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Here are the notes that we were not able to go over in class

Chapter 4: Ancient Greece: Early Greek civilizations were influenced by their physical environment.

Geography p.106

·         Impact of seas and mountains—mountains divided city-states and created unique cultures; seas encouraged trade and colonization.

·         City-States: (polis) city or town and surrounding countryside; center of Greek life.

·         Expansion: seas allowed trade, colonization, expansion.

·         Sparta: militaristic society, oligarchy, education focused on military development, women had more rights, strong army, little interest in art, literature, theater, architecture.

·         Athens: direct democracy; art, literature, architecture, theater flourish; strong navy and sea trade; colonization of Aegean, Mediterranean region. Defeated by Sparta in Peloponnesian War.

·         Pericles: Democracy; direct, but only for male citizens; Funeral Oration.

·         Polytheistic: belief in many gods; in Greece, on Mount Olympus; Zeus was head.

·         Homer: Epic poems Iliad and Odyssey show Greek heroism.

·         Socrates: Philosophy; code of ethics; Socratic method: Question and answer; reason.”The unexamined life is not worth living.”

·         Hellenistic Era: Alexander the Great—spread of Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean, Northern Africa, and Southwest Asia.

Chapter 5: Rome: Romans conquered and controlled the Italian peninsula and then the entire Mediterranean.

Geography p. 146

·         The rise of Rome—Italian peninsula good for large population, farming. Help from Etruscans. Influence of Greeks.

·         Republic—rule by some citizens selected. Patricians (upper class) could rule, not Plebeians. Twelve Tables of law to Law of Nations. Under Republic, Rome gradually took over a large part of the Mediterranean through Punic Wars and the defeat of Carthage.

·         Senate—A select group of about 300 patricians (upper class men) who ruled for life.

·         Julius Caesar—military dictator who was part of the First Triumvirate, but who then marched his army across the Rubicon and took over Rome. Ultimately assassinated by Senators because it was feared that he was too powerful.

·         Augustus—First Roman emperor. Real name is Octavian, part of the Second Triumvirate, then took over. Named imperator by the Senate. Began inheritance of Roman leadership.