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Classical Greece refers to the era between 480-323 B.C.E. in the ancient Greek civilization. This period is characterized by Greece’s flourishing architecture, culture, politics, and philosophy, as well as the notable developments in the fields of mathematics and science. However, a series of wars and conflicts between Persia and Athens and between Sparta and Athens occurred in this period.
See the fact file below for more information on Classical Greece, or you can download our 30-page Classical Greece worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
- The classical Greek period is one of the most brilliant eras in world history. It is remarkable for the unprecedented achievements and developments that occurred during this time, which laid the foundations for Western civilization. This period is dominated by Athens and the Delian League, a military alliance under the leadership of Athens.
- This period occurred in present-day βGreece,β a country located in the southern part of Europe. It is bordered by the Ionian Sea in the west, the Mediterranean Sea in the South, and the Aegean Sea in the east. In its northern region, it is bordered by the countries of Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and a part of Turkey. The strategic location of Greece allows them to trade with their neighboring countries.
- The victory of Greece over the Persian Army in the Battle of Salamis in 480 BCE marked the beginning of the classical Greek period, as well as the political and cultural dominance of Athens in Greece. This event is considered a turning point in Greek history; it saved the Greeks from the total invasion of the Persian Empire, allowing them to enter a golden ageβthe classical period.
- Salamis is one of the most significant naval battles in history, part of the longstanding Greco-Persian wars (A fight between the Persian Empire and city-states of Greece). It took place in Salamis Bay, where the Greek naval forces led by Themistocles destroyed about half of the fleet of the Persian Navy led by King Xerxes of Persia.
- The Greek victory was made possible because of their strategy. The Greeks lured the Persian ships into the narrower part of Salamis bay, where the sizeable Persian ship had difficulty maneuvering. In contrast, the Greek fleets were much easier to maneuver in narrow water because of their smaller size. This allowed the Greeks to attack and sink the Persian vessels furiously.
- King Xerxes was convinced to retreat from Greece and return to his homeland with his remaining troops after the Battle of Salamis.
- The city of Athens became prosperous after the defeat of Persia. Athenians started to rebuild their city and built stone walls around their territory, which made some of their neighboring towns uncomfortable, concerned that it would cause the Athenians to become aggressive.
- Themistocles went to Sparta to inform them about the building of stone walls and to warn them to stay away from Athensβthis marked the beginning of distrust between Athens and Sparta.
- After the Persian defeat, a confederacy alliance against Persia was organized by Athens in 478 BCE. It was called the Delian League. It was created to: create a common defense against Persia, create a unified and effective military action, and foster cooperation among Greek member-states.
- Athens required the member-states of the Delian League to pay tax for the improvement of military naval protection. As a result, the dues of Athens treasury increased, which helped the city-state to become more powerful. The Delian League grew significantly after Pericles. An Athenian statesman rose to power in Athens after the murder of Ephialtes in 461 BCE. Pericles became the unchallenged ruler of the democratic party of Athens until he died in 429 BCE.
- Pericles made his authority stronger by spending all tributes on serving Athenians. He was even using the taxes from the Delian League for Athens. He allotted a budget for the following: restoration of Athens after the Persian Wars, including infrastructures, the yearly production of dramatic and comedy plays, and monetary tribute to Athenian thinkers and artists. Athens continued to rise in power and prosper not until the Peloponnesian war. It was a series of battles between the city-states of Athens and Sparta that lasted for 27 years (from 431 to 404 BCE). This was caused by the following: The control of Athens by the Delian League, the domination of Athens in the Mediterranean Sea, the formation of the Peloponnesian league to rival the Athens Delian League, and the difference between the two city-states in the ideology/government.
- After the wars between the two city-states, Athens was defeated by Sparta; it was after Sparta built its navy and a fleet of warships that made Athenians surrender. Aside from this, the plague outbreak in 430 BCE that hit Athens significantly contributed to the defeat of Athens. This epidemic killed approximately one-third (β ) of the population of Athenians, including their soldiers and sailors.
- The Peloponnesian war resulted in the following: the domination of Athens in Greece ended, the naval forces of Athens were weakened, the democratic government was replaced by the oligarchy of Sparta (it was for only a short period), and Sparta dominated Greece. However, in 338 BCE, Macedonia, led by king Philip II, conquered the allied Greek city-states led by Athens and Thebes in the battle of Chaeronea, which resulted in the domination of Macedonia in the whole of Greece.
- In 336 BCE, King Philip of Macedonia was assassinated, and his son Alexander rose to power. In 333 BCE, Alexander defeated Persian troops in southern Turkey led by King Darius III. In 332 BCE, he successfully conquered Egypt, wherein he established Alexandria as the new capital of the country. With these achievements, Alexander is known to be one of the greatest military generals in history.
SPARTA VS ATHENS
- Athens was known for its incredible arts, architecture, philosophy, and literature. These city-states were located in Attica and were surrounded by mountains and large bodies of water.
- Sparta was famous for its excellent skills in military and combat. These city-states were situated in the Peloponnesian peninsula and landlocked. Thus they had no access to the sea and did not have trading ships.
- In terms of government, Athens had a democratic political system where every person had the right to participate in government. Meanwhile, Sparta had an oligarchy government governed by a small group of wealthy people.
- In terms of economy, Athens primarily relied on trading in the Mediterranean sea, while agriculture was the primary means of living in Sparta. Meanwhile, in terms of defense, Athens had strong naval forces while Sparta had land-army solid points.
- In terms of social equality, Sparta treated their people more fairly than Athens, wherein Spartan women had more status and freedom in society; they received military training and education along with male Spartans.
- In comparison to the status of women in Sparta, women in Athens had less freedom and quality and were not allowed to have education, unlike male Athenians.
ACROPOLIS AND AGORA
- Acropolis is an ancient citadel located in Athens. During the classical period, it served as the center for government, a religious center, and home to mythical greek gods. The Parthenon was built in the Acropolis. Agora, on the other hand, was an open space in the city of Athens. It served as a meeting ground for public activities.
CONTRIBUTIONS AND NOTABLE PEOPLE
- The most outstanding contribution of classical Greece in architecture is the Parthenon, which was built after the Greco-Persian Wars symbolizing victory and democracy. It was dedicated to the goddess Athena. Parthenon served as the place of worship for the Athenians. Today, it is the most visited historical and archeological site in the country. It symbolizes the rich cultural heritage of Greece.
- In literature, Athenians were producing comedic and dramatic films at the Acropolis. Dramatists of classical Greece include Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.
- The legendary writer Homer is best known for his work βIliad and Odyssey.β The Iliad is about the story of the mythical Trojan war. Meanwhile, The Odyssey narrates the story of the journey of Odysseus in returning to his home after the war. Today Homer is considered the father of European poetry.
- The Greek Physician Hippocrates is notable for his contributions to medicine. He was the first to use prognosis (predict disease development) and clinical observation. He also formulated the humoral theory or the systematic categorization of diseases. Today he is considered the father of modern medicine.
- The Greek historian Herodotus is known for making a comprehensive account of the Greco-Persian. He was the first writer to systematically investigate historical events and write a complete and chronological timeline of historical narratives. Before him, other writers are associating history with mythical events. Today Herodotus is known to be the father of History.
- The teacher and philosopher Socrates made the most significant contributions to education and philosophy. He used the Socratic method, the art of questioning, to sharpen the reasoning of his students. He was the teacher of Plato. Socrates was also the first person in Greece who studied morality, or the difference between right and wrong. Today he is known to be the father of Western philosophy.
- The teacher and philosopher Plato significantly contributed to Greek in different fields. One of his notable works is the βRepublic,β where he described the importance of justice in political and ethical contextsβjustice with philosophical governance can create happiness.
- Plato founded the Academy of Athens, also called the Platonic Academy, which intended to train future leaders of Athens and other Greek cities. Today Plato is known to be the father of idealism in philosophy.
- The philosopher and polymath Aristotle was a student of Plato and had many noteworthy contributions to different fields. Most notable was in zoology, where he studied animals and classified them based on their behaviors and similarities. With these significant contributions, he is considered the father of zoology.
- In the field of biology, Aristotle theorized the four earthly elements that are acknowledged to sustain living organisms. These are air, water, fire, and earth.
- Aristotle studied at the Academy of Athens, founded by Plato. In 335 BCE, Aristotle established his school in Athens called βLyceum,β which employs modern scientific methods in teaching a wide range of subjects, including politics, ethics, and logic, metaphysics.
Classical Greece Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Classical Greece across 30 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Classical Greece, which refers to the era between 480-323 B.C.E. in the ancient Greek civilization.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Classical Greece Facts
- Think and Fill
- The Naval Battle
- A-Truth or A-Lie
- Cause and Effects
- Sorting Facts
- The Rival City-States
- Father of Fields
- Who am I?
- Draw and Tell
- Virtual Tour
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the classical Greek period?
The classical Greek period, also known as the Golden Age of Greece, lasted from around 480 BCE to 323 BCE. This was a time of great artistic and intellectual achievement in Greece, and the rise of city-states such as Athens and Sparta marked it.
What were some of the key achievements of the classical Greek period?
The classical Greek period saw a number of key achievements, including the development of democracy in Athens, the creation of epic poetry and drama, and the emergence of philosophy. Additionally, the Greeks made significant advances in science, mathematics, and art during this time.
Who were some of the most famous figures of the classical Greek period?
Some of the most famous figures of the classical Greek period include the philosopher Socrates, the playwright Aeschylus, the historian Herodotus, the philosopher Aristotle, the playwright Sophocles, and the philosopher Plato.
What was the role of religion in classical Greece?
Religion was an important part of daily life in classical Greece. The Greeks believed in a pantheon of gods and goddesses who controlled various aspects of life and the natural world. Religion played a major role in both public and private life, and religious festivals and ceremonies were an important part of Greek culture.
How did the Persian Wars influence the classical Greek period?
The Persian Wars, fought between Greece and Persia in the early 5th century BCE, had a significant impact on the classical Greek period. The Greeks were able to defeat the Persians, which helped to establish Athens as a major power in the region. Additionally, the wars led to a sense of unity and national pride among the Greeks, which in turn led to a flowering of culture and civilization.
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