Question of the DayQuestion of the Day

What is What is history?history?

GeographGeographyy • Greece is a European Greece is a European

country consisting of a country consisting of a peninsula and several peninsula and several

islands in the islands in the Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea

• Greece is in the same generalGreece is in the same general geographical area as Egypt, the geographical area as Egypt, the

Persian Empire (present day Persian Empire (present day Turkey)Turkey)

• Central province in the Roman Central province in the Roman EmpireEmpire

•The southern part of Greece is known as the Peloponnesus and is connected to the mainland by an isthmus.•Approximately 2000 islands in the surrounding seas were part of Greece. •The largest Greek island was Crete, located southeast of the mainland. •The colonies of Ancient Greece were spread across the seas, located on the coasts of Northern Africa, Spain, Italy, and Asia Minor.

General Facts

• 75% of the land is covered by mountains•The Pindus Range runs North and South, directly through the center of Greece• Mountain environment consisted of narrow valleys and small plains• Rivers often dried up, making travel virtually impossible, negatively affecting villagers ability to conduct trade business• Villages were typically very independent and had little contact with other Greek villages.• Mount Olympus was thought to be the home of Zeus, considered the most powerful of the Gods.

•The sea brought people together through the formation of new colonies.

•Greece had many natural harbors, enabling the trade of goods to take place

•The sea provided opportunities of employment as well as food for the citizens of Greece

ATHENS• Athens is one oldest established cities

in history, taking its name from Athena, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge

• It was the largest and most powerful Greek state with Athens becoming the leading city of Ancient Greece

• Athens was home to great philosophers and the Academy as well as historians, scientists, mathematicians, and other prominent thinkers.

• The people of Athens constantly strived for excellence in all aspects of life. As a result, Athens was the center of economic, political, financial and cultural growth in Greece

Politics and Politics and GovernmentGovernment

• Athens wanted a self-governed democratic form of government instead of a ruling King or Queen

• Athens succeeded in establishing a democratic rule, the first of it’s kind, around 508 BC

• The democratic rule was one that allowed its citizens to vote for government officials and to have an equal say in political occurrences, such as the passing of proposed new laws

• A present day example of a democratic government can be found in countries such as Canada, the United States and Britain, where government officials are elected by the people to serve as representatives of the people.

• The Athenian government wanted to take control of increasing amounts of land in Greece, a proposal that played a major role in future wars over Greek territory

• Direct participation of its citizens in matters of government was a key to the Athenian democracy and male citizens were encouraged to attend the Assembly as often as they wished. • All men were granted the right to debate, offer amendments, vote on proposals and voice opinions on declarations of war and peace.

Politics and GovernmentPolitics and Government

SPARTA• Sparta was located in the center

of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. It was an isolated city-state, differing from Athens in cultural and political tendencies.

• The city-state of Sparta was founded by Lacedaemon, the first King of Sparta and son of Zeus.

• Sparta was a Dorian Greek military state and the Spartan Army considered themselves the protectors of the Greek territory, providing their services when called upon.

Politics and Government Politics and Government

• Sparta was a very militaristic state and the Spartan for of government was known as an oligarchy, meaning ‘rule by few’.

• The method of governing differed from the other city-states. The rule of Sparta was shared between 2 Kings, the Gerousia and the Assembly.

Sparta’s Class DistinctionsSparta’s Class Distinctions• Official Spartan citizens were considered to be

only men born in Sparta who were regarded as the First-Class.

• Women were not considered citizens but were permitted to own land and businesses, giving them more freedom than the women of other Greek city-states.

• Second-class residents of Sparta were designated as those who came from other Greek city-states or foreign countries. Second-class residents were permitted own businesses but could not become citizens.

• Third-class residents were the slaves of First-Class residents.

Spartan Spartan WarriorsWarriors

• Spartan society stressed the importance of training male citizens for warfare over the importance for education

• The importance of training males for warfare resulted in able, fit boys being taken from their parents at a young age to work with experienced soldiers.

• Athletics was also a focus of Spartan society, with girls being permitted to participate as well.

Spartan Children Spartan Children • Spartans concentrated on military

strength and obedience, interacting very little with outside city-states and countries.

• At the age of 7 able Spartan boys left their homes, living in dormitories with other Spartan boys to pursue the skills of a good soldier. They were required to exercise and learn proper use swords and spears. They were never provided with enough food and were only given minimal clothing and blankets. Male children born with deformities or disabilities were left to perish in the environment.(Click here for the story of the Spartan (Click here for the story of the Spartan boy who stole a fox).boy who stole a fox).

In Comparison:

•Athenian boys were not forced to join the army. They focused on music, literature, drama, philosophy, politics, and art. Some did enjoy battle and sports. As an Athenian, one could receive an education and pursue several kinds of arts and sciences

Spartan girls remained at home with their mothers and fathers instead of being placed in dormitories but were given the opportunity to exercise through athletics, such as gymnastics. Girls were also expected to learn from their mothers how to run a household.

Women were given fewer rights than men, but had greater privileges in comparison to women of other city-states.

Women were also given important roles in handling business endeavors but their most important characteristic was considered to be ability to raise healthy, strong children who would become the future generation of Spartans.

Video ClipVideo Cliphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcp-P9T5CcU