Split by mountains and seas into independent city-states, the Greeks gave the world democracy, philosophy, art, and famous myths.
🗺️Mountains, Seas & City-States
🏔️ A land split into pieces
Cause: Greece is full of mountains and thousands of islands.
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So: towns were cut off and hard to reach — no single ruler could unite them.
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Effect: Greece became many independent city-states (polis) that ruled themselves.
⚖️Athens vs. Sparta
VS
🦉ATHENS
🎨Loved art, philosophy & learning
🗳️Invented democracy — citizens voted
🏛️Built the Parthenon for Athena
💡 City of ideas
🛡️SPARTA
⚔️Focused on military strength
🏃Boys began tough training near age 7
🤝Valued discipline & teamwork
🛡️ City of warriors
🗳️What Is Democracy?
🏛️ "Rule by the people"
demos= the people
kratos= power or rule
In Athens, citizens gathered in person to vote on laws — power belonged to the people, not one king. 👑✘
🔑Key Terms
🏙️City-State (Polis)An independent city and the land around it.
🗳️DemocracyGovernment where citizens hold power, often by voting.
⛰️AcropolisA fortified hilltop, often topped with temples.
📜MythologyStories of gods, heroes, and how the world began.
🤔PhilosophyThe "love of wisdom" — studying life's big questions.
🏛️ParthenonA famous Greek temple built to honor Athena.
⭐Remember: Greece's mountains and islands split it into self-ruling city-states — and in Athens, that led to democracy, where the people, not a king, held the power!
✏️ Social Studies Anchor Chart · Ancient Greece: Birth of Democracy