Greece Movie

Vocabulary

• archaeology
• Athens
• Acropolis
• Parthenon
• frieze
• city-state
• democracy
• assembly
• barbarian
• philosophy
• terra cotta
• Delphi
• oracle
• Olympics

Focus Questions 

1. Explain the main differences between the Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta.
2. Describe the Athenian form of democracy and system of voting.Who qualified for citizenship in ancient Athens? Who was denied that privilege?
3. What was a major accomplishment of Athens’ leader Pericles?
4. What role did the Acropolis play in the life of Athens?
5. Describe the temple of the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens.
6. Why did the Athenians name their city for the goddess Athena? Describe the statue of her which once stood in the Parthenon.
7. What are the “Elgin marbles” and what is their history?
8. Why are Greek vases valuable sources of information to archaeologists?
9. What role did the Greek gods of Mt. Olympus play in the Greeks’ daily life?
10. Why did ancient Greeks visit Delphi? What was the significance of the Oracle?
11. Compare and contrast life for boys and girls in Athens with that of children in Sparta.
12. What was the importance of athletics in ancient Greece? What were the ancient Greek Olympics like?
13. What factors led to the weakening of power in Athens and Sparta?
14. How was Greek culture spread throughout the world? 

Follow-up essays (choose 2)

1. What have we inherited from the Greeks?
2. Compare and contrast the Athenian form of democracy with those ofdemocratic governments today. Was ancient Greek democracy truly democratic? Is ours today?
3. If you were in ancient Greece, would you rather live inAthens or Sparta? Why? Would being a boy or a girl influence the choice?
4. What was unique about the Greek attitude toward individual accomplishment? How is the belief in individualism expressed in western societies today?