Background of Ancient Greece

• Ancient Greek civilization began


  800 BC
• Ancient Greek civilization ended (conquered by the ancient Romans)


  146 BC
• Birthplace of ancient Greek civilization


  The Greek peninsula and neighbouring islands
• People that started ancient Greek civilization


  Ancient Greeks
• From whom did the ancient Greeks learn their civilization


  Minoans and Mycenaeans
• Around 800 BC, the ancient Greeks


  1. Built city-states

  2. Invented writing
• Ancient Greek city-states


  • Many independent city-states
  • Ruled by different forms of government
• Geographical barriers


  • Hilly
  • Places separated by sea and mountains, so Greeks set up independent city-states
• Cultural differences 


  • The ancient Greeks were made up of different tribes. They had different cultures
  • Difficult to unite and set up a unified government -> set up separate governments
• Social differences 


  • Highly centralized government was needed in Sparta to rule large population of slaves. As for Athens, more people engaged in trade and wanted more power from the nobles. This prompted the rise of democracy -> different forms of government
• Ancient Greek city-states


  • Several hundred city-states of different sizes
  • Each included a city and surrounding land
  • Ruled by independent governments
  • Relations among city-states were almost equal
• Athens


  • Lying on the southeastern coast of the Greek peninsula
  • Democracy: all citizens could take part in governance; the Assembly formed by all citizens had the highest authority
  • Farming, fishing, making pottery and trading
  • People loved education, children sent to school at an early age
  • Most important port and richest city-state
  • Had a strong navy
  • Birthplace of many great thinkers
  • Built many great temples and open-air theatres