Rise of the City-States• By 750 BCE, Greece was

dominated by city-states (polis) that included the major city and the surrounding countryside (numerous villages).– Had approximately

20,000 people.

– Citizens could take part in government.• Included free, landowning males•Gathered at the fortified hilltop (acropolis) to conduct

business.•Women had very few rights and slaves had no

political rights.

• As a result of overpopulation and the need for more arable land, many city-states turned to colonization.

• City-states unified by language, culture, and religion, but not politically.

• Different forms of government emerged throughout Greece in the different city-states:– Monarchy– Aristocracy– Oligarchy– Direct Democracy

Rise of the City-States (cont.)

Monarchy:• State ruled by a king.• Rule was hereditary

through the king’s family.• Some rulers claimed

divine right - their power to rule comes from the gods.

• Example - Mycenae

Aristocracy:• State ruled by the nobility.• Rule is hereditary and

based on landownership.• Social status and wealth

support rulers’ authority.• Example - Athens (594 BCE)

Rise of the City-States (cont.)

Oligarchy:• State ruled by a small

group of citizens.• Rule based on wealth.• Ruling group controls the

military.• Example - Sparta

Direct Democracy:• State ruled by the citizens.• Rule based on citizenship

(free, landowning male).• Majority rule makes decisions.• Example - Athens (461 BCE)

Greek Religion• Greek religion is known as

mythology, based on exciting stories that offered explanations of natural phenomena, human qualities, and life events rather than moral guidance and an afterlife.

• Mythology was expressed in epic poems - the Iliad and Odyssey

• Polytheistic (belief in many gods) - gods walked the earth with men who were concerned most with keeping the various gods happy.

Important Greek Gods

Hera: Wife of Zeus, protector of marriageZeus: Leader of the gods

Important Greek Gods (cont.)

Athena: Goddess of wisdom and poetry

Apollo: God of sun and poetry

Important Greek Gods (cont.)

Aphrodite: Goddess of love

Poseidon: God of the seas

The Role of Gods• Gods were the center of

Greek life with each city dedicating itself to one god or goddess (Athens = Athena).– It was important to keep

the gods happy.– Built temples and had

festivals to honor them.• Starting in 776 BCE,

Greeks got together every four years in Olympia for a sports festival to honor Zeus.