homework encyclopedia

FIND OUT MORE. Ancient Rome 382–383 • Southeast Europe 256–257

History^377

HOPLITES IN CLOSE COMBAT 3

This picture of hoplites in combat

appears on a pottery vase made

at Athens in around 530 BCE. Only

men from wealthy families could

be hoplites. Poor men could not

afford the weapons and armour.

CITY-STATES

A city-state was made up of a town and

all the land near to it. Each one had its

own government, laws, and way of life.

City-states often fought each other, using

troops of. HOPLITES and warships.

HOW DID ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY WORK?

In Athens, all adult male citizens could listen to

debates in the Assembly, which met on most days.

Here, they could elect and expel city leaders, and vote

to decide on government policies. Women, slaves,

and foreigners were not able to vote. Three of the

world’s most famous philosophers – Socrates, Plato,

and Aristotle – lived and taught in Athens.

HOW DID THE ANCIENT GREEKS FIGHT?

The Greeks used a battle formation called the phalanx.

Soldiers stood in rows, overlapping their shields to make

a solid wall of defence as they advanced. Hoplites

fought against foreigners (in the Greek–Persian Wars)

and other Greeks (in the Peloponnesian War between

Athens and Sparta from 431 to 404 BCE). City-states

also hired foreign experts, such as archers from Scythia.

WHY DID THE GREEKS VALUE SPORT?

Sport was good training for war, but

city-states also organized sports

competitions to form part of their

religious festivals. The most famous

was the Olympic Games, held every

four years to honour the god Zeus.

Competitors came from all over Greece.

Victorious athletes won praise for

themselves, and prestige for their

families and towns.

GREEK DISCUS THROWER 3

Greek artists often used top athletes as

models. This statue, c. 450 BCE, depicts

a discus thrower. Discus throwing

was an early Olympic sport.

Soldier dead

on battlefield

HOPLITES

Hoplites were trained foot-soldiers, who fought for their city-states

using swords and spears. Their name came from the round hoplon

(shield) that they carried for protection in battle. They also wore

helmets, body armour, and plated greaves (shin guards).

4 ATHENIAN COIN

This picture of an owl

symbolizes Athena, the

goddess of wisdom and

guardian of Athens.

Ancient Greek coins also

showed many different

local products or gods.

Olives and olive oil were

valuable Greek exports

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

356-323 BCE

Alexander was ruler of

Macedon, north of Greece. As

a young man he conquered

many lands, including some of

the Greek city-states. When he

died, his vast empire stretched

from Egypt to Pakistan.

Frieze shows birth of

Athena, and her battle

with Poseidon

over the

Attica region

2 THE PARTHENON
Temples were homes for the gods and goddesses, and status symbols
for cities. The Parthenon, Athens, was built was built between 447 and
432 BCE, when Greek architecture was at its peak. It is one of the world’s
most famous buildings and was made from 22,000 tonnes (21,650 tons)
of marble. This temple was dedicated to the goddess Athena. Inside stood
a 12-m- (40-ft-) tall carved statue of Athena, with solid gold armour.