Chapter 4 possible essay questions
Short Answer
How did geography and climate of Greece and the Aegean Islands affect the
development of the Minoans and Mycenaean civilizations
What arguments might a citizen of an ancient Greek polis present for or
against changing citizenship
Contrast the city-states of Athens and Sparta in the areas of citizenship,
education and the status of women.
Judge whether the rule of Pericles was a golden age for Athens and its
people. Why or why not?
Extended Response
How did economic prosperity cause political changes in Greek city-states?
Explain three different philosophies of government for both the Spartans and
the Athenians.
What was the significance of the outcome of the Persian Wars? How did it
affect both Greeks and Persians?
Chapter 4 Section 1
Assessment
Main Idea
1. Identify the details about where and how early Greek civilization
developed
• Minoans
– Lived on island of Crete
– Sea trade was important
– Trade with Egypt and Mesopotamia
– Navy guarded island
• Mycenaeans
– From central Asia
– Intermarried with Helens
– Government center in Mycenae
– Conquered Minoans
– Controlled Aegean Sea
Recall
2. Define
• Labyrinth – a complex, confusing series of connected passages
• Bard – a poet who tells stories by singing
3. Identify
• Sir Arthur Evans – British archeologist who found remains of Minoans
• Minoans – civilization that lived on island of Crete, first great
civilization of Greece
• Mycenaeans – invaded Minoans, 2nd great civilization of Greece,
expanded empire around Aegean Sea
• Homer – blind poet who composed Odyssey and Iliad
• Heinrich Schliemann – German Archeologist who discovered Troy
4. Using Zeus, Athena and Apollo, illustrate how ancient Greeks viewed their
Gods and Goddesses
Greeks believed that their deities caused the events of the physical world
and the activities of the Gods explained the behavior of people
Zeus – chief God, ruled sky, weather and thunderstorms
Athena – Goddess of wisdom and art
Apollo – God of light
5. How did geography and climate of Greece and the Aegean Islands affect the
development of the Minoans and Mycenaean civilizations
• Minoan civilization was strategically located for trade with Egypt,
Mesopotamia and Greek mainland
• Sea protected island from invaders
• The mainland offered Mycenaeans high places to build their cities
• Warm climate meant activities outdoors
Chapter 4 Section 2
Assessment
How did economic prosperity caused political changes in Greek city-states?
• Nobles wanted expanded trade
• Trade needed to be protected
• Army needed farmers
• Farmers wanted and got power
• Because they got power, artisans wanted power
• Power stucture changed to oligarchies and democracies
2. Define
• Polis – city-state of ancient Greek
• Citizen – a person who takes part in government
• Aristocrat – member of the upper-class
• Phalanx – a military formation
• Tyrant – a person who seized power and established one man rule
• Oligarchy – form of government in which a small group holds power
• Democracy – from of government in which the citizens holds power
3. Identify
• Athens – democracy
• Sparta - oligarchy
4. What arguments might a citizen of an ancient Greek polis present for or
against changing citizenship
• If your are providing something for the government, the government
should provide something for you
5. What kind of relationship existed between a Greek colony and its
metropolis?
• A Greek colony kept close religious cultural and economic ties with
its metropolis usually supplying it with grain and buying products from its
merchants
Chapter 4 Section 3 Assessment p 119 #1-5
Main Idea
1. Use a chart like the one below to list the good citizenship criteria in
Athens and Sparta.
Athens – all citizens were expected to hold public office
Men were expected to be educated and women to be trained household duties
Sparta – men were expected to be first-rate soldiers and women to be mothers
of soldiers
Everyone was expected to be healthy and strong
Recall
2. Define
Constitution – a plan of government
Rhetoric – art of effective public speaking
3. Identify
Draco p118 – improved Greek code of law
Solon p118 – improved Greek economic conditions
Peisistratus p118 – provided poor with loans and work, also divided up large
estates
Cleisthenes p118 – established democracy in Athens
Critical Thinking
4. Evaluating Information
Were the reasons the Athenians gave for choosing government officials by
lottery good ones? Why or why not?
Yes, being rich or being a good speaker may win votes but may not reflect how
good a job a person can do.
No, different people have different abilities and may not be suited for
government
Understanding Themes
5. Regionalism
Contrast the city-states of Athens and Sparta in the areas of citizenship,
education and the status of women.
Athenian men received a broader education than Spartan men, but Athenian
women had fewer rights than Spartan women.
Chapter 4 Section 4 Assessment
Main Idea
1. Use a diagram like the one below to show how the Peloponnesian War
affected democracy in Greece.
Peloponnesian War
Population declines – fighting destroyed fields – widespread unemployment –
government descends into chaos
Recall
2. Define
Symposium – a gathering of men that featured eating, drinking, entertainment,
and intellectual discussions
Mercenary – a soldier who serves a foreign country for pay
3. Identify
Ionian p120 – first Greek city-state to be conquered in the Persian Wars
Darius I p120 – Defeated Ionians and wanted to punish Greeks for revolt
Marathon p121 – Greek victory in Persian War that gave Greeks momentum
Xeres p121 – Darius’s son, invaded Greece from the north
Themistocles p121 – Greek general that came up with wooden wall strategy
Thermopylae p121 – place where 300 Spartans made their stand
Leonidas p121 – Spartan King who stood against Persians
Salamis p122 – Deciding battle of Persian War where the Greek navy lured
Persian navy into the straits
Pericles p122 – leader of Athens during the Golden Age
Aspaisa p123 – metic women who spoke out for more freedom for Athenian women
Critical Thinking
4. Evaluating Information
Judge whether the rule of Pericles was a golden age for Athens and its
people. Why or why not?
Yes, he rebuilt Athens and extended Athenian power and influence.
No, by transforming the Delian League into an Athenian Empire, he helped
bring on the disastrous Peloponnesian War.
Understanding Themes
5. Conflict
What was the significance of the outcome of the Persian Wars? How did it
affect both Greeks and Persians?
The Greeks gained the upper hand, and the Persians retreated to Asia Minor.
Persian attempts to expand into Europe were blocked. The Greek victory
encouraged the self-confidence of the city-states and prepared the way for
many Greek cultural achievements.