Chapter 1 GOVERNMENT & WARFARE Ancient Greece may bring to mind legendary gods and heroes battling mythical monsters but it was actually a thriving and complex society Ancient Greece refers to various civilizations that inhabited the Greek peninsula and islands from 2000 B C E to 30 B C E The height of Greek culture was in the fifth century B C E Although the Greeks frequently warred with both their neighbors and each other they are responsible for developing sophisticated systems of government and social order many of which are still in use today That's my Town Mecedonia Athens Persia Sparta Crete 4
GOVERNMENT & WARFARE 1 The civilization of Ancient Greece includes several different periods including Minoan Mycenaean Classical and Hellenistic 2 Ancient Greece was made up of as many as 2,000 city-states The most powerful were Athens and Sparta 3 The city of Athens is named after the goddess Athena 4 Athenian citizens had to do jury duty 6,000 citizens had to serve each year and a single jury could have as many as 500 jurors Dang jury duty again 5
5 The world’s first democracy was formed in ancient Athens Citizens could participate in a large meeting called the Assembly 6 The word democracy means Power of the People 7 In ancient Greece the word idiot meant anyone who didn’t participate in politics Don't be an Idiot Vote 6
GOVERNMENT & WARFARE 8 Citizens would sometimes vote using dried beans This is where we get the expression spill the beans which means to tell the truth or reveal a secret 9 When citizens wanted to banish a politician they voted by writing his name on a piece of pottery called an ostrakon This is where we get the word ostracize which means exclude or send away 10 The most famous Greek leader of all time Alexander the Great was actually from Macedonia Alexander was the first leader to put his face on coins whattaya Think 7
