Ancient Greece was a thriving civilization that made impressive strides in many fields such as art, architecture, medicine, astronomy, mathematics, philosophy, and government. Many of their ideals were the foundation of future civilizations and their influence is still with us today.
Ancient Civilizations are typically taught focusing on the key areas of: Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economy and Social Structure using the acronym G.R.A.P.E.S. By utilizing this acronym, students can compartmentalize their findings and compare and contrast different civilizations.
Analyze Ancient Greek using the popular GRAPES acronym!
Storyboard Text
ANCIENT GREECE
GEOGRAPHY
G
RELIGION
R
ACHIEVEMENTS
A
Archimedes Screw
POLITICS
P
Athenian Democracy
ECONOMY
E
SOCIAL STRUCTURES
S
Soldiers and other male citizens
Male children
Male citizensin government
Ancient Greece was located in southeastern Europe along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Mountains, seas, and islands formed natural barriers between the city-states. They have hot summers and mild winters. The Greeks expanded with settlements in Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, and North Africa.
Greece
Ancient Greeks practiced polytheism, meaning that they believed in many gods and goddesses. Greek mythology tells the stories of the gods, goddesses, and heroes. Ancient Greeks built temples to the gods and offered sacrifices.
I'm Hera, the Greek goddess of love and marriage. I'm the wife of Zeus and mother of Ares, Hebe, and Hephaestus. I created the peacock!
Ancient Greeks created life-like sculptures, paintings, and pottery. They built large, elaborate temples and buildings supported by columns that are still used today. They created dramatic plays of tragedy and comedy, made strides in mathematics, astronomy, and medicine.
Doric
Ionic
Corinthian
Ancient Greece was made up of city-states that were ruled by different governments, like monarchies, oligarchies, and democracies. Greece is credited with creating the first direct democracy, so citizens voted on all laws. The government had three parts: the assembly, the council, and the courts.
The Assembly
The Council of 500
The Courts
Ancient Greece was very mountainous and had poor soil, but they farmed olives and grapes, and raised sheep, goats and bees. They were also fishermen and divers. Traders and merchants traded wine, olives, metalwork, and pottery for grain, pork, silk, papyrus, and linen.
There was a strict social hierarchy. Only free men could be citizens and take part in government. Politicians were the highest, followed by soldiers and other male citizens. Women, children, and foreigners had far fewer rights and were not citizens. Enslaved people had harsh lives and no rights.