ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS

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Ancient Civilizations
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Interactive Social Studies Notebook –
Ancient Greece

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Social Studies
Interactive Notebook
Unit on
Ancient Greece
How To Use
Directions for the Teacher:

Have your students use the

following pages to create
their very own Social Studies
interactive notebook!

Each page will have different shape

cutouts. Have students read the
instructions on each page and use the
dotted lines to help them know which
pieces to cut and place in their
notebook. It’s that easy!
Page 6 is the cover of the Unit.

Towards the end of the resource, you

will find the answer key pages. Feel free
to use them as a guide with your
students.

Enjoy! ☺
able of Contents
S ocial St udies Notebook Cover………….……………….…..……..7
Power Words………………………………………….………………………….………8 -9
Eve nts Timeline……………………………………………………………….……...……..10
My Map of Ancie nt Greece…………..………………………….……....11
Minoan and My ce nae an Civilization…...................………12
T he Dar k Ages in Greece…………….………………….…………….……..13
Homer, T he Iliad, T he Odyssey………………………………..….…….14
Greek My t holo gy…………………….…………………..………………………………15
Greek My t holo gy Brain Bre ak………………………………………...16
Greek Oly mpics……………………………………………………………..….…………..17
Greek Tragedies & T he at re..………………………………..……..…....18
Greek Philosophers………………………………………………………………….19
Polis – Greek Cit y States…..………………………………………………...20
At he ns Daily Life & Politics……………………………..…………….…21
Spar tan Daily Life & Politics….……………………………….…….….22
T he Peloponnesian War…………………….………...………….…………23
S ocial St udies Notebook Answers.….………………….…..24
Power Words Answers………………………………………………………25
Power Words Answers Pa ge 2……………..…..………………26
Eve nts Timeline Answers…………………………….….…………………27
Map of Greece Answers……….………………………………………….28
Minoan & My ce nae an Cur r iculu m………………................29
T he Dar k Ages Answers………………………………..…………………..30
Homer, T he Iliad, T he Odyssey Answers..…….…….31
Greek My t holo gy Answers……………………………………………….32
Greek Oly mpics Answers…………………………………………...….….33
Greek Tra gedies & T he at re Answers…………………..34
Greek Philosophers Answers……………………………………..35
Polis Greek Cit y State Answers………………………..……..36
At he ns Daily Life & Politics Answers…………………...37
Spar tan Daily Life & Politics Answers……………..…38
T he Peloponnesian War Answers……………………………..39
Ancie nt Civilization Resources……………………………………..40
T h ank You Pa ges & Copyr ight……………………………………...41
My Social Studies
Interactive Notebook

ANCIENT
GREECE

N AME:
StudentSavvy © 2015
 POWER WORDS!
Directions: These are words you will be reading and defining throughout this unit. Come back
to this page when you discover the definition and write it below! Cut out each flap and glue
at the top. Write the definition underneath the flap!

epic polis hoplites

poem

philosopher democracy oligarchy

helots ephors comedy

Olympic Socratic
tragedy
Games Method
StudentSavvy © 2015
 POWER WORDS!
Directions: These are words you will be reading and defining throughout this unit. Come back
to this page when you discover the definition and write it below! Cut out each flap and glue
at the top. Write the definition underneath the flap!

Minoan Mycenaean The Iliad

The Odyssey immortal

Create your own!

StudentSavvy © 2015
 Events Timeline
2200BC

300 BC
(Continue to fill in while creating your notebook)

• The first civilization in ancient Greece was

called the Minoan civilization. The Minoan
civilization used metals and were a Bronze

Ancient Greece Age civilization.

• The Mycenaean period came after the
collapse of the Minoans. The Mycenaeans
were warrior people who conquered various
islands.

What questions do you have about Ancient Greece? After studying past civilizations,
what are you most interested in learning?

StudentSavvy © 2015
 GEOGRAPHY
The landscape of Ancient Greece played an
Ancient Greece:
important role in their civilization– What was City-States &
important about the landscape and why?
Seafarers

N Ancient Greece was located on

the coasts of three bodies of water:
the Mediterranean Sea, the Ionian
Sea, and the Aegean Sea.
W E

Directions: D r a w a n d l a b e l a m a p o f
A nci e nt G reece w i t h t h e M edi te r ra ne a n
S Sea (SW), the Ionian Sea (W), the
A e g e a n S e a (NE), C rete, Pelo p o n nesus,
M t. O l y m p u s , S p a r t a a n d A t h e n s
l o c a t i o n s. C re a te y o u r o w n c o l o r- c o d e d
m a p key!

Map Key

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 Minoan Civilization
Overview
The Minoan Civilization flourished between 2700 and
1450 BC. The Minoans were located on the large island
of Crete. They existed during Greece’s bronze age and
used bronze to make weapons and other tools. They
suffered a sudden and catastrophic collapse around
1400 BC. Some historians speculate that it was a large
tidal wave cause by a volcanic eruption from a nearby
island. Most historians think an invasion from the
Mycenaeans caused their collapse.

Mycenaean Civilization
Overview
Mycenae was a site in the Mycenaean Greek civilization
that flourished around 1600-1100 B.C. The civilization was
made up of powerful monarchies. The powerful
monarchies were built on hills and surrounded by large
walls made of stone.
The Mycenaean centers also contained tombs where
members of royal families were buried.

Finding Similarities to
other Ancient
Civilizations! 1 2
Directions: After reading the
overviews, find 4 events that
remind you of something that
occurred in another civilization
(Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, 3 4
etc).

StudentSavvy © 2015
 The Dark Ages
in Greece
1 1 50-600 BC (Approximately)
T h e Da r k A g es m a r ked t h e e nd of t h e M y ce nae a n
ci v ili zat i o n a ro u nd 1100 B.C. T h e fall of t h e M y ce na e a ns
m a y h ave b e e n d u e to a n e nv i ro n m e nta l c ata st ro p h e
co m b i n e d w i t h a n i nva s i o n o f e i t h e r t h e D o r i a n s o r
S e a Pe o ple s. A s t h e B ro n ze A g e e nde d , fa m i ne a nd
d e p o p u l at i o n o c c u r re d . Eco n o m y a n d s o c i et y fe ll
a p a r t.

What Life Was Like in the Dark

Ages…
Art and bronze casting ceased as
well as certain script writing.
Iron replaced bronze in weapon-
making to make it more affordable
for consumers. Trade links were
lost and villages were abandoned.
Large numbers of Greeks left the
mainland and sailed to various
islands.

At the end of the Greek Dark

Ages, Homer emerged as greatest
epic poet in history.

W h at do y o u t h ink
h i sto r i a n s m e a n b y
re fe r r i n g to t h e s e
times as the “Dark
Ages”?

StudentSavvy © 2015
 Homer
Unsure of birthdate,
very little is known about Homer
except he was the greatest
Greek poet of all time. Many
estimate that his birth date range
was around 750 BC, or early as
1200 BC.

• An epic poem is a story that

describes the adventures of a
hero or main character.

The Iliad and the Odyssey Summaries

The Iliad: The epic poem takes place during the Trojan
War and after the end of the Bronze Age in Greece. The Trojan
War lasted for ten years. The Iliad contains combat, glorifying
war, death, lamenting, and suffering.

The Odyssey: The Odyssey starts with the main

character Odysseus telling stories of his adventures. The book takes
place after the Trojan War. He has been fighting in the war for 10 years
and now he can return home. The head Greek god Zeus is angry at the
Greeks and creates a giant storm that pushes Odysseus and his
warriors off course. They experience many adventures while trying to
return home.

After reading about Homer and his epic

poetry, why do you think the Greeks
found his writing to be so inspiring?
Write your answer underneath this
flap!
StudentSavvy © 2015
 Greek Mythology

HESTIA

In Greek Mythology, the gods were

Greek Religion
immortal and lived on Mount Olympus.
was polytheistic.
What does Mount Olympus was a real location
polytheistic that existed in northern Greece.
mean? There were 12 major Greek Gods.

Directions: Cut and paste each cut out and match the names to the
descriptions. Fit them together like a puzzle piece! Note that they are not
in the correct order.

Zeus Demeter

Hera wife of Zeus Hestia goddess of love

Athena god of the seas Ares goddess of the home

Apollo god of the sun Artemis messenger of the gods

goddess of the hunters

Aphrodite goddess of wisdom Hephaestus

goddess of agriculture
Poseidon god of war Hermes
god of fire king of gods
StudentSavvy © 2015
Greek Religion & Mythology
BRAIN BREAK!
Directions: Take a little “brain break” and color the
heroes and gods below! Place them in your notebook!

Zeus
Achilles Ruler of
Trojan War Hero Olympian gods

Athena
StudentSavvy © 2015
Greek Olympics
Olympic Games can be traced back to early
776 BC.

The ancient Olympics was an athletic event

as well as a religious event. They were
dedicated to the Olympian gods and held in
Olympia to honor Zeus. The Olympics were a
series of athletic competitions among city-
states. Instead of medals, ancient time
athletes were awarded wreathes of olive
branches to wear on their heads.

Greek Olympics were held every four years,

also known as an Olympiad.

Sports Included: Boxing, Equestrian Events

such as Chariot Racing & Riding. Discus,
Javelin, Jumping, Running, and Wrestling.
Directions: Compare & contrast Ancient Greek Olympics with the
Olympics of today.

Ancient Greek Present Day

Olympics Olympics

StudentSavvy © 2015
Greek Tragedies
& Theatre

Greek theatre began with

ceremonies and festivals honoring
the gods.
In Greek theatre performances, they
would often use only one or two
actors playing multiple characters on
stage.
Tragedies were a popular and influential
form of theatre. Sophocles, Euripides, and
Aeschylus were the most famous Tragedy
playwrights. They were often presented in
a trilogy – a set of three plays.

Greek Tragedies led to comedy and built a

foundation for all theatre and movies
today.

What are
tragedies &
comedies in
theatre?

StudentSavvy © 2015
 Greek Philosophers

Euclides Plato Archimedes Socrates

Philosophy comes from the Greek

A philosopher word “philosophia” that literally
means “a love of wisdom”.
is someone who…
Sophists were groups of traveling
teachers (philosophers) who
taught young men in Greece.

Socrates & the Socratic Method

Socrates taught many individuals using his “Socratic method”. The
Socratic Method is a form of discussion by asking and answering
questions to engage in critical thinking. By doing so, it will illuminate
useful ideas and answers to problems.

Plato
Plato was one of the many students of Socrates. He focused on
reality and what it means to be real versus imaginary.

StudentSavvy © 2015
Polis: Daily Greek Life
Overview
Around 750 B.C., City-states were known as p o l i s in Greece.
They were centers where people could meet for political, religious,
and social activities. In Greece, there were multiple polis in various
locations. They distrusted one another which created a
disconnect among Greece.
A polis was usually centered on a small town and the
countryside would surround it. Polis also means a close-knit
society and body of citizens.

After reading the overview on polis, how do

you think society was structured in 750 B.C.
Greece?
What do you think some of the
responsibilities were that the citizens of the
polis had? Write your answer underneath the
flap!

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Athens
The Athenian government in 500 B.C.
was considered a democracy. They
had an elected official as well as an
assembly. Members of the
Athenian Assembly were made up
of the Athen citizens. Even though
they had a democracy, they had
slaves who could not participate in
politics and decision making.

Daily Life Politics

Boys in ancient Athens In Athens, it was
were well educated and believed that it was
could attend college as every citizen’s duty to
they continued their participate in
studies. Women however, decisions and politics
were not educated and (except for women
were considered as and slaves).
property.

In what was were the Athenians forward thinking in

their way of life? What were some ways in which they
were less advanced? Write your answer below!

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Spartans
Daily Military
Life At a very young age
Spartans would marry (as young as 7).
around the age of boys were taken
twenty. During marriage, from their family and
Spartan men would live sent away to become
their lives away from soldiers in the
their family at military Spartan military
camps.

Physical fitness was highly important in Spartan society because they

relied so heavily on their military. Unlike most ancient civilizations during
this time, Spartan woman were educated alongside men. They knew
how to read and write. They had more civil rights such as being able to
own property. Spartans also had slaves and they were known as
helots. They were treated very poorly – often beaten and murdered.

Spartans highly valued their military and warrior skills. Physical

strength was the most prized feature for both men and woman in
Spartan society.

In what was were the Spartans forward thinking in their way of life?
What were some ways in which they were less advanced? Write your
answer below!

StudentSavvy © 2015
The Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War took place during 431-404 BC.
Athenians formed the Delian League and the city-states that aligned
with Spartans were called the Peloponnesian League.

Thucydides was a major general in the war and survived. He

recorded an unbiased and realistic account of the war. Historians use
his text as a guide to understand what occurred during the war.

Thucydide’s writing was unusual during its time because most writers
during Ancient times included divine influence (included writings about
the ancient Greek gods).
This war lasted twenty seven years! In different periods of the war,
different leagues appeared victorious.

Both sides suffered

major losses but
Athens surrendered in
404 B.C.
Even though Sparta had
won, they were never
the superpower they
once were because of
the toll the war took on
them.

W h at i s a p r i m a r y
s o u rce ? W hy d i d
h i s to r i a n s c o n s i d e r
Thucydides writing
a s a n a c c u r a te
p r i m a r y s o u rce?
StudentSavvy © 2015
My Social Studies
Interactive Notebook

ANCIENT
GREECE
Answer Key

N AME:
StudentSavvy © 2015
 POWER WORDS!
Directions: These are words you will be reading and defining throughout this unit. Come back
to this page when you discover the definition and write it below! Cut out each flap and glue
at the top. Write the definition underneath the flap!

epic Long narrative polis hoplites

poem about Greek armed foot
poem heroic deeds,
usually featuring
city-states soldier in Ancient
Greece
a hero going on a
journey.

philosopher democracy oligarchy

Someone who A system of A small group of
studies knowledge, government where individuals having
reality, and the power is vested control of a country
existence. in the people. or larger group of
people.

helots ephors comedy

Spartan slaves a performance
leaders of
in Ancient intended to make an
ancient Sparta
Greece audience laugh

A form of
discussion by

Olympic Socratic
asking and
answering
tragedy Athletic questions to
a performance
featuring tragic Games contests held
to honor Zeus
Method engage in
critical thinking
By doing so, it
events and having an and the other will illuminate
unhappy ending. gods. useful ideas.
StudentSavvy © 2015
 POWER WORDS!
Directions: These are words you will be reading and defining throughout this unit. Come back
to this page when you discover the definition and write it below! Cut out each flap and glue
at the top. Write the definition underneath the flap!

Minoan Bronze Age

civilization in
Mycenaean Flourished in late
The Iliad
Bronze Age, a An epic poem
Greece that
civilization that written by Homer.
arose on the
arose after the Set during the
island of Crete.
Minoan civilization Trojan War.

The Odyssey immortal The ability to live

forever. The Greek
An epic poem gods were
written by Homer described as
– sequel to the immortal in Greek
Iliad. writing.

Create your own!

StudentSavvy © 2015
 Events Timeline

Minoan Civilization First Olympic The Iliad and The

Period Event Held Odyssey – Greek
2200-1600 BC (approximately) 800 BC Literature written
by Homer
750-700 BC
2200BC

300 BC
Spartans and
Dark Ages 1200- City-states
Mycenaean Civilization Athens fight in
750 BC (approx.) are central
Period to Greek life Peloponnesian War
1600-1200 BC (approx) 750 BC 431-404 BC

(Continue to fill in while creating your notebook)

• The first civilization in ancient Greece was

called the Minoan civilization. The Minoan
civilization used metals and were a Bronze

Ancient Greece Age civilization.

• The Mycenaean period came after the
collapse of the Minoans. The Mycenaeans
were warrior people who conquered various
islands.

What questions do you have about Ancient Greece? After studying past civilizations,
what are you most interested in learning?

StudentSavvy © 2015
 GEOGRAPHY
The landscape of Ancient Greece played an
Ancient Greece:
important role in their civilization– What was City-States &
important about the landscape and why?
Greece occupied a small area and consisted of
Seafarers
many mountains and islands. The mountains
and seas were important in their civilization
because it isolated the Greeks from one
another. They ended up becoming independent Ancient Greece was located on
N
city-states.
the coasts of three bodies of water:
the Mediterranean Sea, the Ionian
Sea, and the Aegean Sea.
W E

Directions: D r a w a n d l a b e l a m a p o f
A nci e nt G reece w i t h t h e M edi te r ra ne a n
S Sea (SW), the Ionian Sea (W), the
A e g e a n S e a (NE), C rete, Pelo p o n nesus,
M t. O l y m p u s , S p a r t a a n d A t h e n s
l o c a t i o n s. C re a te y o u r o w n c o l o r- c o d e d
m a p key!

Map Key

StudentSavvy © 2015
 Minoan Civilization
Overview
The Minoan Civilization flourished between 2700 and
1450 BC. The Minoans were located on the large island
of Crete. They existed during Greece’s bronze age and
used bronze to make weapons and other tools. They
suffered a sudden and catastrophic collapse around
1400 BC. Some historians speculate that it was a large
tidal wave cause by a volcanic eruption from a nearby
island. Most historians think an invasion from the
Mycenaeans caused their collapse.

Mycenaean Civilization
Overview
Mycenae was a site in the Mycenaean Greek civilization
that flourished around 1600-1100 B.C. The civilization was
made up of powerful monarchies. The powerful
monarchies were built on hills and surrounded by large
walls made of stone.
The Mycenaean centers also contained tombs where
members of royal families were buried.

Possible answers:
Monarchies existed
throughout Ancient
Egypt (Pharaoh) China A Bronze

1 2
(Dynasty families) and Age also
many other occurred in
civilizations.
Ancient
China
Many ancient
civilizations

3 4
Tombs were
faced
also created
catastrophic
in Ancient
collapses-
Egypt.
Mayan, Egypt,
etc.
StudentSavvy © 2015
 The Dark Ages
in Greece
1 1 50-600 BC (Approximately)
T h e Da r k A g es m a r ked t h e e nd of t h e M y ce nae a n
ci v ili zat i o n a ro u nd 1100 B.C. T h e fall of t h e M y ce na e a ns
m a y h ave b e e n d u e to a n e nv i ro n m e nta l c ata st ro p h e
co m b i n e d w i t h a n i nva s i o n o f e i t h e r t h e D o r i a n s o r
S e a Pe o ple s. A s t h e B ro n ze A g e e nde d , fa m i ne a nd
d e p o p u l at i o n o c c u r re d . Eco n o m y a n d s o c i et y fe ll
a p a r t.

What Life Was Like in the

Dark Ages…
Ar t and bro nze casting ce ased
a s we ll a s ce r ta i n s cr i pt
writing. Iron replaced bro nze in
we a p o n -m a k i n g to m a ke i t m o re
affo rd a ble fo r co n su m e r s.
Tr a d e l i n k s we r e l o s t a n d
v illa g e s we re a ba nd o ne d . La rg e
numbers of Greeks left t he
m a i nla nd a nd s a iled to va r i o us
i sla nds.

At t he end of t he Greek Dar k

A ges, Ho m e r e merged as
g re atest e pi c p o et i n h i sto r y.

Hi sto r i a n s k new li t t le a b o u t
t h ese times because t here
What do you think
wa s a la ck o f w r i t te n
h i sto r i a n s m e a n
h i sto r y. T h e p e o ple we re
b y refe r r i n g to
u n a ble to kee p reco rds d u r i n g
these times as
this time period because of
the “Dark Ages”?
the str uggles of daily life.
StudentSavvy © 2015
 Homer
Unsure of birthdate,
very little is known about Homer
except he was the greatest
Greek poet of all time. Many
estimate that his birth date range
was around 750 BC, or early as
1200 BC.

• An epic poem is a story that

describes the adventures of a
hero or main character.

The Iliad and the Odyssey Summaries

The Iliad: The epic poem takes place during the Trojan
War and after the end of the Bronze Age in Greece. The Trojan
War lasted for ten years. The Iliad contains combat, glorifying
war, death, lamenting, and suffering.

The Odyssey: The Odyssey starts with the main

character Odysseus telling stories of his adventures. The book takes
place after the Trojan War. He has been fighting in the war for 10 years
and now he can return home. The head Greek god Zeus is angry at the
Greeks and creates a giant storm that pushes Odysseus and his
warriors off course. They experience many adventures while trying to
return home.

They may have

found his
poetry to be

After reading about Homer and his epic

inspiring because
it involved history

poetry, why do you think the Greeks

that they
experienced such

found his writing to be so inspiring?

as the dark ages,
Trojan War, and

Write your answer underneath this

the end of the
Bronze Age. It also

flap!
included stories of
the Greek gods
that they
worshipped.
StudentSavvy © 2015
 Greek Mythology

HESTIA

In Greek Mythology, the gods were

Greek Religion
immortal and lived on Mount Olympus.
was polytheistic.
What does Mount Olympus was a real location
polytheistic that existed in northern Greece.
mean? There were 12 major Greek Gods.

Directions: Cut and paste each cut out and match the names to the
descriptions. Fit them together like a puzzle piece! Note that they are not in the
correct order.

Zeus king of gods Demeter goddess of agriculture

Hera wife of Zeus Hestia goddess of the home

Athena goddess of wisdom Ares god of war

Apollo god of the sun Artemis goddess of the hunters

Aphrodite goddess of love Hephaestus god of fire

Poseidon god of the seas Hermes messenger of the gods

StudentSavvy © 2015
Greek Olympics
Olympic Games can be traced back to early
776 BC.

The ancient Olympics was an athletic event

as well as a religious event. They were
dedicated to the Olympian gods and held in
Olympia to honor Zeus. The Olympics were a
series of athletic competitions among city-
states. Instead of medals, ancient time
athletes were awarded wreathes of olive
branches to wear on their heads.

Greek Olympics were held every four years,

also known as an Olympiad.

Sports Included: Boxing, Equestrian Events

such as Chariot Racing & Riding. Discus,
Javelin, Jumping, Running, and Wrestling.
Directions: Compare & contrast Ancient Greek Olympics with the
Olympics of today.

Ancient Greek Present Day

Olympics Olympics
• They were
held in only • Many more
one place sports/games
such as
• There were
• athletic gymnastics,
less sports
competitions triathlon,
than there
were held volleyball,
are today. cycling, winter
• Chariot • some of the sports, etc.
races • women same games • We have
were not are still held seasonal
allowed to – foot racing, Olympics
compete javelin, etc.
• women
• were participate
awarded • award gold,
olive branch silver, and
• honored bronze metals
Zeus

StudentSavvy © 2015
Greek Tragedies
& Theatre

Greek theatre began with

ceremonies and festivals honoring
the gods.
In Greek theatre performances, they
would often use only one or two
actors playing multiple characters on
stage.
Tragedies were a popular and influential
form of theatre. Sophocles, Euripides, and
Aeschylus were the most famous Tragedy Tragedies are
performances featuring
playwrights. They were often presented in tragic events and having
a trilogy – a set of three plays. an unhappy ending.
Comedies are designed to
Greek Tragedies led to comedy and built a make an audience laugh.
foundation for all theatre and movies
today.

What are
tragedies &
comedies in
theatre?

StudentSavvy © 2015
 Greek Philosophers

Euclides Plato Archimedes Socrates

Philosophy comes from the Greek

A philosopher word “philosophia” that literally
means “a love of wisdom”.
is someone who…
Sophists were groups of traveling
a person engaged in philosophy teachers (philosophers) who
– the study of knowledge,
reality, and existence. taught young men in Greece.

Socrates & the Socratic Method

Socrates taught many individuals using his “Socratic method”. The
Socratic Method is a form of discussion by asking and answering
questions to engage in critical thinking. By doing so, it will illuminate
useful ideas and answers to problems.

Plato
Plato was one of the many students of Socrates. He focused on
reality and what it means to be real versus imaginary.

StudentSavvy © 2015
Polis: Daily Greek Life
Overview
Around 750 B.C., City-states were known as p o l i s in Greece.
They were centers where people could meet for political, religious,
and social activities. In Greece, there were multiple polis in various
locations. They distrusted one another which created a
disconnect among Greece.
A polis was usually centered on a small town and the
countryside would surround it. Polis also means a close-knit
society and body of citizens.

After reading the overview on polis, how do you

think society was structured in 750 B.C. Greece?
What do you think some of the responsibilities
were that the citizens of the polis had? Write
your answer underneath the flap!

Greece had independent city-states, so instead

of a united nation, they had separate political
units. The responsibilities the citizens had were
conducting political meetings and making
decisions for the polis and surrounding area.
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Athens
The Athenian government in 500 B.C.
was considered a democracy. They
had an elected official as well as an
assembly. Members of the
Athenian Assembly were made up
of the Athen citizens. Even though
they had a democracy, they had
slaves who could not participate in
politics and decision making.

Daily Life Politics

Boys in ancient Athens In Athens, it was
were well educated and believed that it was
could attend college as every citizens duty to
they continued their participate in
studies. Women however, decisions and politics
were not educated and (except for women
were considered as and slaves).
property.

In what was were the Athenians forward thinking in

their way of life? What were some ways in which they
were less advanced? Write your answer below!

Athenians were more advanced in their

democratic government with elected
officials and assembly. They were less
advanced because they had slaves and
lack of womens rights.

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Spartans
Daily Military
Life At a very young age
Spartans would marry (as young as 7).
around the age of boys were taken
twenty. During marriage, from their family and
Spartan men would live sent away to become
their lives away from soldiers in the
their family at military Spartan military
camps.

Physical fitness was highly important in Spartan society because they

relied so heavily on their military. Unlike most ancient civilizations during
this time, Spartan woman were educated alongside men. They knew
how to read and write. They had more civil rights such as being able to
own property. Spartans also had slaves and they were known as
helots. They were treated very poorly – often beaten and murdered.

Spartans highly valued their military and warrior skills. Physical

strength was the most prized feature for both men and woman in
Spartan society.

In what was were the Spartans forward thinking in their way of life?
What were some ways in which they were less advanced? Write your
answer below!
Spartans were often more forward thinking with their
equality of women’s rights. Women were educated and
had rights to owning property. Spartans were less
advanced in some ways because they were barbaric and
their slave population was enormous. They were treated
very poorly.

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The Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War took place during 431-404 BC.
Athenians formed the Delian League and the city-states that aligned
with Spartans were called the Peloponnesian League.

Thucydides was a major general in the war and survived. He

recorded an unbiased and realistic account of the war. Historians use
his text as a guide to understand what occurred during the war.

Thucydide’s writing was unusual during its time because most writers
during Ancient times included divine influence (included writings about
the ancient Greek gods).
This war lasted twenty seven years! In different periods of the war,
different leagues appeared victorious.

Both sides suffered

major losses but
Athens surrendered in
404 B.C.
Even though Sparta had
won, they were never
the superpower they
once were because of
the toll the war took on
them.

A primary source is an
actual record such as a
W h at i s a p r i m a r y letter, photo,
or material that was
s o u rce ? W hy d i d created during the time
period being studied.
h i s to r i a n s c o n s i d e r Thucydides was in the actual
war and wrote an unbiased
Thucydides writing account of the war. He also
didn’t discuss supernatural
a s a n a c c u r a te and divine influence unlike
most writers did in ancient
p r i m a r y s o u rce? Greece.

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6th Grade Social Studies
Curriculum Resources

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS

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