round shield, short sword, and spear.
• Hoplites marched shoulder-to-shoulder in rows, creating a phalanx formation.
• When faced with enemies, they raised their shields above their heads to protect themselves from projectiles, including arrows.
• Phalanx formations provided a formidable defensive and offensive tactic.

Greek Success

• The Greeks' success stemmed from the strong sense of pride and loyalty within each city-state.
• Soldiers prioritized the needs of their community and citizens over their personal desires.

Spartan Government

• Sparta had two kings who jointly governed, but their authority was limited to the army and religious matters.
• Sparta had two governing bodies.
• These bodies handled judging, law enforcement, and tax collection.
• Sparta maintained a stable government, but it did not embrace outsiders or trade.
• Sparta maintained a powerful military despite not advancing technologically or economically.

Spartan Society

• Spartan boys were trained from the age of 7 in military camps.
• They trained in combat, were educated in writing and reading, and emphasized discipline.
• Emphasis was placed on obedience and harsh treatment.
• Sparta citizens served in the army until age 60 and could marry after age 30, but training continued frequently.
• Spartan women enjoyed freedoms and rights, having more independence compared to other civilizations of the time.
• They had the right to own land, receive training in combat sports and skills.
• Their primary role involved raising strong and brave sons for the army.

Athenian Society

• Athenians prioritized education (arithmetic, geometry, drawing, music, public speaking), and athletic competitions like Sparta.
• Their males had mandatory public education up to age 18.
• Males in Athens were expected to participate in civic and public roles, including governance.

Spartan Women's Lives

• Spartan women were responsible for managing household duties, childcare, and educating their daughters.
• Some women, particularly from wealthy families, had the chance to acquire additional skills including reading, writing, and playing music.
• Compared to women in other ancient civilizations, Spartan women had more independence and rights.

Athenian Women's Lives

• Athenian women focused on managing household duties, educating their daughters, and preparing them for matrimony.

Persian Empire

• Persia was a large empire located in modern-day Iran.
• It expanded under a powerful dynasty of kings.
• King Cyrus the Great played a crucial role in the expansion of the Persian Empire.
• The empire eventually became the largest empire of the ancient world, stretching approximately 3,000 miles from east to west.

Persian Government

• The Persian emperor, Darius I, organized the empire into satrapies for efficient governance and administration.
• Each satrapy had a governor, or satrap, appointed by the emperor.
• The satrap's primary duties were collecting taxes, managing legal conflicts, leading the local police force, and recruiting military personnel.
• The empire maintained a large standing army, known as the Immortals, for defensive and expansionary purposes.

Persian Religion

• The Persian religion, Zoroastrianism, transitioned from polytheistic to monotheistic.
• The principle god was Ahura Mazda, often described as the wise lord.
• Good and evil were presented as opposing forces, with good ultimately prevailing.

Persian Wars Conflicts

• When the Persians expanded into the Mediterranean region, they encountered Greek civilization.
• In 499 BCE, Greek city-states in Asia revolted, seeking help from Athens.
• Although Athens supported the rebellion, they were defeated by the Persians.
• In retaliation, the Persian king, Xerxes, invaded Greece in 480 BCE.

Battle of Marathon (490 BCE)

• It was the first Greco-Persian war.
• It resulted in a surprise Greek victory over the Persians.
• Pheidippides, a Greek messenger, ran 25 miles to announce the victory in Athens.

Battle of Thermopylae (480 BCE)

• The Greeks, despite their numerical disadvantage (7,000 vs 70,000), fought bravely at the pass of Thermopylae.
• A Greek traitor revealed a way for the Persians to bypass this strategically important pass, leading to the defeat of the Greeks.
• King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan soldiers remained to stall the Persian army.

Battle of Salamis (480 BCE)

• The Greek navy, led by Themistocles, lured the Persian fleet into a narrow strait, where the smaller, quicker Greek ships were better.
• The Persian navy suffered severe losses, resulting in a decisive Greek victory.

Battle of Plataea (479 BCE)

• A final battle wherein Greek city-states fought against the Persians and prevailed.
• This was Greece's largest army assembled to date, outnumbering the Persians in soldiers.

Aftermath of the Persian Wars

• The Persian wars left Greece significantly weakened, although their cultural achievements and innovations remained remarkable.

Athenian Democracy

• Pericles transformed Athens into a strong democracy, a system where citizens directly participated in decision-making.
• Athenian democracy differed from the U.S. system's representative model.
• The relatively small Athenian population made this form of direct democracy feasible (6,000 participated actively in their city's governing body).
• This form of governance highlighted Athenian pride and civic involvement.

Athenian Economy

• Athens' economy was heavily supported by slavery, employed to carry out agricultural and other forms of labor.
• Athens had to trade with other colonies and city-states for crucial goods and resources that would help feed their population's nutritional needs.

The Delian League

• The Athenian-led alliance, the Delian League, emerged to protect against future Persian invasions.
• Members contributed ships and personnel, as well as funding.
• The League's treasury was subsequently relocated to Athens.

Peloponnesian War

• The war resulted in conflict between Athens and Sparta.
• Sparta allied with other city-states to surround Athens in an effort to gain control of the Greek peninsula.
• A disease outbreak decimated Athens, weakening them immensely and contributing to their defeat.

Aftermath of Peloponnesian War

• The Greek city-states faced division and setbacks, including deaths, widespread destruction and weakness in governance.
• The war paved the way for the rise of Macedonia.