Sights of Ancient Greece. History of Ancient Greece. History of ancient Greece About the history of Greece for children
The report on the topic “Ancient Greece” will talk about the culture and life in this country. “Ancient Greece” can be presented by 5th grade students in a history lesson.
"Ancient Greece" report
Ancient Greece influenced the development of all areas of human life. Its cultural values are a huge contribution to world culture. The Greeks called their homeland Hellas
This state was located in the south of the Balkan Peninsula and the islands of the Aegean Sea.
The heyday of this state was in the V-IV centuries BC. The Greeks lived in poleis - numerous completely separate city-states.
Residents of policies were divided into two groups - citizens and slaves. Every citizen had the right to own land. A citizen could not only cultivate the land, but also engage in cattle breeding. Z
The labor of slaves, who were the main labor force, was very cheap. The main source of replenishment of the number of slaves was war.
Athens - the cradle of democracy
Athens was the main city of Greece, its cultural and intellectual center at that time. It was here that the basic democratic principles of the social structure of the policies were formed. They were as follows:
All native citizens of the policies were part of the civil collective. Supreme power belonged to the people's assembly of the collective. It was the advisory and legislative body of its city community. Laws were passed by show of hands. All decisions were made collectively. Every citizen could express his opinion and could be elected to any position except military leader.
Executive branch was concentrated in the hands of officials elected by the people's assembly - magistrates who were part of the council of five hundred. This body decided all current affairs and prepared materials for consideration at the national assembly.
Supreme judiciary(helieya) monitored the implementation of laws and considered current controversial cases. Gelieia was also elected, its main purpose was to protect the rights of citizens.
All listed authorities were accountable to the citizens of their polis.
Gradually improving standards of behavior became the basis of civil law in Athens. A similar social hierarchy spread to other Greek city-states. Athenian democracy, having existed for about 250 years, is gradually declining.
But why was it in ancient Greece that the basic democratic principles, which were later included in the models of other states, were born? This was facilitated by the small territory of the city-state, which allowed every full citizen to take personal part in the national assembly. In addition, their number was limited by the presence or absence of land owned by the community. Slave labor freed citizens from the drudgery of daily work, allowing them to use their free time to participate in government affairs.
Cultural heritage of the ancient Greeks
Science in Ancient Greece
It is to the Greek philosophers that we owe basic information about the universe, which is still used in science today.
- We owe our ideas about the material and immaterial world to Aristotle.
- Thales of Miletus - basic information on electrostatics. He began to use the basics of geometry for practical problems - determining the height of the pyramids and calculating the distance from the ship to the shore.
- Democritus - laid down the ideas about the atomistic picture of the world.
- Archimedes of Syracuse - made achievements in the fields of physics, engineering and astronomy. The mechanisms he created lifted sunken ships from the water, and the law on buoyant force discovered by Archimedes still bears his name. When danger loomed over his hometown, he set fire to the enemy fleet using concave mirrors. The works of Archimedes in the field of mathematics are no less significant.
Culture of Ancient Greece
The ancient Greeks gave the world more than 1000 words that were included in different languages. These are quite familiar words: history, democracy, notebook, school, surgery, etc.
Everyone knows the Greek myths about the exploits of Hercules, about the terrible Minotaur, about the handsome Perseus, who freed the lovely Andromeda chained to a rock... Constellations were named after mythical heroes.
In the north of Greece is the highest mountain range - Olympus. The Greeks believed that gods lived there. And among them the supreme god Zeus is the ruler of the sky, thunder and lightning. It was to him that the ancient Greeks attributed the holding of the first Olympic Games. Athlete competitions were held every four years. During their preparation and implementation, all wars between cities ceased, and those who violated this truce were severely punished. In the year of the Games, messengers with torches in their hands were sent to all parts of the country, they carried news of the truce and the beginning of the Olympics.
The Hellenes considered friendship, respect and noble competition to be the main principles of the Olympic Games.
Art of Ancient Greece
Ancient Hellenes built the world's first theater created great works of architecture and sculpture. Today you can see the ruins of ancient temples and stadiums.
A magnificent example of Greek architecture - a temple Parthenon, located in the capital of Greece, Athens.
It is part of the Greek Acropolis. The main building material for the Greeks was white marble. Its radiance against the background of the blue sky and the magnificent colonnade surrounding the perimeter of the building make an indelible impression even now, 2500 years later.
The sculptural works of ancient masters are amazing; people even today admire the jewelry of that time.
Each student can add or shorten the message on the topic “Ancient Greece” at his own discretion.
The history of Great Hellas dates back to ancient times: it is about four thousand years old. Undoubtedly, Greek civilization is of great importance for the entire modern world. World art, science, politics, philosophy and languages are closely connected with the culture and history of Greece.
Conventionally, the history of Greece can be divided into several stages, starting from the Minoan era, when, according to ancient evidence, Greek civilization arose on the island of Crete.
Minoan era
Crete Island (2800 - 1500 BC)
The history of Greece and Greek civilization begins on the island of Crete approximately in the 6th millennium BC, during the Neolithic era.
The favorable geographical position of Greece (at the intersection of trade and sea routes) undoubtedly served as one of the determining factors in its cultural and historical development, as well as the creation of a civilization that is still striking in its grandeur and elegance.
It is noteworthy that it was the feminine principle that ensured such rapid growth and prosperity of Cretan culture in the Minoan era. In those days, more than 4 thousand years ago, in Crete a woman occupied a particularly high position, which was lost in subsequent patriarchal centuries.
Crete tirelessly developed trade and cultural ties with its neighbors: the Cyclades Islands, mainland Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia and Syria. During this period, the level of development of life on the mainland lagged significantly behind that of Crete. The cities of Mycenae and Tiryns, located on the southern Peloponnese peninsula, then became cultural centers, largely imitating and duplicating the achievements of Minoan Crete.
From the first stage of its existence, Greek civilization was influenced by the elements, and the history of Greece was forever intertwined with maritime power, with the sea.
Around 1500 BC, not far from the island of Crete (in close proximity to the island of Santorini), a powerful earthquake occurred, which caused the irreversible process of collapse of the Cretan civilization.
Achaean period (1400-1100 BC)
Around 1400 B.C. The northern Achaean tribes (Achaeans) came to the Peloponnese Peninsula and assimilated. There is still debate about their origin. According to one version, these are the Greek people of Northern Greece, and according to another, they are tribes that came from Central Europe. In any case, there is evidence that it was the Achaeans who brought with them the pagan cult of the Olympian gods and new elements of culture.
As a result, Mycenae significantly increased its influence and became the most powerful power in the entire Mediterranean. It was a truly legendary period, much of which became known thanks to Homer's poems and numerous myths about the heroes and gods of ancient Greece.
The culminating moment in the history of the Achaean period was undoubtedly the Trojan War, which served as the first step towards its oblivion.
The story of Helen, described in detail by Homer, led to the collapse of the entire Greek world and the beginning of many years of war.
The forces of the powerful Mycenaean civilization were so exhausted that it could not even withstand the attacks of the semi-wild northern tribes of the Dorians, or, as they were then called, “Round Heads”. The era came to an end around 1100.
Homeric period
The origin of the Dorians still remains a mystery of history. But according to legend, they were descendants of Hercules.
This troubled period was one of the most difficult in the history of Greece. At first, after the invasion of the Dorian tribes, the country embarked on the path of degradation, but soon gradually began to “gain momentum”, synthesizing a completely new civilization from the remnants of the Mycenaean, Cretan, Achaean, Asian and Dorian cultures.
During this period, the Greek language was formed. It was at this time that the great Homer created his immortal poems, filling them with all the colors of his era.
Archaic period
This time was characterized by intensive development of the country's economy, as well as its culture and art. Cities-polises are growing throughout Greece, and Greek colonies are growing throughout the Mediterranean. In addition, this era is associated with significant changes in the political system.
A striking event of that time was the Peloponnesian Union, which was led by Sparta, famous for its strict laws of Spartan life, which, in fact, contributed to the strengthening of its position among other city-policies.
The struggle for leadership between Athens and Sparta developed further during the classical period.
Classical era
The classical period in Greek history begins with the war with the Persians in 500 BC, which lasted more than 20 years. Only thanks to Athens, which created a naval alliance and took command in the fight against the Persians, Greece managed to achieve a final victory in this brutal war.
Gradually, Athens strengthened its power, which allowed the city's inhabitants to use significant resources to create their great masterpieces. The best master artists, architects and sculptors are invited to Athens to implement Pericles' plan to transform the city into a "work of art." In addition, science, art and philosophy are developing rapidly. This time can rightfully be considered the “golden age” in the history of Athens.
Naturally, this situation did not suit Sparta, which was the reason for the start in 431 BC. The Peloponnesian War, which ended 27 years later with the complete defeat of Athens.
As a result of the war, Sparta became the most powerful polis in Greece, forcing other cities to comply with their military orders. And only with the unification of Greece under the hegemony of Macedonia, internecine wars began to subside. So in 337 BC. Greece was united into the Macedonian Empire.
After the assassination of Philip II, the place of ruler was taken by his son, Alexander, who created a powerful empire in just 9 years. His main goal was to put an end to the centuries-old war between Greece and Persia. Hoping for peace agreements, he married Persian princesses - the daughters of Greece's enemies. The successes of Alexander’s numerous victories, about which legends were made, turned his head. He proclaimed himself the god Zeus-Amonn, and did not want to stop there. But long years of battles exhausted his army and caused a wave of misunderstanding, both among the soldiers and among his entourage. Alexander died at the age of 33, without leaving an heir.
Hellenistic period
Undoubtedly, the death of Alexander significantly accelerated the collapse of the great state, which had already begun.
The commanders of Alexander's army divided the empire among themselves: Greece and Macedonia went to Antiparus, Thrace to Lysimachus, Asia Minor to Antigonus, Babylonia to Selevecus, Egypt to Ptolemy.
From a new threat - the Roman aggressor - the first in 148 BC. Macedonia and Greece fell, and the kingdom of Ptolemy in Egypt resisted the invader the longest, lasting until 30 BC.
Roman period
It is noteworthy that several decades before the arrival of the Roman conquerors, the Greek rulers themselves invited Roman liberators.
Similar to the Russian princes, who “used” the Golden Horde in internecine wars as a military force, the Greeks turned to Roman legionnaires. For which, in fact, they paid the price when Roman troops occupied Greece and Macedonia, announcing the creation of a province on their territory, which should be subordinate to the Roman governor.
It was the Romans who became the receivers of Greek culture, bringing it to the present day. Elements of Roman architecture undoubtedly bear the character of the masters of Ancient Greece. Like most great civilizations, Roman civilization suffered self-destruction due to idleness, corruption, and self-interest.
Byzantine period can be characterized as a period of formation of the traditions of Christianity, with the construction of numerous churches and monasteries throughout the country. The influence of the church on public life and the political system is increasing.
Under Justinian I, the Byzantine Empire reached the apogee of its development, becoming the most powerful power in the Mediterranean. Having existed until 1453, the great civilization fell under the onslaught of Turkish invaders, coming under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.
The Ottoman period of Greece is considered one of the most difficult in its history. Even though the Turks left the Greeks freedom of religion, the Greek people never stopped fighting for their independence.
Revolution
The start date of the revolution is considered to be March 25, 1821. The Orthodox Church played a leading role in it, when the revolutionary flag was raised by the patriarch. After a year of difficult and bitter struggle, the National Assembly proclaimed the independence of Greece. However, internal disagreements in the country led to the outbreak of the Civil War of 1823 - 1825.
2 years later, in 1827, the first president of Greece was elected by the National Assembly, and Russia, England and France became the guarantors of the autonomous status of Greece.
In 1830, in accordance with the Treaty of Adrianople, Turkey recognized the independence of the Greek State.
New time
The period from 1830 to 1922 in Greece is considered a time of unrest and political unrest.
Under the influence of the leading world powers, which contributed to the acquisition of long-awaited freedom, Greece was obliged to listen to their opinion. So, in 1862, George I, Prince of Denmark, became the President of Greece, thanks to which the Ionian Islands, Thessaly, and part of Epirus were returned to the country.
At the beginning of the 20th century, during the Balkan War of 1912-13, Greece again faced an expansion of its historical territory, when the islands of the Aegean Sea, Crete, Epirus and Macedonia were annexed to it, and at the end of the First World War, Greece received Izmir and Thrace.
The year 1922 was marked by the so-called “Asia Minor Catastrophe,” when Greece had to forget about its imperial plans to liberate part of Asia Minor (along the coast) from Turkish rule and regain its former glory.
Modernity
One of the main problems of this period was the arrival of a huge number of refugees from Asia Minor, which reached truly incredible proportions.
In October 1940, Italian fascists invaded Epirus but were defeated. The victory over the Nazi invaders who occupied Greece in 1941 was difficult. Thanks to the People's Liberation Army led by the Communists, the Greek mainland was liberated in 1944.
1946-1949 - the time of the civil war.
Since 1952, a new stage of development began in Greece. Joining NATO.
In 1967, a military coup took place, leading to the rule of a junta (military dictatorship). After 7 years, the time of the “black colonels” was over: a civilian government came to power again.
1922-1974 characterized by aggravation of contradictions in society. During this period there were 14 putschs and coups d'état. As a result, Greece was divided into several political camps: communists, military, monarchists and supporters of American policies.
And only by 1974 the country realized: only by uniting, Greece will be able to develop further as a full-fledged European state.
On December 8, the first truly democratic referendum took place, during which citizens voted against the monarchy. In Greece, there was a consolidation of democratic forces under the sensitive leadership of Kostas Karamanlis, who served as President of the Hellenic Republic from 1980 to 1995.
In 1981, Greece joined the European Economic Union, and the Socialist Party won local elections. Its famous leader, Andreas Papandreou, becomes the country's prime minister, remaining in power for the next 7 years.
Brief history of ancient Greece - this is a brief summary (description, message about ancient civilization) of the era of the entire large section of Ancient Greece (namely about the population, religion, myths of ancient Greece, aboutinynah,about cities, about rulers, etc., which you can read about below)
- Section - I - Description about Ancient Greece
- Section - 2 - Nature and population of ancient Greece
- Section - 3 - Myths and religion of ancient Greece
- Section - 4 - Greek city-states in the 6th century BC
- Section - 5 - Greco-Persian Wars briefly
- Section - 6 - Slaves in ancient Greece
- Section - 7 - The rise of Athens in the 5th century BC. uh
- Section - 8 - Life of the ancient Greeks
- Section - 9 - Ancient theater of ancient Greece
- Section - 10 - Ancient art and science of ancient Greece
- Section - 11 - State of Alexander the Great
- Section - 12 - Ancient Hellas
The history of Ancient Greece plays a huge role in the development of human civilization, which will be briefly discussed in this article. Today it is difficult to meet a person who knows nothing about ancient Greek culture and history. It was this state that became the founder of European values relating to politics, philosophy, literature and much more.
If you look at the map of Ancient Greece, you can see that it is located in the south of the Balkan Peninsula. Greece bordered on states such as Illyria and Macedonia. Over time, its territories increased due to colonization.
In order to briefly consider the history of Ancient Greece, researchers divide it into certain periods.
About religion
The unifying link in ancient Greek culture was religion. The dominant place was occupied by the god Zeus, who is the king of all other gods, as well as people. The Greeks considered the sacred mountain called Olympus to be the habitat of the gods, where in addition to Zeus they also lived 11 divine beings.
This is Hera, the wife of Zeus - the goddess of the family hearth,
God Poseidon is the patron of the water element, seas and oceans. 
The main god had sisters - the goddess of fertility, whose name was Demeter and Hestia, patronizing home life. The daughter of Zeus was Athena, the militant patroness of wisdom, as well as crafts.
Also, besides Athena, the god Ares patronized war. The goddess Artemis initially patronized agriculture, but then began to be revered as a goddess responsible for pregnant women and chastity. Her brother, Apollo, played the role of the sun god among the ancient Greeks. He patronized medicine, education, and art.
As for Hermes, he was initially considered the patron of cattle breeding, but then began to be revered as a messenger god. One of Zeus' daughters, Aphrodite, was born from sea foam to become the goddess of love and beauty.
The ancient Greeks represented their divine patrons in human form, and they were characterized by human traits of behavior and character. The gods knew human feelings, desires, and they even had their own vices.
Mythology
Olympic Games
An ancient Greek tradition has survived to this day - Olympic Games .
- These major sports competitions initially originated as part of a religious cult, during which various ceremonies of worship of the gods were held.
- The first day was entirely devoted to the ritual of sacrifice, just like on the last day of the games, when the winners were awarded.
- The tradition of holding the Olympic Games began as ordinary local competitions, later this tradition became a pan-Greek one. One of the sports invented by the ancient Greeks is pentathlon.
In Ancient Greece, this sport was invented with the aim of identifying the strongest athlete.
The pentathlon included running, long jump, discus throw, javelin throw and wrestling.
- During the competitions, wars stopped.
- The games were banned in 394 AD, during Roman rule. Emperor Theodosius I forcibly implanted the Christian faith, and therefore banned the Olympic Games as a relic of paganism.
- It was only in the 19th century that the tradition of the Olympic Games was restored, and they became the most famous and prestigious competitions in the whole world.
CULTURE
About art
- The art of Ancient Greece played a very important role in the development of global culture.
- The Acropolis, the most protected part of the city, was always located on a hill, and served as the place where local power was concentrated - both urban and religious.
- Yellow limestone and white marble were used to build the temples. A distinctive feature of ancient Greek architecture are columns - an integral part of any building.
- Temples were usually surrounded by one or two rows of columns.
- Ancient Greek architecture flourished during the classical period.
- During the Hellenistic era, more attention began to be paid to the construction not of temple buildings, but of promenades, amphitheatres, palaces and sports buildings.
Sculpture
- Sculpture is also an integral part of ancient Greek art.
- It has undergone some changes over the course of time.
- During the classical era, images of gods were popular.
- They looked like ordinary people - physically developed, strong, beautiful, but at the same time did not have any disadvantages inherent in people. Clothes were not depicted; it was customary to show the naked body, all its beauty. During the Hellenistic era, sculptural images became more magnificent and exaggerated.
Painting
- There were two ways to paint vases - red-figure and black-figure. In black-figure painting, images of people and animals were drawn using black varnish, drawing out the details with a needle.
Theater
- Theater was widespread in Ancient Greece.
- It appeared during celebrations dedicated to the god of wine - Dionysus.
- Music and literature are closely related to theatrical art. The theatrical art of the Greeks, united with literature, began to represent a separate direction of culture.
- The most famous of them are Sophocles, Aeschylus, Ephpirides. Only men could be actors; when playing in the play, they used masks. The theater was of great importance in the lives of people of those times - special buildings were built for this purpose.
- The largest of them could accommodate more than a thousand people - for example, the Theater of Dionysus in Athens. Theatrical performances were an integral part of any celebration.
The science
- Ancient Greece is also known for its scientific knowledge, in which ancient philosophy occupied an important place.
- Ancient Greek philosophers dealt with questions concerning the origin of man and the Universe.
- His philosophy teacher is the famous Socrates. Also, ancient Greek philosophy gave the world Aristotle, the most famous philosopher in the whole world.
Ancient Greek culture developed an ideal of man - a harmonious union of physical and spiritual beauty was assumed.
This is precisely what education in Ancient Greece was aimed at.
Attention was paid not only to the teaching of scientific knowledge, but also to physical education. 
They taught the sons of free citizens from the age of seven. The first stage was training in a lower school, where the children studied basic subjects.
Moving to the second stage, astronomy and philosophy were added to the list of scientific disciplines.
Boys aged 12 to 16 years old were engaged in physical education in gymnastics schools - palestras.
Sparta
- The upbringing and education of children in Sparta had its own characteristics.
- Every Spartan between the ages of 8 and 20 was required to receive a school education.
- In general, Spartan education was quite harsh, the state directly participated in the formation of personality - physical skills were developed.
- The children were taught hunting, military affairs, dancing, and physical education. They did not attach much importance to mental development - it was a personal matter for each person.
- It was in Sparta that the first hoplites appeared - foot soldiers.
Social and political life
- As for socio-political life, the highest body of state power was the people's assembly, which in Ancient Greece received the name “ecclesia”.
- Men who were free and over 20 years of age could participate in its work.
- With its powers, the ecclesia covered not only the legislative, but also the executive and judicial branches of government.
- Also one of the authorities was the Areopagus. In the era of tribal relations, it was a council of elders. Subsequently, the functions of the Areopagus began to be limited primarily to the judicial function.
- In Ancient Greece, there was such a thing as a secured loan.
- As a rule, land was left as collateral. As a sign that the land was mortgaged, a debt stone was placed there. It was removed after the debt was paid off.
- If a person did not have time to pay the debt, he was enslaved and all his property was confiscated.
- The Athenian ruler Solon abolished this practice, freeing citizens from debt obligations.
- The stones were removed, and freedom was returned to debtors sold into slavery. Subsequently, such a phenomenon as self-mortgaging of a debtor was prohibited.
Money
- The ancient Greeks used money.
- A large number of various coins of Ancient Greece have survived to this day, of interest not only to historians, but also to numismatists.
- The Greeks' craving for beauty was reflected in their costume, which changed over the centuries.
- But at all times, the clothing of Ancient Greece had a peculiarity - it was never sewn.
- As a conclusion, it should be noted that this article is only a brief description of the entire history of Ancient Greece.
- The history of this state is one of the most interesting sections of the entire history of the ancient world.
Another version on the brief history of ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is still capable of arousing great interest among many scientists around the world. The German philosopher and poet made an important contribution to the study of the culture of Ancient Greece. In his notes, he wrote that in Greece at that time two principles coexisted: Dionysian (i.e. wild, elemental) and Apollonian (i.e. harmonious). At first, no one took Friedrich Nietzsche’s entire theory seriously, and he himself was considered an outcast in scientific circles. 
World scientists saw only an Apollonian beginning in Ancient Greece. But today the correctness of Friedrich Nietzsche does not raise any doubts. It is worth starting with the earliest eras of Ancient Greece. This period is called Creto-Mycenaean. On an island called Crete and in Mycenae, countries arose that were in many ways similar to the eastern despotisms. In essence, they had nothing in common with the Ancient Greece that we are accustomed to imagine, with its great city-states.
All our knowledge about this era is very limited. For a long period of time, Aegean writing (derived from the Aegean Sea) remained completely undeciphered. A large number of material monuments of this culture have survived to this day, but they, in turn, could tell little about that time. Only in the mid-twentieth century, a researcher from England, Ventris was able to decipher this letter. Today we know the culture of that time a little more.
Even then, many people revered Zeus. Various cults were widespread in Ancient Greece: the cult of animals, the cult of the double axe, the shield, the cult of trees, stones, and the sun. The main characteristics of the Cretan-Mycenaean time are considered to be the presence of a “palace culture”, a rather strict centralization of the military-political, religious, as well as economic spheres of life. During that period, powerful, fortified citadel palaces were formed.
These palaces were very large. They necessarily included places for administrative and religious purposes, as well as storerooms. Numerous buildings in which the entire life of the palace took place constantly required control and care. During the Cretan-Mycenaean period, bureaucratic personnel acquired enormous importance. At the head of these palaces was a priest-king, whose main task was to preserve and maintain sacred order. Communal settlements were founded nearby. The duties of the king included the function of the supreme military leader, who constantly ensured the protection of all his settlements. The second stage in the formation of ancient Greek culture begins with the decline of Crete and Mycenae. A powerful earthquake led to the death of civilization on Crete.
Greece occupies a special place among the states of the ancient world. Even after many millennia, the scientific achievements of outstanding people of this small state amaze with their greatness, and its cultural values are a huge contribution to the treasury of the entire world culture.
So, let's move to the south of the Balkan Peninsula and the islands of the Aegean Sea, where ancient Greece was located.
What was ancient Hellas like?
In those distant times, and to this day The Greeks call their homeland Hellas. We will begin our acquaintance with the Hellenes with the period of the highest prosperity of their state. And it occurred in the V-IV centuries BC.
The Greek state as such did not exist then. Greeks lived in policies- numerous completely separate city-states. Each of these mini-states was concerned only with their own well-being. And they were in constant conflict with each other. All they had in common was their language and the gods they worshiped.
Residents of policies were divided into two groups - citizens and slaves. Every citizen had the right to own land. This allowed him not only to cultivate the land, but also to engage in cattle breeding. Agriculture provided quite a decent income to support the family.
The main source of replenishment of the number of slaves was war. They were not only deprived of the right to own land and tools of labor, but they themselves were dumb and completely powerless tools of labor.
Each policy was valid the principle of self-sufficiency, essentially subsistence farming. All the needs of citizens were fully provided within the boundaries of the native policy. This gave its citizens a sense of confidence and independence.
Soon, to the citizens engaged in agriculture, artisans were added, mastering the use. In their midst, technologies for processing iron and bronze, manufacturing weapons and armor were constantly improved. Masters of casting statues, painters, and artists appeared.
Athens - the cradle of democracy
Athens was the main city of Greece, its cultural and intellectual center at that time. Right here basic democratic principles were formed social structure of policies. They were as follows:
- All native citizens of the policies were part of the civil collective. Supreme power belonged to the people's assembly of the collective. It was the advisory and legislative body of its city community. Laws were adopted by a simple show of hands of those present. All decisions concerning life, daily life and defense of the city were made collectively. Every citizen could express his opinion and could be elected to any position except military leader.
- Executive power was concentrated in the hands of officials elected by the people's assembly - magistrates who were part of the Council of Five Hundred. This body decided all current affairs and prepared materials for consideration at the national assembly.
- The highest judicial power (helieya) monitored the implementation of laws and considered current controversial cases. Gelieia was also elected, its main purpose was to protect the rights of citizens. You will find information on this topic on the pages of our website.
- All listed authorities were accountable to the citizens of their polis.
Gradually improving standards of behavior became the basis of civil law in Athens. A similar social hierarchy spread to other Greek city-states. Athenian democracy, having existed for about 250 years, is gradually declining.
But why was it in ancient Greece that the basic democratic principles, which were later included in the models of other states, were born? This was facilitated by the small territory of the city-state, which allowed every full citizen to take personal part in the national assembly. In addition, their number was limited by the presence or absence of land owned by the community. Slave labor freed citizens from the drudgery of daily work, allowing them to use their free time to participate in government affairs.
Cultural heritage of the ancient Hellenes
The Greeks left the world not only advanced principles of social structure, but also gave them a rich cultural heritage.
The science
Exactly we owe the most important information about the universe to the Greek philosophers, which are still used in science today. Here are some names from this glorious galaxy:
- we are obliged by ideas about the material and immaterial world.
- Thales of Miletus - basic information on electrostatics. It was he who began to use the basics of geometry for purely practical tasks - determining the height of the pyramids and calculating the distance from the ship to the shore.
- All that remains is to bow to the genius of Democritus, who laid down the ideas about the atomistic picture of the world.
- The name of the great Archimedes of Syracuse is associated with his enormous achievements in the field of physics, engineering and. The mechanisms he created lifted sunken ships from the water, and the law on buoyant force discovered by Archimedes still bears his name. When danger loomed over his hometown, he set fire to the enemy fleet using concave mirrors. The works of Archimedes in the field of mathematics are no less significant.
Culture
The legacy of the ancient Greeks is truly priceless in other areas of life.
Let's turn to the Greek language. Echoes of this beautiful, ancient language can be traced in many languages of the world. The ancient Greeks gave the world more than 1000 words that were included in different languages. These are not only scientific and medical terms, but also quite familiar words: history, democracy, notebook, school, surgery, etc. This is the language of the New Testament and other Orthodox literature. It contained myths about the terrible Minotaur, about the handsome Perseus, who freed the lovely Andromeda chained to a rock... Plots for narratives (epic) were taken from these myths, and constellations were named after mythical heroes.
The most famous author of epic poems is Homer. His most famous works are “The Iliad” and “”. The actions described in the Iliad take place on the battlefield. And “Odyssey” is a fabulous everyday poem. Both of these works are united not only by the amazing beauty of poetry, but by the depth of images that personify honor, courage and devotion.
In the north of Greece is the highest mountain range - Olympus. The Greeks were sure that this is where the gods lived. And among them the supreme god Zeus is the ruler of the sky, thunder and lightning. It is to him that the ancient Greeks attribute. Athlete competitions were held every four years. During their preparation and implementation, all wars between cities ceased, and those who violated this truce were severely punished. In the year of the Games, messengers with torches in their hands were sent to all parts of the country, they carried news of the truce and the beginning of the Olympics.
The Hellenes considered friendship, respect and noble competition to be the main principles of the Olympic Games.
Art
The ancient Hellenes were a cheerful, talented people. They built the world's first theater, created great works of architecture and sculpture. The surviving ruins of ancient temples and stadiums allow us to judge the magnificent art of ancient architects.
A magnificent example of Greek architecture is the Parthenon Temple, located in the capital of Greece, Athens.
It is part of the Greek Acropolis. The main building material used by Greek architects was white marble. Its radiance against the background of the blue sky and the magnificent colonnade surrounding the perimeter of the building make an indelible impression even now, 2500 years later.
The sculptural works of ancient architects are also amazing. Reflected in the works of Greek sculptors cult of the body and its physical beauty. Among the best works of ancient architects one can name the statue “Discobolus”, created by the great sculptor Miron.
The beautiful body of the young athlete is depicted at the moment of swing before throwing the discus.
The Venus de Milo, carved from stone by the architect Alexandros, is also a masterpiece of world sculpture.
The jewelry of the ancient masters of Greece is worthy of admiration.
The achievements of the ancient Greeks in all of these areas are truly enormous. Why was their contribution to the development of technology not so significant, and they did not make a real industrial revolution? The slave system was to blame for this - the labor of slaves, who were the main labor force, was very cheap. And there was no need to increase labor productivity and improve the mechanisms that facilitate this work.
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How a foreign laptop on mythology is made can be seen here.
cartoons for preschoolers "Labyrinth. The Labors of Theseus", "Argonauts", "Hercules at Admetus", "Perseus", "Prometheus", "Return from Olympus"
You might find clipart for your lapbook useful.
Example of a lapbook "Ancient Greece":
Take a look at the laptop in Russian "Ancient Greece"
Read to children:
Myths of Ancient Greece with illustrations
"The Book of Wonders" by Nathaniel Hawthorne
books to read, print, color from the site 101mif.ru
How to play with the theme?
- Let's play house of the ancient Greeks. You can read about everyday life . And we’ll have a feast-symposium!
Enjoy a Greek meal
You can read what and how the ancient Greeks ate and look at the end of the post for the dish of the week.
- We will call each other in Greek. You can make badges, “real Greek” badges, if someone is lucky and his name is on the list of Greek names
- At the symposium we will tell an endless tale from the collection "Greek Tales"
- By choosing a heroic theme, you can play on myths. For example, the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Look, for example, at a photo of an activity with a Minotaur mask and a game in a labyrinth.
- Let's read about Greek theater and make paper masks for the theater and act out myths in our faces.
What to wear?
laurel wreath from a paper plate
How to make a chiton?
costume "Hercules"
What to do?
Fresco artists were highly valued in the ancient world. This amazingly persistent technique has brought the artists’ paintings to the present day. you can see the frescoes.
Let's make murals with children
What to play?
- Petteia - pebbles and "polis" - city - ancient board/floor game (English)
- flash games, crosswords and many others. etc.
- Outdoor games
(hereinafter with http://dikmi.ru/party/vecherinka_v_grecheskom_stile_3.html)
Game "Push out of the circle"
Its essence is to force the enemy to step over the line of a circle drawn on the ground. Two players stand in the center of the circle, take each other by the shoulders and push each other towards the line. The one who even steps over the line with the edge of his foot loses. Well, the winner gets a laurel wreath and all the honors from the king and queens!
Ancient peoples always wanted “bread and circuses.” And also - by the will of the gods or times - they suffered from an insatiable thirst for blood. Here and there, pockets of civil strife broke out in Ancient Greece, Greek states ruined each other in endless wars. And then one day, Iphit, the king of Elis, decided to seek advice from the Delphic oracle, asking what needed to be done in order to avoid wars and devastation. The Oracle advised “Found games pleasing to the gods.” That's it, from the 9th century. BC e., the Greeks (and with them almost the whole world), gather every four years to take part in “bloodless” competitions and determine which state is stronger.
two active Greek games
- Ball games. The balls were made of wool or feathers, covered with leather, lightweight balls were filled with air: children most often played with them; heavy balls were filled with sand. Ball games played a special role in Ancient Sparta. There, they, like all physical exercises in general, were taken very seriously, so playing ball was considered an important initial element of preparation for military service; It is not for nothing that ephebes in the first year of their training were called spherists, “playing ball.” The earliest descriptions of the game of ball we find again in Homer in the Odyssey. In one case (Odyssey, VI, 100, 115) it was apparently about a game called “feninda” or “ephetinda”, based on a kind of deception of the partner: the one who throws the ball aims it at one of the players, but in fact throws it to another, so each participant had to be on guard so that the ball thrown to him did not take him by surprise. Elsewhere they talk about a game called “urania”: the ball was thrown high into the sky, and the other participant in the game was obliged to jump and catch it in mid-flight (labyrinthos.ru)
- A game with six-sided dice - cubes, which the Greeks called "barrels". Four dice were thrown into a special mug, and then they were thrown out of there and watched which side they would fall on. The one with the largest number of dots was considered the winner. The worst throw, when all four dice showed one point, was called “dog,” while the best was called “Aphrodite.”
What's delicious to try?
 We owe the very origin of the word “bread” to the bakers of Ancient Greece. Greek craftsmen used specially shaped pots called “klibanos” to produce this product. From this word, according to experts, the ancient Goths formed the word “hlifes”, which then passed into the language of the ancient Germans, Slavs and many other peoples. In the old German language there is a word “khlaib”, which is similar to our “bread”, Ukrainian “khlib” and Estonian “leib”, and in the Latvian language there is a word “klaips” which sounds like “klaips” and means a loaf of bread. |