UNIDAD 10: GRECIA
ACTIVITY 27: ANCIENT GREECE
1. Read the following text.
Where is
Greece?
Greece is a small country in south east Europe. It has an area of mainland,
which is very mountainous, and hundreds of small islands dotted around in the
Aegean and Ionian seas. The largest island is Crete which is in the
Mediterranean Sea.
The highest mountain in Greece is Mount Olympus (9,754 ft.), seat of the gods of Greek mythology.
The largest city and capital of Greece is Athens, with a population of over three million.
How big is Greece?
Greece has a total area of 131,940 square kilometers ( 50,502 square miles). This includes 1,140 square kilometers of water and 130,800 square kilometers of land.
What
is the weather like in Greece?
Greece has a warm, sunny climate with temperatures that peak at about 33 C in
the summer months of June, July and August, lowering to between 13 C and 15 C
from December to February.
Rainfall in Greece peaks at about 65mm in December and January, but lowers to only 6mm in July and August.
Legacy of the Ancient
Greeks
Although the Greeks were conquered by the Romans,
there are many influences from Greece which can still be found in our lives
today:
Trial by Jury
Greek Myths
Democracy
The word 'democracy' is Greek. It means 'government by the people. We have a
form of democracy in Britain, and this is a legacy of the Athenians and
their assemblies and councils.
Tragedy and Comedy
Theatre
The word 'theatre' is Greek. Most modern theatres follow the Greek plan.
The
Olympics
The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC at the Greek city of Olympia.
Marathon
Pheidippides ran from Athens to Sparta to ask for help against the Persians
just before the Battle of the Marathon (490 BC).
Building
styles (Architecture)
Throughout the world, buildings have been constructed in the style of
Ancient Greece. The British Museum is an example of this.
The first alphabet with vowels
The Ancient Greeks played an important part in the development of the
alphabet. The first two letters of the Greek alphabet - alpha and beta -
have given us the word 'alphabet'.
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/Greece.html
2. Athens
Athens
was the most powerful Greek state. It was a city with lots of beautiful public
buildings, shops and public baths.
The people of Athens lived below the Acropolis (rocky hill). The marble Parthenon, a temple, (see picture on right) was built on the highest part of the Acropolis. Inside the Parthenon stood a large gold and ivory statue of Athena.
Athena was the goddess of wisdom and war and was the patron of Athens. The legend says that Athene and Poseidon had a contest to have the city named after them. Poseidon promised the riches of the sea, but Athena’s gift of an olive tree was felt to be more valuable.
In Athens boys went to school but girls were taught at home.
Government
Athens did not have a king, it was ruled by the people as a democracy. The
people of Athens believed that no one group of people should make the laws and
so citizens could choose the government officials, and vote for or against new
laws. The people of Athens chose their ruler.
They held a large meeting on the slopes of a hill in Athens where any citizen could speak, and tell the government what it should be doing. This was called the Assembly, and there had to be at least 6,000 citizens at every Assembly.
Athenian democracy was not like modern democracy. Only citizens over 18 could vote. Women, slaves and foreigners could not become citizens. So democracy in Athens meant rule by the men of Athens.
Slavery
Slaves made up about a quarter of the working population on Athens. Most were
people who had been captured in warfare and sold to slave dealers. They were
then put on sale in the slave market.
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/greece/athens.htm
3. Sparta
Much less evidence survives about Sparta but we do know that it was a military state. Sparta was surrounded by mountains which protected it from invaders.
Sparta was the only city state which had a full time army. The Spartan men were well known for being brave and fierce, and they spent their whole lives training and fighting.
Spartans lived in harsh conditions, without luxuries, to make them tough fighters.
Physical training and fitness was considered to be an important part of a Spartan child’s education. Girls did not fight in wars but they took part in physical activities because Spartans believed fit and strong women would have healthy babies that would be good soldiers. Boys went to live at an army barracks at the age of 7.
Government
Sparta had its own system of government which was very different from the other
city states. Rule was shared between two kings, the Gerousia and the Assembly.
Most citizens Spartans were either Perioeci (citizens who paid taxes, served in the army and were protected by Spartan laws) or Helots (people from lands conquered and ruled by Sparta who had no rights).
The Helots
Spartan citizens were given land which was farmed for them by the Helots. The
Helots were treated as serfs (slaves) and had to give half their crops to their
Spartan master.
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/greece/sparta.htm
4. Click here. Write down the questions and answer them.
5. Clik here. Copy ten words with its meaning into your notebook.
6. Click here and do the exercise.