Greek Civilization
2000 B.C. to 323 B.C.
Minoan Civilization
• The first people to develop a civilization in
the area and they lived on the island of
Crete.
• Called the Minoan Civilization because it is
believed they were ruled by King Minos.
• At its peak, had a population of around
100,000 people.
Mycenaeans
• Civilization existed around 2000 B.C.
• The people moved south into the Greece
Peninsula from the north.
• They built walled cities in the southern part
of Greece.
• This is how the Greek civilization
developed.
• Warrior kings ruled the cities.
• Mycenae was the most important city.
Mycenaeans
• These warlike people • Greeks saw this time
sailed to other cities in their history as an
around Aegean Sea age of heroes.
and raided or • The Trojan War
attacked them. became a symbol of
• Most famous attack heroic, or brave and
was on the city of bold, actions.
Troy around 1200
B.C.
Trojan War
• Caused by Paris, son of the king of Troy,
having an affair with Helen.
• Helen was a very beautiful woman but was
also the wife of a Achaean king.
• Paris took Helen back to Troy with him
and the Achaeans fought the Trojan War
to win Helen back.
Mycenaeans Win the War
• The war lasted for just over 10 years.
• The Mycenaeans used a clever trick to win the
war….the horse.
• Mycenaeans pretended to sail away and left a
giant wooden horse behind.
• The Trojans thought they had won the war and
brought the horse inside their walls.
• At night the Mycenaean warriors dropped down
from the horse and burned Troy to the ground.
How Do We Know About The
Trojan War?
• The stories have been passed down
because of two long poems.
• The Iliad and the Odyssey.
• Written by a blind poet named Homer 500
years after the war ended.
The Greek City-States
• Greece is rocky and mountainous. This
kept the people isolated from one another.
• So the Greeks built many small
settlements or city-states called a “polis”.
• Each polis was independent, meaning
they were self-governing.
The Greek City-States
• The Greeks built their polis around a hill
called an acropolis.
• On this high ground stood the main
temple.
• Below the acropolis, they built homes and
a marketplace.
• They also built theaters where they
enjoyed plays and meeting places for the
government.
Greek Government
The Greeks tried several different forms of
government.
• 800 B.C., kings ruled and passed their
power to their sons.
• 700 B.C., a small group of families with
large amounts of land had taken over.
• These families are called aristocrats.
• They also passed the right to rule from
father to son.
Greek Government
• 600 B.C.,Tyrants begin to take over.
• A tyrant is a strong leader who used force to
take over.
• At first, tyrants kept the peace and passed fair
laws.
• They also helped trade grow.
• But then some tyrants started using their power
to become cruel and unjust.
• That is why today, tyrant means anyone who
uses power in a cruel and unfair way.
Greatest Contribution from Greeks
• In 594 B.C., a leader named Solon introduced
democracy to the Greek people.
• The average citizen of Athens had political
power for the first time ever.
• Democracy is the most important contribution
the ancient Greeks made to civilization.
• Athenians were the first Greeks to have a
democratic government.