The Classical Era in the West



Page 1: Key Vocabulary00The Classical Era in the WestChapter 6Cover Page Page 3: Important Ideas* Persia grew large and powerful through military conquests, building good roads, collecting tribute, and tolerating differences.* The city-states of Greece grew prosperous through trade. The Greeks made major contributions to: art, architecture, literature, history, drama, philosophy, and mathematics.They city-state of Athens developed the world’s firstDEMOCRACYWomen, Slaves, and Foreign residents could not vote Important IdeasEarly Romans developed a republican form of government, based on elected representatives and the “rule of law.”As Rome expanded it became an empire, and itsemperor was considered “godlike”Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire by Emperor ConstantinePage 3 Essential Questions:(skip 4 lines between each/answer)What factors caused rise of Persia, Greece, Rome? (pgs.2,4,6)What were the major accomplishments of these “classical civilizations? (pg. 8)How were the classical civilizations shaped by their religious and philosophical beliefs and by the “rule of law”? (pgs. 10, 12)Page 5: How was Athenian democracy different from American democracy today? (answer in 1-2 complete paragraphs )Page 2: The Persian Empire (2,000 B.C.-100 B.C.)The Persian ruler Cyrus the Great- united the Medes and Persians in 550 B.C.Expanded the Persian territory to the west and east by conquering territories.The next ruler, the son of Cyrus, Darius-conquered Egypt, unified the Persian Empire by building roads, uniformed set of weights and measurements, and capital cities.The empire was 3,000 miles long from the Nile River to the Indus River.Persian ReligionAt first Persians worshipped many gods. (Polytheistic)570 B.C. Zoroaster introduced a new religion, ZoroastrianismTwo GodsThe god of Truth, Light and Goodness (Ahura Mazda)The god of Darkness and Evil (Ahirman)Those who were good would go to heaven, those who were bad would go to hell.Persia’s AccomplishmentsBegan using coins for purchasing items instead of bartering, this begins a “money economy”Built roads using stone and gravel and also included stationsfor fresh horses, postal service for communication.Like Post Office, Fed Ex, UPSThe Glory of GreeceGeography of GreeceLarge mountainous peninsulaIslands of the Aegean SeaCoast of TurkeyFarming was difficultProduced wine, olive oil, and pottery for tradeBecause of trade they developed a new alphabet from thePhoeniciansEarly Greek CivilizationsCivilizations gradually spread from Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Persia towards the Mediterranean region.Minoan CivilizationFlourished on the island of Crete 2000B.C. to 1400 B.C.Developed writing, used copper and bronze, great shipbuildersMycenaean CivilizationMainland Greece and on Asia Minor? 1400 to 1200 B.C.Page 4: Greek City-StatesMountains and seas cut-off cities in Greece.This allowed the development of city-states (polis)/each with own government and set of lawsGreeks still had a common culture: language, religious beliefs, traditions, economic ties, Olympics Powerful Greek city-states include: Athens, Sparta, and TroyATHENS---DemocracyDeveloped the form of government of DemocracyRule of the peopleCitizens voted for every matter.Women, foreigners, slaveswere not citizensCitizens Assembly was the main governing body, 5000 people could attend to vote.Met 10 times a yearCitizens who served on a council, or jurywere paid for lost earnings.SPARTA---MilitaryLocated on the southern part of Greece (Peloponnesus)725 B.C. conquered the Helots.Made helots become farmersSparta’s life was organizedaround military needsIndividualism and new Ideaswere discouragedStrict obedience and self- discipline was highly valued.If a baby was unhealthy it wasleft on a hill to die.Golden Age of Greek CulturePericles- championed democracy, collected taxes from city-states to rebuild Athens.Art, literature, and philosophy flourished.Philosophy---“the lover of wisdom”. Use of reason allows humans to understand how world works.Socrates- says to question everything! What is goodness? What is morality and justice?Plato- philosopher, concluded that values like goodness and beauty exist as independent ideas, author of The RepublicDescribed the ideal city-state, “Justice as the rule of reason over personal desires”Aristotle- teacher of Alexander the Great, collected and classified things from animals to city-state constitutions and studied their relationships. (Think Biology)Art & ArchitectureDesigned statues and buildings with ideal proportions and harmony.Parthenon- was built at the Acropolis, inside is the Athena, patron goddess of Athens Science & MathEratosthenes- showed the earth was round and calculated its circumferenceCreated the sieve- a device to discover all prime numbersArchimedes- revolutionized geometry, volume and density, designed catapultsMusic & LiteratureThe Greeks developed musical scalesHerodotus and Thucydides- Greek historiansWould write stories of the pastSophocles- Greek playwright, author of Antigone, completed first comedies and tragediesPage 6: The Peloponnesian WarsAthens used their power to tax other city-statesSparta declared war on AthensAfter 30 years of war, Athens wonThe war weakened all of the city-statesPoverty was widespreadAthens was devastated/Sparta now becomes strongest city-stateAlexander the GreatSon of Macedonia King Philip IIWas taught by Aristotle.Conquered Mediterranean world including Egypt and PersiaEastward to the Indus River in IndiaDied at an early age, his empire collapsed after his deathHellenistic CultureHellenistic Culture- the fusion of Greek culture with cultures of Middle East and IndiaAlexander the Great would spread the Greek culture toconquered landsStatues were created with more emotional representationsStatue heads of ordinary peopled showed imperfections.Wealthy people began to study philosophyPage 8: The “Grandeur” of RomeOne of the most influential civilizations to emerge in the Ancient World.Romans adopted the Greek Culture, believed in same Gods, gave them Latin namesRomans studied and imitated Greek achievements in science, art, history, and literature.Geography of RomeLocated on a fertile plain in thecenter of Italy close to the westcoastTo the north the Alps protectedRomeTo the west the sea offered protection/route for exploration and tradeThe Roman RepublicEarly Rome overthrew their king and developed a Republic/ system of government by representativesTwo social classes: Patricians-wealthy land owners, Plebeians- small farmers, craftsmen, merchantsPatricians had an assembly known as the Senate, elected officials were called consulsPlebeians would choose tribunes/speakers to represent them The Twelve TablesSupported the “Rule of LawGovernment officials were not above the lawTo protect the PlebeiansCovered civil, criminal and religious lawsALL CITIZENS ARE EQUAL UNDERTHE LAW!The Roman EmpireRome ruled the entire Italian PeninsulaDefeated Carthage in North AfricaRome became the leading power in the Mediterranean RegionRome then conquered: Spain, North Africa and easternMediterranean.Julius Caesar- returned to Rome with his army and declaredhimself “Dictator”Page 10: The Roman Empire Roman officials feared loss of freedoms and assassinated Caesar in 44B.C. (called the Ides of March)Augustus Caesar- was the next ruler, kept monarch powers butpreserved republican institutions.He removed corrupt officials and tried to restore “Old Roman Values”His successors were called Emperors and were worshipped asGods.Expanded the Roman Empire to the north and eastPax Romana (27 B.C.-395 A.D.)Augustus brought peace to Roman Empire/ “Pax Romana”Centralized political authority allowed the “rule of law” toeffective.Respected local customs, provided laws, promoted trade, and offered citizenship.However, still recognized the institution of slaveryA large number of slaves performed much of Rome's laborRome became the center ofCommunications, commerce, trade,politics, culture, military power.Great engineers: concrete, large buildings, Coliseum, 50K miles of roads/The Appian WayRoman Army: professional soldiers, obedient to its GeneralsWomen in RomeResponsible for household choresNot allowed to hold officeMore equality in Roman society than in Greek SocietyHigh value on marriage, home and the familyCould own property and make willsLower class women worked outside the homeJewish RebellionRome allowed the practice of other religions as long as they accepted the emperor as divine.Jews refusedRevolted in 66 A.D. and in 135 A.D.Defeated by the Romans, destroyed the Jewish temple in Jerusalem and drove Jews out of Israel (The Diaspora)Fled to the north and west of EuropePage 12: ChristianityBegan 2,000 years agoBased on the teachings of JesusPreached forgiveness, mercy and sympathyCrucified because he claimed he was the MessiahApostles- believed Jesus had risen from the dead to redeem mankindAfterlife is promised to all believersWanted to spread the religion to non-believersNo strict dietary rules or other religious lawsIn the 4th Century Emperor Constantine became the 1st Christian EmperorBy 400 A.D. Christianity became the official religion for theRoman EmpireFall of RomePolitical Weakness- Emperors became corrupt and ineffective leadersEconomic Problems- costs of defending and administering the empire led to high taxes, inflation, unemployment Military Decline- relied on paid soldiers, recruited from non-Roman people, not loyal to RomeInvasions- continually attacked from N. Europe and Central Asia (Goths and Huns) this causes the “Fall of Roman Empire”Legacy of RomeLaw- concepts of Justice, equality before the law, law based on reason shaped European legal systemsLanguage- several Euro. languages evolved from Latin: Spanish, French, Portuguese, ItalianEngineering- built bridges and aqueducts to supply water to cities, developed concrete, the use of arches and domesChristianity- becomes official religion of Roman Empire under Constantine ................
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