Heritage of Greece and Heritage of Greece and RomeRome

Pages 644 to 650Pages 644 to 650

GreeceGreece

Rugged terrain made travel & communication difficult

City-States: large towns w/ own governments (controls the surrounding countryside)

Prized freedom & resisted outside interference

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At the center of each city-state was an acropolis: hilltop fortress.

Public life centered around the acropolis

Greek Ideas About GovernmentGreek Ideas About Government

At first, city-states had a monarch, or king rule.

Then aristocracies, or government by a small, privileged upper class, took over.

Our ideas about democracy came from early Greek traditions.

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By 450 B.C. Athens developed a direct democracy- all citizens participate in government directly, rather than through elected officials.

Pericles (great leader) advanced ideas about democracy.

PericlesPericles

All citizens equal before the law

Each citizen has a right and duty to participate in government

Athenian democracy was limited- only free men born in Athens could participate in gov’t

The Search for TruthThe Search for Truth

Greek philosophers felt this was their duty

Questioned gods and goddesses control of nature

Found natural forces, not evil, caused diseases

Socrates Socrates (470 B.C. to 399 B.C.)(470 B.C. to 399 B.C.)

Socratic Method- Question & answer technique that forces the examination of beliefs & disposal of any belief that could not be proven through reason

Put to death b/c he was seen as corrupting the minds of the youth- He argued he was a friend of the truth

PlatoPlato

Wrote The Republic- describes ideal government based on justice for all

Rejected democracy b/c it condemned Socrates to death

Said philosophers should rule as kings, workers produce food, and soldiers protect the state

AristotleAristotle

Sought truth from experience

Gather evidence from the real world and then use reason to determine truth

Created a system of reason known as logic

Urged for moral behavior and moderation

The Hellenistic WorldThe Hellenistic World

Greek city-states were constantly at war with each other.

Phillip of Macedonia (an outsider) gained control of the city-states.

Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great

Phillip’s son Took over and expanded his empire Spread Greek culture & Aristotle’s

teachings to all of the lands he conquered

Lasting effects on European and Asian cultures- his rich, new culture know as Hellenistic: blended Greek culture with Egypt’s and cultures of the Middle East

Heritage of RomeHeritage of Rome

Growth of RomeGrowth of Rome

In 509 B.C. Rome set up a republic- citizens who have the right to vote choose their leaders

A senate and an assembly made laws

Patricians- wealthy landowners, controlled the gov’t at first

Plebeians- common people, had no voice in gov’t. They could vote, but could not hold office

Roman ExpansionRoman Expansion

Emphasized duty, sacrifice, and patriotism

Developed strong, swift army that conquered all of Italy, North Africa, Spain, and Greece.

Expansion led to social and economic problems.

To restore order, military leaders ruled.

Julius CaesarJulius Caesar Most brilliant and

powerful leader Conquered many

European lands for Rome

Killed in 44 B.C. b/c people were afraid he was too powerful

His death marked the end of the Roman Republic

His son, Octavian, declared himself emperor and renamed himself Augustus Caesar

Roman CivilizationRoman Civilization

Pax Romana- (Roman Peace) first 200 years of Roman Empire

Developed a legal system to meet the needs of the diverse people they ruled

Everyone equal before the law

Innocent until proven guilty

Decline of RomeDecline of Rome

Several reasons1. Frequent civil war- leaders

competing for throne2. Fighting disrupted trade, weakened

the economy3. Outside invasions4. Failed attempts at reform