Nova Scotia Department of Education



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The Geography of Greece

Adapted from

Assignment to hand in: Map of Greece

Step 1: Label and colore the blank Map of Greece with the following locations and physical features (Create a Map Key for symbols you use):

Physical Features:

Island of Crete

Island of Thera

Island of Rhodes

Asia Minor

Macedonia

Mount Olympus

Pindus Mountains

Cities: Knossos, Mycenae, Sparta, Athens, Corinth, Thebes, Delphi, Troy

Bodies of Water: Sea of Crete, Mediterranean Sea, Ionian Sea, Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, Gulf of Corinth

Atlas or Map Website Resources to Use:

Ancient Greece Flash Map (Zoom in for detail)

Ancient Greece Flash Map (Zoom in, but not as detailed)

Ancient Greece Map (PDF)

Map of Greece (Zoom once - Relief & Political Map)

Google Earth (Download the FREE software and zoom in for satellite pictures of Greece)

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Crete and Mycenae: Identifying the Roots of Greek Civilization

Assignments to hand in:    Note Chart on Minoan and Mycenaeans & Comprehension Questions

Step 1:  Introduction - Read the following text and look at the pictures.

[pic]Crete is an island of 3,189 square miles located in the Mediterranean Sea, halfway between mainland Greece and Asia Minor (AKA Anatolia or modern-day Turkey). According to legend, Crete is the birthplace of Zeus, the King of the Greek Gods. Mycenae (pronounced my-SEE-nee) is a city in the northeast of the Peloponnesian Peninsula on the Greek mainland. Legend states that Mycenae was founded by the Greek hero Perseus after he killed the monster Medusa.

[pic]Minoan culture developed on the island of Crete in approximately 3,000 B.C.E. Minoan palace murals and painted pottery show us a bountiful maritime culture, fueled by fishing, farming, and local arts. The Minoans were master seafarers and set up long-distance trade routes with Spain, Egypt, Canaan, and Asia Minor. Socially, the Minoans were an egalitarian culture, with both men and women holding respected positions in the fields of religion, agriculture, and craftwork. Recreation enjoyed by the Minoans included dancing to music and song, "bull-leaping" - a boxing, complete with boxing gloves and mouth guards. The remarkable peace-loving character of the Minoan civilization is suggested by the lack of fortresses, war equipment, and painted battle scenes among the remains of their settlements. The Minoan civilization is historically important to Greece because it was the cultural model of the Myceneaean (pronounced my-sih-NEE-in) civilization - considered the earliest developed culture on mainland Greece.

[pic]Mycenae was settled in 2,700 B.C.E. Most of the myths about ancient Greek heroes and their famous battles come to us from the Mycenaeans. Later Greek poets such as Homer used these tales in their writings. The Mycenaeans spoke an early form of the Greek language, and developed an agricultural economy based on grains, grapes, and olives. Like the Minoans, they traded by sea with Egypt and Asia Minor. Unlike the Minoans, the Mycenaeans devoted most of their energies to developing a strong military. The circular royal tombs of Mycenae reveal collections of decorated uniforms, elaborate helmets, chariots, daggers, and axes. Horses were also extremely important to the Mycenaeans, as they were the vehicles of war. Mycenaean documents suggest that their society was hierarchical, with kings and soldiers in positions of power, and prisoners of war enslaved to serve them. Apart from artwork depicting religious festivals and musical performances, very few indications of recreational entertainment were left by the Mycenaeans.

Step 2: Taking Notes - Fill out the CHART: Notes on Minoans and Mycenaeans by looking at and reading about six artifacts from each civilization.

Minoan Artifacts

Mycenaean Artifacts

Step 3: Comprehension Questions - Answer the following questions on a lined piece of paper (or Cut and Paste them into Word) in paragraph form:

1. What did the Minoan and the Mycenaean civilizations have in common?

2. In what ways were the Minoan and the Mycenaean civilizations different?

3. Why do you think so many aspects of Minoan civilization are found at Mycenae?

4. What other geographical areas, besides Mycenae, might Minoan civilization have influenced?

5. What aspects of Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations would you expect to have survived in later periods of Greek history?

Step 4: The End of Minoan and Mycenaean Civilizations - Read the following text:

The Minoan civilizations of ancient Crete flourished for approximately 600 years, between 2000 and 1400 B.C.E. Cretan palaces and their surrounding villages were almost destroyed in 1700 B.C.E., when a series of severe earthquakes rocked the island. However, the Minoans rebuilt their cities and renewed production of their trade goods in a relatively short time. Within the next hundred years, the Minoans established settlements - for trade rather than imperialistic purposes - on neighboring islands of Thera, Kythera, Melos, and Rhodes. Minoan and neighboring island cultures were mutually tolerant and supportive, and the Minoans benefited from trade, and continued to create glorious artwork and architecture.

Mycenaean invaders from the Greek mainland disrupted this placid existence. It is unclear to scholars why the Mycenaeans began launching invasive expeditions in the mid fifteenth century B.C.E. It is possible that they wished to replenish supplies of copper and other ores - which Mycenaean mines had stopped yielding - needed for their production of weaponry. It is also possible that violent land-ownership disputes and trade-route conflicts caused a massive Mycenaean exodus to Asia Minor, leaving the Mycenaean economy in a weakened state. A third possibility is that the Mycenaeans could no longer fend off hostility from encroaching cultures on mainland Greece, and sought safer settlements on Crete. Whatever the case, Linear B documents recovered from Mycenae record an invasion of Crete in 1450 B.C.E., and the peaceable Minoan civilization soon came to an end. Captive Minoan architects and artists were sent to Mycenae to serve the Mycenaean kings. Meanwhile, the Cretan palace of Knossos was occupied by militaristic Mycenaean rulers. They introduced weapons, chariots, and battles into Cretan mural painting, and added the burial of weapons alongside military dead to Cretan funeral customs.

Approximately 350 years later, in 1100 B.C.E., the Dorian Greeks - united tribes from northwestern Greece and Asia Minor - invaded the settlements in the Peloponnesus, the southern Aegean islands, and Crete. Their successful campaigns ended Mycenaean rule. However, through the Dorians, elements of Minoan and Mycenaean cultures were incorporated into the art, architecture, and literature of Classical Greece.

Supplemental Videos:

Crete (Minoan civilization)

Mycenae

Supplemental Websites:

Minoan Civilization

The Mycenaeans

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The Odyssey Assignment

Assignments to hand in:    Note Chart on Ancient Greek Values in The Odyssey    &    Comprehension Questions

Introduction: Look at the picture below and read the following text:

[pic]The Odyssey is a 12,000-line Greek epic poem dating from the eighth century B.C.E. An epic poem is a long poem divided into sections, or "books," that focuses on the extraordinary deeds and adventures of a hero. According to ancient Greek tradition, heroes were men who were born to one divine and one human parent. The story of The Odyssey recounts the adventures of the Greek hero Odysseus during his 10-year voyage home to Ithaca after the end of the Trojan War in the thirteenth century B.C.E. Odysseus is considered the ideal Greek hero: an aristocratic soldier of superior strength, intelligence, and courage, favored by the Gods.

The poem is traditionally ascribed to Homer (circa 700 B.C.E.), who is considered the earliest Greek poet. Little is known about Homer's life, but ancient Greek playwrights referred to him as a "gifted blind poet." Some scholars believe that a line from a choral song attributed to Homer confirms this description:

"If anyone should ask you whose song is sweetest, say: blind is the man and he lives in rocky Chios."

Other scholars believe that "Homer" was the name given to a collective group of bards who sang Mycenaean folktales to entertain the nobles of Ionia, located on the west coast of Asia Minor.

It is generally believed that the exact author of The Odyssey is not as important as the ancient Greek values it contains. By listening to the stories in the poem, ancient Greeks learned standards of honorable behavior. These values, forged in the "Age of Heroes" during the Mycenaean Period, became the foundations of ancient Greek society.

Download and print the following handouts: Note Chart on Ancient Greek Values in The Odyssey & Excerpts from The Odyssey

Interpreting Excerpts From The Odyssey: Fill out the Note Chart on Ancient Greek Values in The Odyssey by following these steps:

1. Look at each PICTURE below.

2. Read the DESCRIPTION of the picture below and the description in the EXCERPTS handout.

3. Listen to the AUDIO TRACK (Windows Media Player will do) and read along with each passage on the Note Chart.

4. Fill out the column, "Greek Value Illustrated in Excerpt." Choose from the following GREEK VALUES and explain why you chose the one you did. (You may click on any of them for a definition of each value):

Athleticism        Hospitality        Ingenuity        Intuition        Justice        Loyalty        Respect        Teamwork

5. Draw a VISUAL that represents that Greek value in the corresponding column on your Note Chart.

[pic]Excerpt A: In this picture we see a vase painting of Penelope seated in front of her loom and next to her son Telemachus. Penelope's unfinished weaving stretches across the top of the loom and is decorated with patterns and fanciful creatures. This scene appears on a Red-Figure vase dating to the second half of the fifth century B.C.E.    (Audio Track)

[pic]Excerpt B: In this picture we see a vase painting or Odysseus and one of his men blinding the Cyclops Polyphemus with a large branch. Odysseus is the figure in the center. Polyphemus holds a wine cup, illustrating Odysseus's plan to make the Cyclops drunk before attacking him. This scene appears on a late-geometric vase dating to 670 B.C.E. (Audio Track)

[pic]Excerpt C: In this picture we see a vase painting of Circe stirring the potion that turned Odysseus's men into animals. The men surround Circe, who looks masculine herself, while Odysseus approaches at left with a sword to stop her. This scene appears on a Black-Figure vase dating to 550 B.C.E. (Audio Track)

[pic]Excerpt D: In this picture we see a vase painting of Odysseus seated at the mouth of Hades, in front of the ghost of one of his men, Elpenor. Odysseus has sacrificed two calves to the spirits of the dead so they will converse with him. He speaks first with his dead shipmate Elpenor, while waiting to speak with the prophet Tiresias. The figures appear to be floating because the geographic features that were originally drawn around them have faded. This scene appears on a Red-Figure vase dating to the second half of the fifth century B.C.E. (Audio Track)

[pic]Excerpt E: In this picture we see a vase painting of Odysseus tied to the mast of his ship as he listens to the song of the Sirens. One of the winged Sirens swoops down in front of him, while two others are perched on cliffs in the upper right and left corners. Odysseus's men, their ears plugged with wax, row the boat oblivious to the charm of the Siren song. This scene appears on a Red-Figure vase dating to 475 to 450 B.C.E. (Audio Track)

[pic]Excerpt F: In this picture we see a vase painting of two men, a pig, and a piglet. The scene is commonly thought to represent Odysseus, left, and the swineherd Eumaeus, who unknowingly put Odysseus up for a night before the hero returned home to confront his wife's suitors. This scene appears on a Red-Figure vase dating to 470 to 460 B.C.E. (Audio Track)

[pic]Excerpt G: In this picture we see a vase painting of a banquet scene like the one Odysseus might have encountered on his return home. The male guests hold drinking cups, recline on benches piled with striped cushions, and listen to a female servant play a double pipe. This scene appears on a Red-Figure vase dating to 450 B.C.E. (Audio Track)

[pic]Excerpt H: In this picture we see vase paintings that show Odysseus using a bow and arrow to slay Penelope's suitors. Two female servants stand behind him. Caught by surprise, one suitor is wounded and another hides behind an overturned bench. These two paintings appear on opposite sides of a Red-Figure vase dating to 450 to 440 B.C.E. (Audio Track)

Comprehension Questions - Answer the following questions on lined paper in paragraph form:

1. What values seem to have been most important to the early Greeks?

2. Why do you think these values were so important?

3. Which Greek values do you think are similar to American values today? Which do you think are different?

4. Why do you think the ancient Greeks illustrated their values through epic literature?

Supplemental Videos:

Mythology - Homer's Odyssey

Great Books - The Odyssey

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The Odyssey Assignment

Assignments to hand in:    Note Chart on Ancient Greek Values in The Odyssey    &    Comprehension Questions

Introduction: Look at the picture below and read the following text:

[pic]The Odyssey is a 12,000-line Greek epic poem dating from the eighth century B.C.E. An epic poem is a long poem divided into sections, or "books," that focuses on the extraordinary deeds and adventures of a hero. According to ancient Greek tradition, heroes were men who were born to one divine and one human parent. The story of The Odyssey recounts the adventures of the Greek hero Odysseus during his 10-year voyage home to Ithaca after the end of the Trojan War in the thirteenth century B.C.E. Odysseus is considered the ideal Greek hero: an aristocratic soldier of superior strength, intelligence, and courage, favored by the Gods.

The poem is traditionally ascribed to Homer (circa 700 B.C.E.), who is considered the earliest Greek poet. Little is known about Homer's life, but ancient Greek playwrights referred to him as a "gifted blind poet." Some scholars believe that a line from a choral song attributed to Homer confirms this description:

"If anyone should ask you whose song is sweetest, say: blind is the man and he lives in rocky Chios."

Other scholars believe that "Homer" was the name given to a collective group of bards who sang Mycenaean folktales to entertain the nobles of Ionia, located on the west coast of Asia Minor.

It is generally believed that the exact author of The Odyssey is not as important as the ancient Greek values it contains. By listening to the stories in the poem, ancient Greeks learned standards of honorable behavior. These values, forged in the "Age of Heroes" during the Mycenaean Period, became the foundations of ancient Greek society.

Download and print the following handouts: Note Chart on Ancient Greek Values in The Odyssey & Excerpts from The Odyssey

Interpreting Excerpts From The Odyssey: Fill out the Note Chart on Ancient Greek Values in The Odyssey by following these steps:

1. Look at each PICTURE below.

2. Read the DESCRIPTION of the picture below and the description in the EXCERPTS handout.

3. Listen to the AUDIO TRACK (Windows Media Player will do) and read along with each passage on the Note Chart.

4. Fill out the column, "Greek Value Illustrated in Excerpt." Choose from the following GREEK VALUES and explain why you chose the one you did. (You may click on any of them for a definition of each value):

Athleticism        Hospitality        Ingenuity        Intuition        Justice        Loyalty        Respect        Teamwork

5. Draw a VISUAL that represents that Greek value in the corresponding column on your Note Chart.

[pic]Excerpt A: In this picture we see a vase painting of Penelope seated in front of her loom and next to her son Telemachus. Penelope's unfinished weaving stretches across the top of the loom and is decorated with patterns and fanciful creatures. This scene appears on a Red-Figure vase dating to the second half of the fifth century B.C.E.    (Audio Track)

[pic]Excerpt B: In this picture we see a vase painting or Odysseus and one of his men blinding the Cyclops Polyphemus with a large branch. Odysseus is the figure in the center. Polyphemus holds a wine cup, illustrating Odysseus's plan to make the Cyclops drunk before attacking him. This scene appears on a late-geometric vase dating to 670 B.C.E. (Audio Track)

[pic]Excerpt C: In this picture we see a vase painting of Circe stirring the potion that turned Odysseus's men into animals. The men surround Circe, who looks masculine herself, while Odysseus approaches at left with a sword to stop her. This scene appears on a Black-Figure vase dating to 550 B.C.E. (Audio Track)

[pic]Excerpt D: In this picture we see a vase painting of Odysseus seated at the mouth of Hades, in front of the ghost of one of his men, Elpenor. Odysseus has sacrificed two calves to the spirits of the dead so they will converse with him. He speaks first with his dead shipmate Elpenor, while waiting to speak with the prophet Tiresias. The figures appear to be floating because the geographic features that were originally drawn around them have faded. This scene appears on a Red-Figure vase dating to the second half of the fifth century B.C.E. (Audio Track)

[pic]Excerpt E: In this picture we see a vase painting of Odysseus tied to the mast of his ship as he listens to the song of the Sirens. One of the winged Sirens swoops down in front of him, while two others are perched on cliffs in the upper right and left corners. Odysseus's men, their ears plugged with wax, row the boat oblivious to the charm of the Siren song. This scene appears on a Red-Figure vase dating to 475 to 450 B.C.E. (Audio Track)

[pic]Excerpt F: In this picture we see a vase painting of two men, a pig, and a piglet. The scene is commonly thought to represent Odysseus, left, and the swineherd Eumaeus, who unknowingly put Odysseus up for a night before the hero returned home to confront his wife's suitors. This scene appears on a Red-Figure vase dating to 470 to 460 B.C.E. (Audio Track)

[pic]Excerpt G: In this picture we see a vase painting of a banquet scene like the one Odysseus might have encountered on his return home. The male guests hold drinking cups, recline on benches piled with striped cushions, and listen to a female servant play a double pipe. This scene appears on a Red-Figure vase dating to 450 B.C.E. (Audio Track)

[pic]Excerpt H: In this picture we see vase paintings that show Odysseus using a bow and arrow to slay Penelope's suitors. Two female servants stand behind him. Caught by surprise, one suitor is wounded and another hides behind an overturned bench. These two paintings appear on opposite sides of a Red-Figure vase dating to 450 to 440 B.C.E. (Audio Track)

Comprehension Questions - Answer the following questions on lined paper in paragraph form:

1. What values seem to have been most important to the early Greeks?

2. Why do you think these values were so important?

3. Which Greek values do you think are similar to American values today? Which do you think are different?

4. Why do you think the ancient Greeks illustrated their values through epic literature?

Supplemental Videos:

Mythology - Homer's Odyssey

Great Books - The Odyssey

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Understanding the Persian War

Assignment to hand in: Summarizing Assignment of Your Choice (See below) & Basketball Metaphor Activity

Step 1: Read the "Background" for each event discussed in the Persian War below. Look at the corresponding picture and read the text that follows. Also, click on the website links as well to better your understanding of each event.   

Event A: The Expansion of the Persian Empire (Background for Event A)

[pic]This is a picture of the Grand Palace at Persepolis, the capital of the Persian Empire. Reliefs depicting Persian kings decorated the steps leading to the entrance of the palace, such as the roof and lions shown in the drawing. The courtyard and one of the smaller palaces that surrounded the main palace are also shown.

Website Links:

Persia - Wikipedia (good overview of the empire)

Persepolis - (Pictures and text)

The Forgotten Empire - The world of Ancient Persia (The British Museum - Pictures, text, etc.)

Event B: The Ionian Revolt (Background for Event B)

[pic]This is a relief of the Persian king Darius I seated on a cushioned throne and holding a staff and flower, two traditional symbols of royal power in Persia. The subject approaching Darius to offer tribute stands behind two incense burners, which were intended to keep visitors a respectful distance from the king. Persian subjects like the one shown here were obligated to offer tribute to the king annually. The Ionians revolted against Darius because they did not want to observe this custom.

Website Links:

Ionian Revolt - Wikipedia (good overview)

Event C: The Battle of Marathon (Background for Event C)

[pic]This is a drawing of the Battle of Marathon with the Greeks dressed in red, the Persians in blue. One of the warships that carried the Persians to Greece is shown at left, and the battle field is visible at right. The confrontation shown here took place after the Greek leader Militiades learned that the Persians had sent their calvalry ahead to Athens, reducing their strategic advantage on the flat, open battlefield.

Website Links:

Battle of Marathon - Wikipedia (good overview)

Battle of Marathon (some pictures and links)

Event D: The Battle of Thermopylae (Background for Event D)

[pic]This is a drawing of the Battle of Thermopylae with the Persians in the foreground and the Greeks in the background. This drawing shows the narrow pass that made it difficult for the larger Persian army to overwhelm the Greeks early in the battle.

Website Links:

Battle of Thermopylae - Wikipedia (good overview)

History Channel - Battle of Thermopylae on YouTube (good documentary)

King Leonidas and the 300 Spartans of Thermopylae (many pictures using the movie, "300.")

Supplemental Video:

The Last Stand of the 300

Event E: The Battle of Salamis (Background for Event E)

[pic]This is an engraving of the Battle of Salamis showing Greek warships destroying Persian warships at close range.

Website Links:

Battle of Salamis - Wikipedia (good overview)

Salamis (good pictures and overview)

Supplemental Video:

History's Turning Points - Battle of Salamis

Greece After the Persian Wars: "Golden Age" of Greece

[pic]The Persian Wars were immensely important in the history of ancient Greece. Working together to defeat a common foe reminded the Greek city-states that they shared a common language, culture, and religion. After the wars ended, Spartans, Athenians, and residents of other Greek city-states referred to themselves collectively as "Greeks" more than they had in the past. Additionally, victory over the mighty Persian Empire filled the Greeks with a new level of confidence. At times, this confidence expressed itself as sheer arrogance. For example, in Herodotus's history of the Persian Wars, he repeatedly referred to the Persians as "barbarians." However, this newfound confidence led to the development of stunning cultural achievements, especially in the city-state of Athens. The Athenians were determined to rebuild their city and make it one of the most spectacular in the ancient world. During the 40 years following the Persian Wars, the achievements of the Athenians - in theater, philosophy, sculpture, architecture, and government - were so numerous that many have referred to the period as the "Golden Age" of Athens.

Step 2: Choose one of the following summarizing assignments:

1. Pretend you were a news reporter for a Greek or Persian newspaper during the time of the Persian Wars. Write a 50-100 word news update for the Greek or Persian people back home about each of the 5 events. Remember your audience.

2. Draw a cartoon history of each of the 5 events summarizing visually and with captions.

3. Other? (Think of another way to summarize these events in a creative way and approve it with your teacher.)

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Touring Athens During the Golden Age

Assignments to hand in:    Notes About Athens During the Golden Age    &    Station Notes Packet    &    Illustrated Scrapbook

Step 1: Introduction - Look at the following pictures and text below and complete the corresponding handout: Notes About Athens During the Golden Age.

[pic]Athens is considered one of the most important ancient Greek city-states. Known as the birthplace of democracy, Athens also gave modern society its foundations in art, literature, and philosophy. Athens is on the peninsula landmass called Attica in southeast Greece. It sits on a plain about 4 miles from the sea and is surrounded by mountains. Its location and mild Mediterranean climate allowed farmers in Athens to grow various crops. However, the land was not very fertile, and Athenians had to trade for many of their essential food items.

Greek-speaking tribes first came to Athens around 2000 B.C.E., perhaps from Asia Minor. They named the city after Athena, the Greek Goddess of wisdom and military victory. During the Mycenaean Period (circa 1600 - 1200 B.C.E.), Athens was a second-rank city, overshadowed by Mycenae, Thebes, and other city-states. Over the next several hundred years, Athenians resisted invading armies from other Greek city-states, and eventually united as a democracy around 500 B.C.E. During the Golden Age that followed, Athens became the center of Greek commercial and cultural power. By the late 400s B.C.E., the Athenian population numbered approximately 150,000 people.

[pic]The physical layout of ancient Athens was dominated by surrounding mountains and rocky coasts. Situated on a plain about 4 miles from the Aegean Sea, Athens was a city enclosed by defensive walls. It was close enough to the sea to have the advantages of a harbor, yet far enough from other coastal settlements to discourage sudden naval invasion. The city's location has always provided a strong defensible position, particularly because of its most prominent geographic feature - the Acropolis, or high place in the city, an oval-shaped hill of rock that rises about 300 feet above the city. Over the centuries, Athenians erected religious temples, altars, and statues at the top of the Acropolis. At its highest point stands the Parthenon, the temple of the city's special protector, or patron, the Goddess Athena. Two other important features of Athens were the Theater Dionysus on the southeastern slope of the Acropolis, and the marketplace, or Agora, located at the base of the Acropolis.

Athens was a densely populated city. Its narrow streets and alleyways were not laid out in any formal plan, and wee often dirty and crowded. Outside the center of the city were industrial suburbs. For example, the metalworking district was located on a low hill west of the Agora. The potters' quarter was located northwest of the Agora, outside of the city's gate, in an area known as the Ceramicus. The graveyards of the aristocratic families were also located at the outer edge of this neighborhood.

[pic]The Agora, or marketplace, was the center of Athenian life during much of its Golden Age. Reconstructed after the end of the Persian Wars in 479 B.C.E., the Agora contained temples, government buildings, and several columned buildings called stoas. On the walls of the most beautiful stoas, artists depicted various historical vents, such as the Battle of Marathon, and religious scenes.

On any given day the entire Agora was bustling with noisy activity. In the large, open center, merchants sold their wares - haggling with customers over the prices for everything from food, clothes, and animals to pottery, chariots, and furniture. Public officials regularly patrolled the farm stalls and craft displays to check the quality of the goods. Any merchant found to be selling inferior merchandise was fined. Beautiful public buildings and temples lined two sides of the Agora. Citizens used public buildings to debate and vote on important political issues.

The Agora also served as a place for recreation. In the afternoons, men often visited the outdoor sports complex, or gymnasium, to exercise. The gymnasium consisted of a running track, a wrestling court, fields for throwing javelin, or light spear, and discus, or flat circular plate, over long distances. There were also rooms for changing and oiling down the body. In the evenings men remained in the Agora to socialize. One popular gathering place for men was the barber shop. Greek men went there for the latest hair styles, and to pick up the latest news and gossip circulating through the busy city.

Step 2: Touring Stations of the Golden Age of Ancient Greece - Complete the Station Notes Packet by covering each Station below. Look at the visuals (mouse over each for title and click to enlarge) and read the handouts provided for each station. Follow all directions carefully!

Station A: Architecture (The Parthenon)

[pic]            [pic]            Informational Handout (Architecture: The Parthenon)

Station B: Commerce and Trade (Shop in the Agora)

[pic]             Informational Handout (Commerce & Trade)        Catalog of Athenian Goods

Station C: Drama (Theater of Dionysus)

[pic]         [pic]             Informational Handout (Drama)        Excerpt from Hecuba by Euripides

Station D: Education (Gymnasium)

[pic]            Informational Handout (Education) ..............Greek Poem

Station E: Law (Pnyx)

[pic]            Informational Handout (Law)        Trial Against Socrates

Station F: Pottery

Informational Handout (Pottery)

Examples of Ancient Athens Pottery:

[pic]Example A: This is a Black-Figure vase dating to the mid fifth century B.C.E. It shows four men holding musical instruments including a double flute and a drum. This type of vase is called an amphora and was typically used to store grain, oil, and wine.

[pic]Example B: This is a Geometric vase dating to 760 B.C.E. The vase shows a stylized funeral scene in which funeral scene in which the deceased is lying down, surrounded by other human figures. This type of vase, called a funerary amphora, typically had a hole in the bottom so that relative of the deceased could place the vase on top of the grave and pour offerings of water or wine through the hole.

[pic] Example C: This is a Black-Figure vase dating to the late sixth or early fifth century B.C.E. The vase shows a woman drawing water at a fountain as the women behind her carry water jugs on their heads. This type of vase is called a hydria and was often used to hold water.  

[pic]  Example D: This is a Red-Figure vase dating to the fifth century B.C.E. It shows a groom leading a bride by the hand while another woman adjusts the bride's clothes. This type of vase is called a pynxis and was often used to store toilet articles such as women's cosmetics. 

[pic]  Example E: This is a Geometric vase dating to the late sixth century B.C.E. and measuring about 18 inches tall and 9 1/2 inches wide. This type of vase is called an oenochoe (pronounced EE-no-kee) and was typically used as a wine jug. 

[pic]Example F: This is a Red-Figure vase dating tothe mid fifth century B.C.E. It shows several women presenting gifts to a bride on the day after her wedding. This type of vase is called a lebes gamikos and was a typical wedding gift for a wealthy bride. The bride, who is seated, holds a lebes gamikos on her lap.

Station G: Religious Beliefs (Panathenaic Way)

[pic]         Informational Handout (Religious Beliefs)          The Panathenaic Procession (Description)     

Play CD Track of Ancient Greek processional music

Station H: Sculpture (Marble Workshop)

[pic]Greek Marble Statues A & B            Informational Handout (Sculpture)

Station I: Slaves

[pic]        Informational Handout (Slaves) ............Silver Mine Setting

Station J: Women

[pic]        Informational Handout (Women - Home of a wealthy family)

Step 3: Culminating Assignment - Creating an Illustrated Scrapbook

Follow the directions given in the handout: Guidelines for Creating an Illustrated Scrapbook

Supplemental Video:

The Parthenon - Design and Architecture

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Greek Against Greek: Athens vs. Sparta

Assignments to hand in: City-State Flag    &    Critical Thinking Questions in Issue Handouts

Step 1: Introduction - Look at the pictures below and read the text for a background on this assignment.

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Athens: Athens is located in south-central Greece, on the peninsula landmass called Attica. It sits on a large plain surrounded by mountains, and lies about four miles from the Aegean Sea. Because of Athens' proximity to the sea, it developed strong trade relationships with other city-states, allowing it to become powerful and prosperous. During the fifth century B.C.E., Athens secured its powerful trade status by constructing the Long Walls. These two parallel walls stretched for four miles, connecting Athens with its port city Piraeus, and thus ensuring the safe transport of trade goods inland from the coast. Another major Athenian economic asset was silver - obtained from the silver mine of Mt. Laurium - which helped finance the Athenians' social and military programs.

By the early 500s B.C.E., Athens had become the most important Greek city-state, primarily for two reasons: its democratic form of government, and its strong encouragement of the arts. Most free male Athenian citizens could vote and hold public office. Talented people from throughout Greece came to Athens to learn and study in various artistic fields. the best artists, architects, and writers came together in this unique, cosmopolitan city that became noted for its beauty and splendor.

In the early fifth century B.C.E., invasions from the Persian Empire severely threatened Athens' independence and prosperity. After defeating the Persians in 479 B.C.E., Athens put together an alliance - called the Delian League - of numerous Greek city-states that would serve as a mutual defense pact against future Persian aggression. Over time, as Athens grew more powerful, it became the dominant member of the alliance. League members paid an annual tribute to Athens in exchange for Athenian protection. Eventually, Athens used these resources to crate a naval empire in the Aegean Sea and to fight its major enemy during the latter part of the fifth century B.C.E. - Sparta.

Sparta: The city-state of Sparta was located in the southeastern part of the Greek region known as the Peloponnesus. The city sat on the northern tip of a plain, between high mountain regions to the east and west, and about 25 miles from the sea. Sparta's location on a fertile and rain-nourished plain enabled it to develop a strong farming economy. Though based on fertile land, this farming economy was also a product of cheap forced labor. A large class of serfs called helots (pronounced HEH-lots) farmed the land and allowed the free Spartans to concentrate their efforts on other pursuits.

Sparta rose as a powerful city-state on the basis of its strong and stable oligarchic government and its militaristic lifestyle. All male citizens were required to perform full-time military service. This well-trained, full-time army enabled Sparta to be the dominant military power in southern Greece for several hundred years. In addition, it helped ensure that the helots would not rebel against the Spartans. In contrast to Athenian society, the Spartans' lifestyle was rigid and anti-intellectual. Spartans scorned wealth, splendor, and the arts: even during the height of their prosperity, they continued to build only wooden houses, and erected very few public monuments.

During the sixth century B.C.E., Sparta became the most prominent and powerful city on the Peloponnesus. Around 550 the Spartans became leaders of an alliance of Greek city-states that created a powerful, united force against all its enemies. The alliance - called the Peloponnesian League - helped Athens defeat Persia during the Persian Wars (490-479 B.C.E.). However, Athens' power and prestige continued to rise throughout the fifth century B.C.E. Sparta began to fear the spread of Athenian democracy to other city-states, which in turn might encourage Sparta's own helot class to rebel against the Spartan government. Thus, the Peloponnesian League began to seek ways to curb Athenian influence.

Step 2: Choose a City-State and Make a Flag - Read the following Background Information on Neutral City-States, choose one and make a flag on a blank piece of paper for it. Use the city-state's characteristics to draw your flag. Consider the example below:

Example of possible Spartan flag:

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Step 3: Choosing Allegiance - Below are four different issues of Athenian and Spartan culture. Read the Handout and answer the Critical Thinking Questions at the bottom for each of them (On a separate lined piece of paper.). Look at the corresponding pictures and listen to the CD Tracks.

|Issue |Athens |Sparta |

|Government |[pic] |[pic]Engraving of the Agora, or market place, in |

|(Handout) |Engraving of the Agora, or marketplace, |Sparta. |

| |in Athens. The Acropolis is in the |CD Track |

| |background. | |

| |CD Track | |

|Quality of Life |[pic] |[pic] |

|(Handout) |Engraving of an architect showing a |Engraving of Spartans exercising in the dromos, or |

| |blueprint to Pericles, as construction is|physical training court, in Sparta. |

| |busily underway in Athens. |CD Track |

| |CD Track | |

|Treatment of |[pic] |[pic] |

|Non-Citizens |Engraving of Athenian women at home |Painting of Spartan women mixing with men in public.|

|(Handout) |washing clothes, caring for children, and|The women in the foreground holds her baby while a |

| |embroidering fabric. |man tries to determine whether it is healthy. |

| |CD Track |CD Track |

|Trade and Prosperity |[pic] |[pic] |

|(Handout) |Engraving of the Athenian harbor crowded |Engraving of Sparta situated in an agricultural |

| |with trade ships. Athens can be seen in |valley. |

| |the background. |CD Track |

| |CD Track | |

Step 4: Conclusion - The Peloponnesian War

[pic]During the mid-fifth century B.C.E., the rivalry between Athens and Sparta intensified. In an effort to curb the rise of Athenian influence, Sparta issued Athens an ultimatum: Athens had to free all the cities under its control or face a war. Athens refused, and in the year 431 B.C.E., the war began.

The war between Athens and Sparta - called the Peloponnesian War - lasted for 27 years. The war was primarily fought between the large forces of the Spartan army and the powerful Athenian naval fleet. When the Spartan army invaded the Athenian countryside in the second year of the war, most of the Athenian population gathered inside the city's walls for protection. It was then that a terrible plague struck Athens, spreading quickly through the overcrowded city. Before it was over, one of every four Athenians had died.

The war continued for 26 more years, with both sides winning and losing many battles and suffering many casualties. Finally, the Persians provided Sparta with funds to build a stronger fleet, and this helped the Spartans seal the Athenian's fate. The Persians hoped their assistance would prolong the war and result in the destruction of key Greek city-states. In 404 B.C.E., with much of its fleet destroyed and its population facing starvation, Athens surrendered. Victorious, Sparta forced the Athenians to tear down the walls that surrounded their city.

After the war, Sparta ruled all of Greece for a short time. Then, in the early 300s B.C.E., the city-state of Thebes - aided by Persia - emerged as the leader of Greece. However, the other Greek city-states refused to accept Theban leadership, and fighting continued. By the mid 300s, the weakened Greek city-states were vulnerable to conquest from an emerging power to the north: the kingdom of Macedonia, led by King Philip II. In 338 B.C.E., Philip conquered Greece and created one kingdom.

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Alexander the Great: Hero or Villian?

Assignments to hand in:    Alexander the Great: Hero/Villain Graphic Organizer    &    Persuasive Essay

Step 1: Introduction - Read the handout: Key Events in Alexander's Military Career and look at the map below.

[pic]This is a map of the conquests of Alexander the Great. The map shows the extent of Alexander's empire in 323 B.C.E. and indicates the major towns he founded and the cities he conquered.

Step 2: Graphic Organizer - Complete the Alexander the Great: Hero and Villain graphic organizer by looking at the pictures below and reading the corresponding handouts.

Event A: Alexander in Thebes

[pic]This is Alexander the Great on horseback during his conquest of Thebes. In the background, his soldiers are destroying one of the city's buildings. The Thebans in the foreground are asking him for mercy. Although Alexander destroyed much of Thebes and sold many of its citizens into slavery, he spared some of its inhabitants, including the women kneeling by his horse in this image.

Alexander from different perspectives:    As the Conqueror        &        As the Conquered

Event B: Alexander in Egypt

[pic]This is Alexander and his troops marching in front of the Sphinx in Giza, after taking over Egypt. Prior to this conquest, Egypt was ruled by the Persian Empire. The people in the foreground are Persians who have just lost control of Egypt. They are chained to be taken away as captives by Alexander's troops.

Alexander from different perspectives:    As the Conqueror        &        As the Conquered

Event C: Alexander in Persia

[pic]This is part of a Roman mosaic showing Alexander and the Persian king, Darius III, meeting in the battle of Issus. Alexander appears on the far left, while Darius is shown in a chariot toward the center. Based on a Greek painting that dates to the fourth century B.C.E., this first-century C.E. mosaic is believed to be the most reliable representation of Alexander's appearance in existence.

[pic]Alexander's troops burning and looting the main palace in Persepolis, the capital of Persian Empire. When Alexander conquered the Persians, he burned many of the grand buildings in Persepolis and destroyed or stole many of its royal treasures.

Alexander from different perspectives:    As the Conqueror        &        As the Conquered

Event D: Alexander in India

[pic]Alexander the Great and his troops approaching the Indian king, Porus, along the River Hydaspes in India. Porus is offering his sword to Alexander as a gesture of surrender.

Alexander from different perspectives:    As the Conqueror        &        As the Conquered

Step 3: Persuasive Essay - Write a 5 paragraph essay on whether you believe Alexander was a Hero or a Villain. Use quotes and evidence to back up your position.

Supplemental Videos:

Alexander the Great

Conquerors: Alexander the Great

 

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Recognizing Ancient Greek Achievements in the Modern World

Assignment to hand in:    Notes About Ancient Greek Achievements

Step 1: Introduction - Look at the picture below and read the following text:

[pic]The ancient Greeks made important contributions in many fields of learning, including astronomy, mathematics, and medicine. Greek scholars were extraordinarily successful in scientific fields for several reasons. First, Greek culture encouraged the pursuit of knowledge. Secondly, many citizens in the Greek city-states were wealthy. They had money to support academies and other centers of learning, and free time to pursue academic interests. In addition, Greeks who lived along the Aegean Sea traveled to and traded with other countries, such as Egypt and Babylonia. Through contact with other ancient cultures, they discovered and then built upon the scientific works of scholars from other parts of the ancient world.

Discoveries made by the ancient Greeks have influenced many aspects of modern life. Due to the work of ancient Greek astronomers, we have knowledge of the universe that enables us to explore distant planets. Several of the concepts we learn in mathematics rest upon their discoveries. Many of our everyday items employ scientific principles that Greek scholars first explained. For example, the cord mechanism we use to open and close curtains applies principles that Greeks discovered about the operation of a pulley. Seesaws, scissors, and fishing rods are just a few of many common objects that employ principles of the lever, also first explained by the Greeks. Indeed, the world has benefited greatly from the scientific discoveries made by the ancient Greeks.

Step 2: Fill out the Notes About Ancient Greek Achievements Chart following the directions on the Information Handouts and below. The first column in the chart, "Major Achievements" can be answered from the text in the Information Handouts, the second column of the chart, "Station Findings" can be answered from the Information Handouts and below. The third column, "Modern Applications" can be answered by looking at the corresponding picture and text that follows - read and answer the question at the end of each in green.

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Architecture

[pic]Here we see historical buildings along the waterfront in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The buildings in the upper left corner, which sits on a hill, is the Philadelphia Museum of Art. What ancient Greek achievements in the field of architecture are shown in this modern image?

Information Handout            Greek Columns

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Geography

[pic]Here we see a sailboat crew checking a nautical map in Prince William Sound, Alaska. What ancient Greek achievements in the field of geography are shown in this modern image?

Information Handout            Map of USA

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Medicine

[pic]Here we see a doctor examining a young boy in a leg cast at a children's hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. What ancient Greek achievements in the field of medicine are shown in this modern image?

Information Handout            Hippocratic Oath

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Astronomy

[pic]Here we see flight controllers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, celebrating the safe return of Apollo 13 from its mission to the moon in 1970. What ancient Greek achievements in the field of astronomy are shown in this modern image?

Informational Handout       

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Zoology

[pic]Here we see a zoologist examining the thighbones of animal specimens. What ancient Greek achievements in the field of zoology are shown in this modern image?

Informational Handout    Evolution of Horse

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Engineering

[pic]Here we see two people playing on a seesaw in a village near Seoul, South Korea. What ancient Greek achievements in the field of engineering are shown in this modern image?

Informational Handout        Video 1 - Levers        Video 2 - Levers (Answer the question: Why are levers so important to us today?)

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Mathematics

[pic]Here we see a math teacher explaining geometry concepts to students with the aid of three-dimensional models. What ancient Greek achievements in the field of mathematics are shown in this modern image?

Informational Handout        Video: Pythagorean Theorem (Draw a diagram on how the Pythagorean Theorem is used)

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Physics

[pic]Here we see a gigantic column of water rising from the explosion of an atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll, an island in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. What ancient Greek achievements in the field of physics are shown in this modern image?

Informational Handout        Website: PBS - Electricity (Answer the question: What is the difference between AC and DC current?)

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