final edits of ess

Quinn Fearson, Caroline Katris :), Marisa Ziegler, Lauren Rossi, KeiKei Baugh, and Shelby Clayton

Mr. Bob Schick

Western Civilization

2/1/18

Introduction to Ancient Greece

Greece has a history that sets the tone for the entire world. Whether it’s government, leaders, culture, or lifestyle, ancient Greece left its mark. Greece’s geography varies across the country. There are peninsulas islands, and a mountainous mainland. Their geography had a major impact on their lifestyle such as effecting their culture and ability to unite as a nation. It also affected their diet by limiting their food resources. They were limited to foods like fish, olives, grapes, and grain. With the numerous rugged mountains, city-states had trouble uniting. People often remained loyal to their city rather than the country as a whole. Many city-states despised each other.

             Part of the Greek culture is oral tradition which is when different stories are passed down by sharing them to other generations. A man named Homer was one of many people who shared and composed stories. Homer was born in Ionia and lived around the end of the Greek Dark Ages. During his lifetime he composed two very famous stories or epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey. However, there is some speculation on whether or not he was an actual person. This is known as the homeric question.

                    Ancient Greece was made up of many city-states and each had their own governments.  They started out having monarchies, than oligarchies and then democracies.  The monarchy was ruled by a king and sometimes he was called a tyrant.  The oligarchy was when the government was ran by a small group of people.  The democracy was ruled by people and they all had a say.  It was in Athens that democracy was first used as a primary form of government. Greece has had many leaders throughout the years with differing ways to govern. The Greek rulers have varied from cruel tyrants, and to those who want the government to work in favor of the citizens. The leaders were mostly aristocrats (rich people) or tyrants, such as Hippias (tyrant) who ruled from 527 to 510 BCE. Next, Isagoras and Cleisthenes fought for power over Greece. Isagoras won, but in 508 BCE he was overthrown by the citizens of Greece. It’s in Greece that the leader, Cleisthenes, helped form the foundation of democracy that is used today.

Ancient Greece was a hardworking country. They had shipbuilders, skill sailors, farmers, medal workers, weavers, and potters, The citizens were normally poor and lacked natural resources. Most of the citizens were middle class, they had some money but they weren’t wealthy. Greece is known through their temples and theaters. Greece is a very healthy country. The women didn’t have many rights living in that time. Their main jobs was to stay at home and take care of the family.