Greco-Roman Society

Standard: Examine the political,

philosophical, and cultural interaction of
Classical Mediterranean societies from
700 BCE to 400 CE.
Essential Question: How did Classical
Mediterranean societies interact politically,
philosophical, and culturally from 700 BCE
to 400 CE?

Rome

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Greece

Ancient Greece
Element: Compare the origins and
structure of the Greek polis, the Roman
Republic, and the Roman Empire.
Vocabulary: Greek Polis

Geography
mountains
separated the
small,
independent
Greek city-states
caused them to
develop different
ways of life

Geography
presence of a long
sea coast encouraged
sea trade

GREEKS
INFLUENCED BY
THE MYCENEANS
and MINOANS

Geography

Why Trade?
did not have good land for farming
rocky soil (compare to New England in America)

Greek Culture
Element: Describe polytheism in the
Greek and Roman world and the origins
and diffusion of Christianity in the Roman
world.
Vocabulary: polytheism

Greek Religion
POLYTHEISM
worship of many gods
Greek stories or myths developed about their gods
Greek people were seen as the puppets of the
gods.

Greek Mythology
DESCRIPTION
Mythology the family of Greek gods and
goddesses that ruled on Mount Olympus
MAIN GODS
Zeus - chief god
Hades - god of the underworld
Apollo - god of light (sun god)
Athena - goddess of wisdom

Greek Gods

LeftTop:Athena
Above:Zeus
RightTop:Hades
RightBottom:Apollo

Olympics
First held in 776
BC
Held to honor
Zeus
Athletes came
from all over the
world to compete
Individual events
rather than team
Women were not
allowed

Sports from the first Olympics in

776 BCE

Clockwisestartingontheleft:Wrestling,Horse
backriding,Chariotracing,Boxing,Discus,
Jumping,andRunning
Center:Javelin

Development of the Polis

Element: Compare the origins and
structure of the Greek polis, the Roman
Republic, and the Roman Empire.
Vocabulary: Greek Polis

City-State evolves
Polis:
Greek City-State
included a city and the
surrounding land and
villages
Acropolis:
fortified area on top of a hill
Parthenon: GREATEST
CULTURAL MONUMENT
OF GREECE
Agora: Marketplace with
shopping, buying, trading

Acropolis of Athens

Theocracy
Etymology
Theos = god
Kratos = power

Meaning
a religious body with
political power (god is the
ruler)

Monarchy
Etymology
Monos = alone
Arkhein = to rule

Meaning
Rule of one

Oligarchy
Etymology
Oligos= few
Arkhein = to rule

Meaning
Rule of a few

Democracy
Etymology
Meaning
Demos = common people Power to the People (rule
of many)
Kratos = power

Sparta
Description:
Military Society
the largest and most
sophisticated army in
known world

Sparta
Significance:
Army governed life
trained in military
started at age 7

Sparta
Role of women:
produce healthy
children
were trained in athletic
events to keep healthy
Allowed to own
property

Description:

Athens

ruled by an oligarchy
Valued education, arts, culture.
Great sailors

SIGNIFICANCE
Athens had the worlds
first democracy
direct democracy
All male citizens became
members of the
government
Women and slaves were
excluded

ROLE OF Women
Take care of home
Raise the children
Seldom allowed in
public
No formal education
Could not own
property

Direct Democracy
Every male citizen had the
right to attend the Assembly
There they participated in
the decision making process
and voted on all government
issues

Athenians practiced
ostracism*
*a person could be banished from the
city for 10 years with 6,000 votes
from the government!

Key Figures
Element: Identify the ideas and impact of
important individuals; include Socrates,
Plato, and Aristotle and describe the
diffusion of Greek culture by Aristotles pupil
Alexander the Great and the impact of
Julius and Augustus Caesar.
Vocabulary: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle,
Alexander the Great

Greek Philosophers
love of wisdom
refers to an organized system of rational
thought
early Greek philosophers concerned with the
nature of the universe
EXAMPLES:
1. Socrates
2. Plato
3. Aristotle

Socrates
developed the
Socratic Method
a question-andanswer format to
lead people to
understand things
for themselves
killed for
corrupting the
youth

Plato
one of Socrates students
Wrote The Republic:
Ideas on government.
People could live in a
Utopian (perfect) society
where you work
according to skills, and
the smartest would be
the king.
Established the Academy

Aristotle
studied at the
academy for 20 years
under Plato
Personal teacher to
Alexander the Great

Alexanders Conquest

334 B.C. began invasion of the Persian Empire

331 B.C. conquered all of the Persian Empire
327 B.C. moved through modern Pakistan into India
323 B.C. Alexander died after his return to Babylon
at 32 years old

Alexander the Great

became king of
Macedonia at age 20
Responsible for
blending cultures
across Europe and
asia (Cultural
Diffusion)
Considered Greeks
and foreigners equal
based on virtue.

Hellenism
Element: Analyze the contributions of
Hellenistic and Roman culture; include
law, gender, and science.
Vocabulary: Hellenistic culture

Hellenistic Culture
Description: Hellenism
created by Alexander
blend of Greek and Persian cultures
Greeks absorbed aspects of Eastern culture

Hellenistic Culture
Impact:
Four Hellenistic kingdoms emerged:
Macedonia, Syria, Pergamum, and Egypt
Alexandria, center of trade during
Hellenistic period
Classical philosophy absorbed ideas
from other cultures.