WJCC School Closure Extended Learning World
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
WJCC School Closure Extended Learning World History I Dear WJCC Families, This packet contains activities, resources, and information to extend learning for your child during this extended school closure. Additional resources may be posted on Student VUE for this course and other classes on your child’s schedule. Students are encouraged to check Student VUE during this time. Thank you for your partnership and support of WJCC Schools. Sincerely, WJCC Staff Directions: Begin at the topic you most recently covered in your World History I class. Complete ONE topic for EVERY OTHER day we are out of school. Additionally, complete the SOL review material for the units you have already studied in class. Work on the SOL review on the days you are not working on the topic readings. Readings and Questions: World History I Topic 1: The Geography and Development of Ancient Greece (1000 BCE – 500 AD) The geography of Greece played an important role in the development of Greek civilization. Early Greek Civilizations Before the famous city-states of Athens and Sparta came to dominate the Greek landscape, several early civilizations lived on mainland Greece and the Greek island of Crete. Evidence of these civilizations have only been discovered in the past two hundred years. 1. When was evidence of civilizations on the island of Crete discovered? Economic, Political, and Social Development One of the things that you may have noticed is that Greece is not just one large section of land. The country itself is made up of a mainland and many islands. That means that the surrounding seas played a significant role in Greek life, including being a source of food and a means of transportation. In addition, the vast majority of Greece is mountainous. Because Greece is so mountainous, there was little arable, or farmable, land. Instead of grains and wheat, Greeks produced olives and grapes, which are more suited for Greece's climate. Because the Greek people had to conform to Greece's mountainous terrain and harsh climates, city-states emerged where the land was fertile and where natural resources were available. A polis (Greek for city-state) would form in such an area, instead of in the mountains where the land was unusable. The mountains would both help and hinder the development of city-states. Mountainous barriers prevented large-scale farming. As populations increased, the Greeks developed colonies in other locations like Africa, Italy, and other areas bordering the Mediterranean Sea. A polis might specialize in a certain trade while another polis may specialize in a different good, depending on its available resources. This also helped develop the Greek economy because in order to get needed supplies and food, the poleis had to trade with one another through a barter economy. A barter economy is one in which people trade goods for other goods. Through their trade contacts with other cultures, like the Phoenicians, the Greeks adopted coins for use as money. As trade among the polis increased, it was easier to use coins instead of hauling goods. Each polis also issued its own coinage for commerce. A polis had its own independent government, and they were quite competitive. Each took pride in their identity as a people. They had their own symbols and patron gods. For instance, the goddess Athena was the patron goddess of Athens. As commerce grew through trade, so did the spread of Greek culture. Small poleis (plural for polis) became very important for promoting civic and commercial life through their architecture and arts, such as dramas. Contrasting philosophies of government divided the Greek city-states of Athens (democracy) and Sparta (oligarchy). Athens evolved from a monarchy into the world's first democracy. Modern-day democratic concepts of direct voting by citizens, public debate, and expected participation among citizens are rooted Adapted from WH1 © 2013 HRETA, Inc. 1 in Athens's government. In contrast, the city-state of Sparta had a rigid social structure with a political system rooted in its military. Socially, society was divided into free and enslaved populations. People became slaves by being captured as prisoners of war, born to enslaved parents, or by failing to repay their loans and debts. Along with women and foreigners, enslaved people did not have power, political rights, or status. Most families owned slaves as household servants or laborers. 2. Why was there little arable land in Greece? 3. Where did Greece develop colonies as populations increased? 4. How did people become enslaved in Greece? Greek Mythology Like many civilizations before them, ancient Greece's religion was polytheistic, and included many gods and goddesses. Greek gods and goddesses (and their stories) were used to explain occurrences ranging from weather and natural phenomena, like earthquakes and flooding, human emotions and personality traits, like love and hate, as well as major and minor life events, like childbirth and marriage. The Greek religion impacted their culture, politics, and art. Greek mythology contains many myths that include the gods and goddesses interacting with one another, and with their human contemporaries. The gods and goddesses played an important role in Greek life throughout the year in rituals and festivals, as humans attempted to appease or receive favors from the heavens. 5. What were some examples of occurrences that Greek gods and goddesses were used to explain? 6. Why did humans attempt to appease Greek gods and goddesses? Athena, Athens, and the Parthenon According to myth, Athena became the patron goddess of the city-state of Athens through a competition with Poseidon. The two gods were asked to give something of worth to the city-state. Poseidon presented the horse, while Athena provided the olive tree. The people of the polis saw the olive tree as having more worth, since olive oil can be used for cooing and heating, while the olive itself is a source of food, among other uses. Thus, the city-state became Athens, in reverence to the goddess Athena. During the height of Athenian power, the city of Athens built the Parthenon as a temple to Athena. The Parthenon was built on the Athenian acropolis, an ancient fortress at the edge of the city. The building was highly decorated and contained a variety of sculptures dedicated to Athena and other gods. 7. How did Athena become the patron goddess of the city-state of Athens? 8. Why was the Parthenon built? Additional Greek Gods and Goddesses Zeus: Ancient Greeks believed Zeus was the king of the gods, and the most powerful. He was the god of the sky and thunder, and controlled the weather. He had different powers, his most famous being the Adapted from WH1 © 2013 HRETA, Inc. 2 ability to hurl lightning bolts at those who displeased him. He hated dishonesty, and would punish those who lied or broke promises. Hera: Hera was Zeus’ wife and queen of the gods. She was the goddess of women, marriage and family. Hera was well worshipped by the Ancient Greeks, and the oldest and most important temples of the region were built in honor of her. Her sacred animals were the cow, lion and peacock. Aphrodite: Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty. The Greeks believed Aphrodite was created from the foam of the sea on the shores of Paphos, Cyprus. She was considered the most beautiful of the gods, and later married Hephaestus, god of metalwork and fire. Her sacred animal was the dove. Apollo and Artemis: A son of Zeus, Apollo was the Greek god of music, arts, light and medicine. He was famous for playing the lyre (an instrument a bit like a small U-shaped harp) – and he was also believed to have invented the lute (a pear-shaped string instrument). Although associated with health and healing, together with his twin sister Artemis, he could bring disease and plague to humans. Numerous city-states emerged in Greece as a result of the geography that forced people to areas with the natural resources to sustain them. While you may have heard of many city-states, such as Corinth or Argos, two of the most famous and powerful city-states were Athens and Sparta. 9. How did mythology help the early Greek civilization explain the natural world and the human condition? Topic 2: The Persian Wars and the Peloponnesian War The Persian Wars Between 550 B.C. and 330 B.C., the Persian Empire spanned across regions and threatened Athens and Sparta. The Persian Wars took place in various locations throughout Greece and Asia Minor and lasted from 499 B.C. through 449 B.C. Prior to the unification of Athens and Sparta against the Persian Empire, these two city-states were enemies; however, the events of the Persian Wars unified them against a common enemy. The Legacy of Marathon The name of the plain of Marathon may seem very familiar to you. In modern times, the word “marathon” is used to describe a competitive race of 26.2 miles. According to Greek legend, a road messenger names Pheidippides was sent the 26.2 miles from Marathon to Athens after the Battle of Marathon. Upon his arrival in Athens, he announced “nenikekamen,” or “we won!” After he let others know of the Greek victory, he died from exhaustion. 1. What did the spread of the Persian Empire threaten? 2. What did Pheidippides announce when he arrived in Athens? The Rise of Athens and the Peloponnesian War Though the Athenians were forced to evacuate the city-state in 480 B.C., they returned soon after the events of the Battle of Salamis and regained control of most of the region of Attica.