Western Civ Blog 21

Today in class we answered questions 1, 2, 3, 5 on page 139. Question 1 was asking us to define direct democracy, classical art, tragedy, comedy, Peloponnesian war, philosophers, socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Direct democracy is a from of government inn which citizens rule directly and not through representatives. Classical art are values of harmony, order, balance, and proportion. Tragedy is a serious drama about common themes such as love, hate, war, and betrayal. Comedy is contained scenes filled with slapstick situations and crude humor. The Peloponnesian war was between 2 city states. the Athens had a stronger Navy, Sparta had a stronger Army. The location made it easy to be attacked from the sea. Philosophers means "lovers of wisdom." we also read about Socrates and Plato. Plato was a student of socrates. He wrote down conversations of socrates "as a means of philosophical investigation." Aristotle was a philosopher. The second question asked which of Pericles' goals do I think had the greatest impact on the modern world. I believe it was making the democracy stronger. I think this because we use Democracy in our modern day government in the United States. Question 3 asked what steps did Pericles take to strengthen democracy in Athens. He increased the number of public officials who were paid salaries. Lastly, question 5 asked why do I think some Athenians found the ideas of Socrates so disturbing. The Athenians believed that Socrates corrupted the youth of Athens.

Western Civ Blog 20

Today in class we took our 100 point test on Ancient Greece. The test was not too hard for me because we went over the material that was on it, yesterday. I also studied the on the material last night, and throughout the day today. Some of the questions on the test were to be to be able to label Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, Adriatic Sea, Peloponnesus, Athens, Sparta, Crete, Asia Minor, and Macedonia on a map.We needed to know some of Greeces geography and its significance. We got tested on the word Arable, it means suitable for farming. We needed to know the significance of the date 508 BCE. We had to be able to identify who Draco, Cleisthenes and Solon are. We needed to know all the forms of government they used in ancient Greece and what they are, and how they were run, such as a monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy. Lastly, we got tested on many different dates such as, 2000 BCE, 1600-1100 BCE, 508 BCE, and 527-510 BCE.

Western Civ Blog 19

Today in class we went over some of the questions that would be on the test. This helped me understand the material more, and helped understand what I should study. We review slides 1-32 in the Ancient Greece powerpoint. Some test questions will be to be able to label Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, Adriatic Sea (it’s just north of the Ionian Sea), Peloponnesus, Athens, Sparta, Crete, Asia Minor, and Macedonia on a map.We will also need to knowGreeces geography and its significance. We will need to know that Arable means suitable for farming. We will need to know the signifigance of the date 508 BCE. We will need to be able to identify who Draco and Solon are. Lastly, we will need to know all the forms of government they used in ancient Greece and what they are, and how they were run.

Westren Civ Blog 18

Today in class we went over the Greece powerpoint. We learned about Hippias who was a tyrant who ruled from 527 to 510 BCE. His brother was murdered, and his rule became harsh. Eventually he was expelled from Athens, this is called being ostracized. in revenge, he began working with the Persian king Darius I, helping them invade Marathon. With Hippias gone, Isagoras and Cleisthenes (both were aristocrats - surprise!) engaged in a power struggle. Isagoras had support from some fellow aristocrats, plus from Sparta. Cleisthenes had support of the majority of Athenians. Isagoras becomes archon eponymous, he was a tyrant. He ostracizes Cleisthenes. Cleisthenes’ supporters and the ordinary Athenian citizens, they revolt against Isagoras’ tyranny. They trap Isagoras on the acropolis for two days - on the third day he fled and was banished. The date 508 BCE is important, it marks when democracy was created. Cleisthenes was definitely a member of the elite, he was very rich. He insulated from the “hoi polloi," he was a crafty politician.

Western Civ Blog 17

Today in class we read pages 134-139 and took notes on the Democracy and Greeces golden age. The main idea of the text was cultural interaction. Democratic principles and classical culture flourished during Greeces golden age. It matters to us today because Greece set lasting standards in art, politics, literature, and philosophy that are still influential today. The Athens wanted a strong democracy. Some important terms were direct democracy, classical art, tragedy, comedy, Peloponnesian war, philosophers, socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Direct democracy is a from of government inn which citizens rule directly and not through representatives. Classical art are values of harmony, order, balance, and proportion. Tragedy is a serious drama about common themes such as love, hate, war, and betrayal. Comedy is contained scenes filled with slapstick situations and crude humor. The Peloponnesian war was between 2 city states. the Athens had a stronger Navy, Sparta had a stronger Army. The location made it easy to be attacked from the sea. Philosophers means "lovers of wisdom." we also read about Socrates and Plato. Plato was a student of socrates. He wrote down conversations of socrates "as a means of philosophical investigation." Aristotle was a philosopher.

Western Civ Blog 16

Today in class we learned about warring city states. Some important terms we learned were polis, which means fundamental political unit, made up of a city and the surrounding countryside. Politics which are affairs of the cities.,A monarchy is ruled by a single person (a king, in Greece). An aristocracy is ruled by a small group of noble, very rich, landowning families. Oligarchy is wealthy groups, dissatisfied with aristocratic rule, who seized power (often with military help). Tyrants are powerful individuals who seized control by appealing to the common people for support. During the seventh and sixth centuries BCE, aristocrats ran the show in most of Greece. Back then, rich people wielded much more influence in society, and held much more governmental power, than the middle class or the poor. Aristocrats are members of the ruling class. They attended symposiums, meetings where the elite men would enjoy wine and poetry, performances by dancers and acrobats, and the company of hetaeras while discussing politics. Draco was the ruler in 621 BCE. All Athenians, rich or poor, are equal under the law, but death is the punishment for many crimes. Debt slavery is ok, work as a slave to repay debts. Solon’s reforms was 594 BCE, outlaws debt slavery. All Athenian citizens can speak at the assembly. Any citizen can press charges against wrongdoers

Western Civ Blog 15

Today in class we learned about the Trojan War. Greeks have fought in many wars over time. The Trojan War was fought around 1200 BCE. The was is part of Greek mythology, until the 19th century. Most historians thought it was fictional because gods and goddesses got involved. The goddesses Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera were given the “apple of discord”. Paris judged Aphrodite as “the fairest”. Aphrodite made Helen (who was married) fall in love with Paris, who took her back to Troy. Then we learned about the "Sea People" and Dorians. Around 1200 BCE the mysterious “sea people” began to invade Mycenae, and burnt palace after palace. The Dorians moved into this war-torn region, dominating from 1150 - 750 BCE. Dorians were far less advanced. The trade-based economy collapsed. Writing disappeared for 400 years. Greek oral tradition are stories passed on by word of mouth. Homer lived at the end of these “Greek Dark Ages." He composed stories (epics) of the Trojan War c. 750-700 BCE. The Iliad is possibly one of the last conquests of the Mycenaeans (the Trojan War). The Odyssey is Odysseus attempts to return home after the Trojan War, being thwarted by the angry god of the sea, Poseidon. The Odyssey was 12,110 lines of dactylic hexameter.

Western Civ Blog 14

Today in class we reviewed the powerpoint that we learned yesterday. Students taught instead of Mr. Schick. Although fertile valleys cover one quarter of the peninsula, only about 20% is arable, which means suitable for farming. The Greek diet consists of grains, grapes, olives and fish.There was a lack of resources most likely led to Greek colonization. Back then, temperatures usually ranged from mid 40s in the winter to low 80s in the summer - although it could get hot in the summer, it was pretty nice year-round. Their influence began around 2000 BCE. Mycenae is located on a rocky ridge on Peloponnesus,  protected by a 20-foot thick wall. Mycenaean kings dominated Greece from 1600-1100 BCE. Controlled trade in the region. In 1400 BCE, the Mycenaeans invaded Crete and absorbed Minoan culture (writing system, language, art, politics, literature, religion).Trojan War was fought around 1200 BCE. Part of Greek mythology was until the 19th cent. Most historians thought it was fictional because gods and goddesses got involved. The goddesses Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera were given the “apple of discord”. Paris judged Aphrodite as “the fairest”

Western Civ Blog 13

Today in class we got out test's back and I got a 92%. Then we went over the Greece is the word powerpoint. The great civilizations and key rivers in Greece are Mesopotamia / Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, Egypt / Nile River, India / Indus River, and China / Huang He River. Greece had many significances such as the location, topography, and surroundings. On the test we need to know what bodies of water surround Greece, what large island is to the south/southeast, and we need to describe where Athens and Sparta are located relative to the sea, and to each other. we also need to be able to identify the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, Adriatic Sea, Peloponnesus, Athens, Sparta, Crete, Asia Minor, and Macedonia on a map.Greece is a mountainous peninsula, mountains cover three-quarters of Greece. There are approximately 2000 islands in the Ionian and Aegean Seas, this combination shaped Greece’s culture. They had many skilled sailors and shipbuilders. Also farmers, metalworkers, weavers, potters. They had poor / limited natural resources, so they needed to trade, it was difficult to unite the ancient Greeks because of the terrain. Greece developed small, independent communities (city-states), and that’s who they were loyal to.

Western Civ Blog 12

Today in class Mr. Schick was out, so Mrs. Ferry was our sub. We read pages 127-133 in our textbooks. The text was focused on Warring city-States. The main idea was power and authority. The growth of city-states in Greece led to the development of several political systems, including democracy. It matters now because many political systems in today's world mirror the varied forms of government that evolved in Greece. Some important terms were polis, acropolis, monarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, tyrant, democracy, helot, phalanx, and Persian wars. Polis was the city-state that was the fundamental political unit in ancient Greece. Acropolis was a fortified hilltop. Monarchy is a form of government ruled by a single person, called a king. Aristocracy is a government ruled by a small group of noble, landowning families. An oligarchy is a government ruled by a few powerful people. Tyrants were powerful individuals, usually nobles or other wealthy citizens, they were rulers. A democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. Helots are peasants forced to stay on the land they worked. Phalanx is a fearsome formation. the Persian wars were wars between Greece and the Persian empire, the war began in Ionia on the coast of Anatolia. 

Western Civ Blog 11

Today in class we answered questions 1, 3, 4, and 3 on page 126. Mycenaeans are some of the people who steeled on. the Greek mainland around 2000 B.C. The Trojan War was a war fought between the Mycenaeans and Troy in the 1200's B.C. Dorians were the people who moved into the war- torn countryside. Home was the greatest storyteller, he was a blindman. Epics were narrative poems celebrating heroic deeds. Myths are stories about gods.The nearness top the sea had an major impact on Greece and Greeces development. The sea's were good transportation routs for the Greeks. The seaway linked most parts of Greece together. Skilled sailors and sea travel connected Greece with other societies. Trade was improved because of the waterways. Greece lacked in many natural resources such as timber, precious metal, and usable farmland, but they were able to get the. resources through trade.  The Mycenaeans adopted the Minoan writing system to the greek language and decorated cases with the Minoan designs. The epics were important to the Greeks during the Dorian period because the Greeks temporarily lost the art of writing. the Greeks learned about the Epics of Homer, and he told the Greeks about their history.

Western Civ Blog 10

Today in class we took our 75 point quiz on Egypt. I studied for the test so I was prepared for it, and I think I did good on it. Then we read about Greece. the main idea of the text was about the roots of Greek culture are based on interaction of the Mycenaean, Minoan, and Dorian Cultures. It matters because the seeds of much of western cultural heritage were planted during this time. The geography contained a huge peninsula jutting out into the mediterranean sea. It included 2000 islands in the Aegean and Ionian seas with included lands on the eastern edge of the Aegean sea. The Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and Black Sea were important transportation routes which connected the Greeks to other societies and allowed for trade for needed resources. The land was filled with mountain chains ran from northwest to southeast along the Balkan Peninsula. The mountains divided the land into many different regions which led to independent governments. The land transportation was difficult due to uneven terrain. Most of the land was stony and very little was fertile (about 1/4). There was little farmland and fresh water led to small populations. The climate had moderate temperatures that varied from an average of 48 degrees Fahrenheit in winter to 80 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. The moderate temperatures supported outdoor life. The men spent a lot of time at outdoor events discussing issues, news, and civic life.

Western Civ Blog 9

Today in class we finished the Egypt powerpoint. We learned about Gods, Humans, and everlasting life. Some information was that Gods were often portrayed with animal heads or bodies. Egyptians believed in an afterlife (ka), and they mummified bodies to preserve them for this post-death journey. All souls would need to justify themselves at the point of death and be either sent to an after-world paradise, or the jaws of a monster. Then we learned about the writing of the words of gods. Earliest Egyptian writing formed c. 3100 B.C. and were small pictures known as hieroglyphics. Egyptian script was usually written in ink on papyrus, which was made from mashed Nile reeds. Papyrus, the precursor to paper, was stored in scrolls and these scrolls were the books of ancient Egypt. Egyptian astronomers created a calendar with 12 months and 365 days to make better sense of the seasonal cycles. Due to their excellent knowledge of human anatomy, Egyptian doctors wrote extensively on health issues and created potions and cures for a number of common ailments. Wooden sailboats were constructed to increase transportation ability on the Nile. Last, the pyramids were massive stone tombs, originally covered in marble, but the marble was later stripped off during the Muslim conquest. The Temple of Amon at Karnak is the largest religious building in the world, also made out of huge blocks of stone. Stone sculptures and interior painting depicted humans and gods in a series of regulated poses, often in profile and without perspective, but were highly effective

Western Civ Blog 8

Today in class I took my shadow on a tour while my classmates finished taking the Mesopotamia test. Then we went over and took notes on the Nile and the "two lands." I learned that upper Egypt was a 500 mile long strip of fertile land along the Nile. Lower Egypt was the wide land along the Nile delta, emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile was the major provider of life for the Egyptians and was much revered in lore and writing. Around 3100 BC the two lands were united under a single king of pharaoh (Narmer). Pharaoh was all powerful, worshiped as a god, and intimately connected to the other major Egyptian gods and goddesses. Egyptians relied on a harmony and balance of the universe, which they called "maat". Isfet is the opposite of maat- bad. Pharaohs had multiple wives, and all routes to financial and social success were through the palace. Women could inherit money and land and divorce their husband, only few ever achieved political power through. Gods were often portrayed as being people with animal heads or bodies. Egyptians believed in after-life (ka) and they mummified bodies to preserve them for this past-death journey. All souls would need to justify themselves at the point of death and either sent to an after-world paradise, or the jaws of a monster.

Western Civ Blog 7

Today in class we discussed what the kids who were absent last week have to do to catch up. We finished reading about Pyramids on the Nile. We read about the life of Egyptians. They had social classes with kings, queens and royalty at the top, wealthy land owners, government officials, priests, and army commanders below them, merchants and artisans below them, peasant farmers and laborers next, and finally slaves. However, they could move their way up by marriage or success in jobs. Women were treated similar to men and weren't treated unequally like in Sumer. Being able to read and write was required for high positions and was very rare. Then I read about religious beliefs and cultural beliefs. Egyptians were polytheistic and believed in many gods such as Re the sun god, Osiris the god of the dead, and Isis, goddess representing the ideal mother and wife. Egyptians believed in an afterlife, where their hearts would be weighed by Anubis and had to be as light as a feather or the devourer of souls would appear and eat it. They prepared many things for people to have in the afterlife. For example people were mummified and put into tombs or pyramids surrounded by things that they could use in their next life, such as riches, food, organs, etc. After I fi used reading this, I worked on work from another class.