Ancient Greek civilization laid the foundation for modern Western society through its experimentation in politics, science, and philosophy. It also played a crucial role in world history. This series of web activities will stress both of these themes as it reinforces and elaborates on key issues developed in Chapter 5.

Helpful Hints:

• You may want to begin by printing this page. As you explore different sites, use the printout to refer back to the instructions and questions detailed in each activity.
  
  
• On many web sites you can increase the size of the images by clicking on them. Whenever possible, use the larger images to examine fine details in photographs.
  
  

Activity One:

• To begin your investigation, familiarize yourself with Greek history. Using McKay, A History of World Societies (Fifth Edition), as reference, make a chronological list of the major periods in ancient Greek history starting with the Minoans and ending with Hellenistic society. (Hint: Look at the subheadings in the chapter for clues. You can also look at the chronology at The Ancient Greek World or Ancient Greece.)
  
  

Activity Two:

• Go to Map 1 to orient yourself to the Mediterranean basin. What three continents does the Mediterranean Sea unite? What previous civilizations that you studied in Chapters 1–4 could you place on this map?
  
  
• List several examples of how other civilizations might have affected Greek culture. For a hint, look at an example of Greek writing.
  
  

Activity Three:

• Locate the Greek homeland on Map 1. This map shows the physical environment of the Greek world. After reviewing pages 107 and 113–114 in McKay, A History of World Societies (Fifth Edition), make a list of how this physical environment shaped Greek civilization. You also might want to look at National Geographic's View from Above: The Mediterranean and Map 5.2 on page 115 of McKay.
  
  

Activity Four:

• So far, these maps have demonstrated a Eurocentric perspective. "Eurocentrism" means centered on Europe. What do you think contributes to this orientation?
  
  
• According to your textbook, Greek civilization had a profound impact on other parts of the world besides Europe. Go to Map 2 and Map 3 for clues. Also review pages 75–77 in McKay, A History of World Societies (Fifth Edition). Now make a list of non–European cultures influenced by classical Greek civilization. For the remainder of these web exercises, you will examine the contributions of Greek civilization to both Western (or European) and world history.
  
  

Activity Five:

• Western concepts of government today, particularly democracy, have their roots in the Greek polis. In which eras did the Greek polis dominate politics? What geographical features encouraged this development? Review the map at Perseus Atlas in Activity Three for clues.
  
  
• Democracy, in particular, had its roots in the polis of Athens. During what time period did Athenian democracy flourish? Just how similar was Athenian democracy to that of the United States today? How different was it? For help, go to Greek Democracy and THE GREEKS IN TRIUMPH AND FUTILITY. Also see page 116 in McKay, A History of World Societies (Fifth Edition). Write a paragraph or two summarizing your conclusions.
  
  

Activity Six:

• Not all Greek poleis practiced democracy. Sparta, in particular, had what McKay, A History of World Societies (Fifth Edition) describes as a Lycurgan system. Read the essay at Lycurgus' Reforms and the Spartan Society. Also review pages 115–116 in McKay. During what time period did this method of organizing society and government flourish? What were the major differences between the Lycurgan system and Athenian democracy? Can you think of any aspects of the Lycurgan system that have shaped Western ideas today? Write a paragraph or two summarizing your answer to the last question.
  
  

Activity Seven:

• Another Greek tradition that most of the nations of the world celebrate today is the Olympic Games. Yet the ancient games were quite different from their modern counterparts. To better understand the ancient games, go to The History of the Olympic Games and read the brief essays for all the sections in the table of contents. Make a list indicating how the ancient games reflected Greek values and culture. For example, only men could participate in the games, revealing limitations placed on women in Greek society. The games reflected Greek religious practices as well.
  
  

Activity Eight:

• The Greek philosophical tradition has profoundly influenced the modern world, especially Western views on science and mathematics. When was the golden age of Greek philosophy, according to McKay, A History of World Societies (Fifth Edition)? What were the major contributions of Plato and Aristotle to modern Western thought? (Hint: Don't think about their specific works, but their overall approach.) You will discover in later chapters that Greek philosophy also influenced other intellectual traditions, particularly in the Islamic world.
  
  

Activity Nine:

• Despite these common bonds between Western society today and ancient Greece, one shouldn't exaggerate the similarities. The ancient Greeks were not "just like us." Gender roles, for example, were profoundly different in ancient Greece than in the United States today. To explore gender roles in ancient Greece, go to Women's Life. Also read Gorgo and the Women of Sparta. Make a list that, according to these sites, explains the major function of women in Greek society.
  
  

Activity Ten:

• Alexander the Great's conquests spread Greek culture farther than ever before. Review Map 2 in Activity Four to identify the areas where Greek culture spread. One major consequence of the Hellenistic period was the development of major trade routes across the Eurasian landmass. These routes would profoundly influence world history for the next two thousand years.
  
  
• Go to Map of the Trade Routes. Although this map illustrates the situation two centuries after the Hellenistic kingdoms flourished, it shows the trade networks described on pages 135–136 in McKay, A History of World Societies (Fifth Edition). The growth of commerce within the Hellenistic world fostered strong commercial ties with neighboring regions that would emerge into the great Silk Road. You will explore this development in later chapters.