Name Class Date Ancient Greece Section 2 MAIN IDEAS 1. Aristocrats and tyrants ruled early Athens. 2. Athens created the world s first democracy. 3. Ancient democracy was different than modern democracy. Key Terms and People democracy type of government in which people rule themselves oligarchy government in which only a few people have power aristocrats rich landowners citizens people with the right to participate in government tyrant leader who rules by the use of force Pericles Athenian leader who ruled at the height of Athenian democracy Section ARISTOCRATS AND TYRANTS RULE Democracy was born in Ancient Greece in the city of Athens. Democracy is a form of a government in which people rule themselves. However, Athens was ruled first by kings, and then by an oligarchy of aristocrats, or rich landowners. In the 600s BC a group of rebels tried to overthrow the aristocrats. The rebellion failed and Draco gained power in Athens. Draco was a strict leader and was very unpopular. His successor, Solon, ruled that all free men were citizens who had a right to participate in government. But it was too late; people were tired of the aristocracy. Peisistratus overthrew the oligarchy and became a leader of Athens by force. Peisistratus was the first tyrant. Though that word has a negative meaning today, some Greek tyrants were good leaders. Peisistratus led well and Athens flourished under his care. But after he died rebellious aristocrats regained control of Athens. Circle two ways that Athens was ruled before democracy. Who was the first tyrant of Athens? 85 Guided Reading Workbook
Name Class Date Section 2, continued ATHENS CREATES DEMOCRACY A leader named Cleisthenes introduced democracy to Athens in 500 BC. Though he was an aristocrat himself, he did not support the aristocracy. He overthrew the aristocratic leaders using popular support. Under his rule all citizens had the right to participate in the assembly that created laws. The assemblies were held outdoors and anyone could give a speech before votes were taken. This could be messy. Either too many people would come to an assembly or not enough. Eventually the Athenians began to select city officials to make decisions. Citizens were eventually allowed to decide court cases by serving on juries. Citizens gradually gained more power. Athenian democracy reached its height with Pericles, who led the government from 460 to 429 BC. Still, democracy all but ended when Athens was conquered by Macedonia in the 330s BC. The Macedonian king did not like anyone other than himself making laws. Though the city council kept operating in a limited way, a new Greek king in 320 BC abolished even that right. What do you think is the major disadvantage of allowing every citizen to participate in lawmaking? ANCIENT DEMOCRACY DIFFERS FROM MODERN DEMOCRACY Although citizenship was very limited, Athens had a direct democracy, in which every citizen could participate and the majority ruled. The United States operates as a representative government, in which citizens elect people to represent them. CHALLENGE ACTIVITY Critical Thinking: Drawing Inferences Have students in the class discuss and vote on an issue real or fictional first as a direct democracy and then as a representative democracy. Have them discuss the merits of both democracies, or write a paper describing which system they prefer and why. What type of democracy is practiced in the United States today. 86 Guided Reading Workbook
Name Class Date Section 2, continued DIRECTIONS On the line before each statement, write T if the statement is true and F if the statement is false. If the statement is false, change the underlined term to make the sentence true. Then write the correct term on the line after the sentence. 1. An oligarchy is a government in which only a few people have power. 2. Greece is considered the birthplace of democracy, which is a type of government in which people rule themselves. 3. Democracy in Athens reached its height under the rule of a brilliant elected leader named Cleisthenes. 4. In the 590s BC, a man named Solon created a set of laws that were less harsh than those created by Draco. Solon s laws enabled all free men living in Athens to become aristocrats. 5. The oligarchy in Athens lasted until one noble overthrew the government and ruled it alone as a tyrant. DIRECTIONS Look at each set of vocabulary terms following each number. On the line provided, write the letter of the term that does not relate to the others. 6. a. democracy b. oligarchy c. tyranny d. aristocrats 7. a. oligarchy b. Cleisthenes c. democracy d. citizens 87 Guided Reading Workbook
Answer Key True/False 1. F; Out of respect for the Torah, the most sacred text of Judaism, readers do not touch it but instead use special pointers to mark their places. 2. F; Historians have learned much about the lives of the ancient Jews by studying the Talmud, which includes prayers, commentaries, letters, and passages from the Hebrew Bible. 3. T 4. T 5. T 6. belief in one God 7. writings 8. holy day 9. Jewish house of worship 10. fairness (First Page) because they were unhappy with the Roman rule of Jerusalem; Students should underline: religious leaders responsible for teaching Judaism (Second Page) The Sephardim mixed with their non-jewish neighbors, while the Ashkenzaim did not; Rosh Hashanah Student letters should describe that the Zealots were unhappy the with Roman rule of Jerusalem and finally rebelled. 1. Zealots; Jews unhappy with Roman rule 2. Passover; when Jews remember the Exodus 3. rabbis; teachers of Judaism 4. Rosh Hashanah; Jewish New Year Ancient Greece SECTION 1 (First Page) Students should underline: Mediterranean, Ionian, Aegean; because communities were separated by steep valleys, so there was little contact between groups (Second Page) ships, fortresses; It had an acropolis and walls Student laws should meet the requirements of increasing safety and quality of life. Fill in the Blank 1. classical 2. acropolis 3. agora 4. peninsula 5. polis 6. fortress 7. marketplace 8. city-state 9. great achievements 10. land surrounded by water on three sides SECTION 2 (First Page) Students should circle: kings, an oligarchy of aristocrats; Peisistratus (Second Page) Answers will vary. Possible answer: If there were many people it might be difficult to make decisions; representative democracy Answers will vary. Student papers should express their preference and support it with reasons. True/False 1. T 2. T 3. F; Democracy in Athens reached its height under the rule of a brilliant elected leaders named Pericles. 4. F; Solon's laws enabled all free men living in Athens to become citizens. 5. T 9 Guided Reading Workbooks Answer Key
Answer Key 6. d 7. a (First Page) Answers will vary. Sample answer: No, because the Greeks did not use myths to lie but to explain the world around them; spring and summer (Second Page) Answers will vary. Sample answer: maybe by a group of writers; poetry in which the poet recites poetry while playing the lyre; democracy Answers will vary. Accept all reasonable responses. Vocabulary 1. Achilles heel refers to a person s weak spot. 2. Greek writers wrote fables to teach people about life. 3. The ancient Greeks used mythology to explain the world. 4. It is believed that Homer wrote the Odyssey and Iliad. 5. Hercules was a Greek hero. The Greek World SECTION 1 (First Page) He let the people he conquered keep their customs; He created the world s largest empire at that time and was fair. (Second Page) Zoroastrianism; Students should circle the sentence: The Greeks won the first battle, at Marathon, because they had better weapons and armor; the Greeks Answers will vary. Student maps might show a very narrow opening between tall hills or mountains. Fill in the Blank 1. Cyrus the Great 2. cavalry 3. Darius I 4. Persian Wars 5. satraps 6. soldiers in the Persian army, horse-riders, effective military strategy 7. conqueror, ruler, treated conquered people well 8. conqueror, ruler, improved Persian society 9. series of wars, destructive, won by Greece 10. Darius s son, conqueror, involved with Persian Wars SECTION 2 (First Page) courage and strength; because Spartan men were often away at war (Second Page) Students should underline the sentence: They believed that studying the arts made people better citizens; boys; Students should circle: resentment. Answers will vary. Student poems or songs should include the feeling of sadness. Answers will vary. Sample answer: After the Persian Wars, many Greek city-states formed alliances. The two main alliances were the Delian League headed by Athens and the Peloponnesian League headed by Sparta. Eventually, Sparta became alarmed by Athens s growing influence over the rest of Greece and declared war. This war became known as the Peloponnesian War. 1. democratic, valued education, had powerful army 2. disciplined, obedient, courageous (First Page) with military strategy and weaponry; He enslaved the Theban people. 10 Guided Reading Workbooks Answer Key