Lecture Notes on Ancient Greek Civilization

Class Procedures

• Students instructed to place T chairs at the top right of desks.
• Paychecks placed on the top right of desks.
• Green sheet and writing tools on desks.

Do Now Activity

• Objective: Determine what era/time/place pictures come from.
• Students given 2 minutes to write down their thoughts.
• Examples of answers:
  • Babylonian Empire
  • Ancient Athens
  • Persian Empire
  • Egypt
  • Greek Civilization (correct answer)

Ancient Greek Civilization

• Recognizable through movies and myths (e.g., Percy Jackson, Hercules, 300).
• Importance of Key Vocabulary:
  • Civilization
  • Fresco
  • Mycenae
• Strategy for understanding vocabulary:
  • Check the sentences before/after for definitions.

Defining Civilization

• Society's way of life in a particular area, usually advanced for its time.
• Examples:
  • Ancient Indians (pre-Pilgrims in America)
  • Ancient Egyptians (pyramids, Sphinx)

Physical Geography

• Definition: Natural features, landforms, and physical development of a place.
• Classroom examples: walls, tables, blocks.

Class Activity: Ancient Greek Map

• Activity: Marking locations on a map
  • X on Athens
  • Y on Sparta
  • O on Mount Olympus

Early Greek Civilization

• Geography and its impact:
  • Greece is made up of islands, part of the Mediterranean.
  • Known for its strategic location and trading capabilities.

Minoan Civilization

• Existed around 2500 BC on the island of Crete.
• Known for trade, pottery, and frescos.

Mycenaean Civilization

• Followed Minoans, located on mainland Greece.
• Known for fortified cities with stone walls.

Classroom Reading and Comprehension

• Importance of tracking and underlining key information.
• Focus on understanding physical features and civilization definitions.

Questions for Review

1. Three large bodies of water around Greece: Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, Mediterranean Sea.
2. Ancient Greek city-state definition: Region with its own government.
3. Minoan civilization timeline: Around 2500 BC.
4. Fresco definition: Painting on a plaster wall.
5. Freeman definition (to explore further).

Student Activity

• Read and underline key information.
• Use highlighters for important text.
• Answer questions based on textual evidence.