CLASSICAL CIVILIZATION:
THE GREEK CITY-STATES
Why Greek Civilization Matters?
Minoan Civilization
The first advanced civilization in Greece emerged on the island of
Crete - the Minoans.
➢ Maritime (sea-based) civilization
➢ Palace-centered society (Knossos)
➢ Known for trade and art
***In language and religion, they were not Greeks, although they did have some influence on the peoples
of the Greek mainland. The Minoan civilization mysteriously collapsed.
Mycenaean Civilization
Mycenae - the first Greek state
The Mycenaeans were more warlike than the
Minoans.
➢ Built fortified cities
➢ Dominated mainland Greece
➢ Associated with the Trojan War
***But around 1100 BCE, this civilization collapsed, leading to a period of instability.
The Greek Dark Age
(c. 1110-750 B.C.E.)
This period is called ‘dark’ not because it was bad, but because it
lacked written records.
➢ Loss of writing
➢ Decline in trade
➢ Population decrease
***However, this period preserved oral traditions.
Homer and Greek Identity
The works Iliad and Odyssey, attributed to Homer, shaped Greek
values.
Key Concepts:
➢ Honor
➢ Heroism
➢ Excellence (arete)
Archaic Age
(c. 800-500 B.C.E.)
Key Developments
➢ Rise of the polis (city-state)
➢ Population growth and colonization
➢ Revival of trade
➢ Formation of political systems
Each polis = independent political unit
Included:
➢ Urban Center
➢ Surrounding farmland
➢ Citizens with political rights
Examples: Athens, Sparta, Corinth
***Loyalty to the polis – not to ‘Greece’ as a nation.
How did geography influence the political
fragmentation of Ancient Greece?
Colonization and Expansion
Greek Colonization
➢ Population pressure
➢ Limited farmland
➢ Trade opportunities
Effects:
➢ Spread of Greek culture across
the Mediterranean
➢ Increase trade networks
➢ Cultural Exchange
Greek Warfare
Hoplites – heavily armed citizen-soldiers who
fought in a phalanx formation.
Significance:
➢ Warfare required cooperation – encourage
political participation
➢ Shift toward more inclusive governance
***Warfare strengthened the importance of citizens.
Two Models of the Polis:
Sparta vs Athens
Sparta (Militaristic Society)
Sparta focused on discipline, strength, and military power.
➢ Military training from childhood
➢ Government-controlled life
➢ Women had more freedom than in Athens
***Goal: Strong army, stability
Athens (Democratic Society)
Athens developed the first democracy.
➢ Citizens vote directly
➢ Political participation
➢ Cultural achievements
BUT:
Women, slaves, foreigners are excluded
Democracy was limited, not universal.
Can a society be considered democratic if
many people (women, slaves, foreigners)
are excluded?
ACTIVITY:
FOR CLASS PARTICIPATION POINTS
Classical Greece:
(c. 500-338 B.C.E.)
Persia and the Greek Wars
The Persian Empire - centralized and imperial
The Greek city-states (poleis) - small, independent, and divided
***This conflict was not just military; it was also a clash of political organization,
identity, and power.
The Persian Empire:
Structures and Strength
Key Features:
➢ Founded by Cyrus the Great
➢ Expanded under Darius I
➢ Divided into provinces (satrapies) governed by officials (satraps)
➢ Supported by:
• Taxation system
• Royal Road (communication network)
• Strong military
Governance Style:
➢ Allowed conquered peoples to maintain their customs and religions
➢ Promoted stability and loyalty
Causes of the Greek-Persian Wars
Root Cause:
Expansion of Persian power into Asia Minor, where Greek cities lived.
Trigger Event:
➢ Ionian Revolt (499 BCE) - Greek cities rebelled against Persian rule
➢ Athens supported the rebels - Persia retaliated
Major Phases of the
Greek-Persian Wars
First Persian Invasion (490 BCE)
Battle of Marathon:
➢ Athens defeats Persian forces
➢ Demonstrates that Persia is not invincible
*Boosted Greek confidence
Second Persian Invasion (480–479 BCE)
➢ Led by Xerxes I
Key Battles:
Thermopylae
• Spartan-led resistance
• Heroic but ultimately defeated
Salamis
• Greek naval victory (led by Athens)
• Turning point of the war
Plataea
• Final Greek victory
• Ends Persian invasion
Consequences of the Wars
For Greece:
➢ Increased sense of shared identity (“Greekness”)
➢ Rise of Athens as a dominant power
➢ Formation of the Delian League - an alliance of Greek city-states, led by Athens,
formed to combat the Persian Empire after the Greco-Persian Wars.
For Persia:
➢ Maintained the empire but failed to expand.
Age of Pericles
This period marked the height of
Athenian power.
➢ Democracy strengthened
➢ Arts and architecture flourished
➢ Empire expanded
Greek Culture and
Intellectual Life
History Writing
The Greeks were the first to
write history analytically.
➢ Herodotus - storytelling
➢ Thucydides - critical
analysis
Drama and Theater
Greek drama explored human emotions and moral dilemmas.
➢ Tragedy (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides)
➢ Comedy (Aristophanes)
Theater was both entertainment and education.
Philosophy
Greek thinkers asked deep questions about life, knowledge, and ethics.
➢ Socrates → questioning method
➢ Plato → ideal forms
➢ Aristotle → logic and observation
Religion
Greek religion was polytheistic.
➢ Gods resembled humans
➢ Explained natural events
Religion influenced daily life and culture.
Society and Daily Life
Life in Greek society varied depending on location and status:
➢ Citizens had political rights
➢ Slaves formed a significant labor force
➢ Women’s roles differed: restricted in Athens, more active in Sparta
This highlights the inequality within Greek society, even in democratic
Athens.
How did Greek Philosophy change
the way people understand the
world?
Peloponnesian War
Conflict between Athens and Sparta.
➢ Long, destructive war
➢ Sparta won
➢ Greece weakened
Internal conflict led to decline.
Decline of Greece
After years of war and conflict, Greek city-states weakened.
➢ Internal rivalry
➢ Economic strain
This opened the door for Macedonian conquest.
Historical Significance
1. Political Innovation
The Greeks introduced new forms of governance, especially democracy, that influenced modern political
systems.
2. Cultural Achievement
Greek contributions in philosophy, art, and literature remain foundational to Western civilization.
3. Unity vs Division
While Greeks shared language and culture, their political fragmentation often led to conflict and decline.
4. Limits of Greek Society
Despite achievements, Greek civilization was marked by exclusion, particularly of women, slaves, and non-
citizens.
Do you think Ancient Greece fell
because of external or internal
conflict?
References
Mcneill, William. History of Western Civilization: A Handbook Revised and Enlarged. Chicago: The
University of Chicago Press, 1969.
Noble, Thomas. The Foundations of Western Civilization: Course Guidebook. Virginia: The Great
Courses, 2002.
Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization: A Brief History. 11th ed. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2023.
Videos
National Geographic. 2018. “Ancient Greece 101 | National Geographic.” YouTube. [Link]
NBC News Learn. 2020. “Pericles, the Golden Age of Athens.” YouTube. [Link]
Professor Dave Explains. 2025. “Ancient Greece Part 1: The Minoans and Mycenaeans (3500 – 1000 BCE).” YouTube. July 30, 2025.
[Link]
Simple History. 2019. “Hoplite - Citizen Soldier (Ancient Greece).” YouTube. [Link]
TED-Ed. 2018. “Did Ancient Troy Really Exist? - Einav Zamir Dembin.” YouTube Video. YouTube.
[Link]
TED-Ed, and Melissa Schwartzberg. 2015. “What Did Democracy Really Mean in Athens? - Melissa Schwartzberg.” YouTube Video. YouTube.
[Link]
TED-Ed. 2017. “Why Is Herodotus Called ‘the Father of History’? - Mark Robinson.” YouTube. [Link]
World History Encyclopedia. 2020. “Athens vs Sparta: Deep Thinkers vs Military Might?” YouTube Video. YouTube.
[Link]
Images
Retrieved from [Link]
Thanks!
Do you have any questions?
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