2/26/2014

Athens and Sparta hated each other
The Persian wars were the beginning of the Golden Age for Athens
Peloponnesus is the land where Sparta is located
Women had more say in Sparta then they did in Athens

• Couldn't vote or have a say in government

The Peloponnesian war was the end of the Golden Age

• The war between Sparta and Athens 

Persia was the super power of the time
Athens won because they were fighting for their life-styles even when they were out-numbered and shouldn't have won.
Athens army wasn't paid like the Persian army
Voting was done by show of hands and sometimes by stones
Meetings were done once a week
Officials were chosen by lot
Ten generals were voted on every year

Greek words:
polis- greek city-states
polites- citezen
demos- common people
ephors- overseers

Andrew taught in class again today.

2/25/2014

Today in Western Civilization we learned more about Greece and the Mycenaeans. Also we talked about the book of Odyssey which I found very interesting. I think I might read the book of Odyssey over the summer or at least try to. We learned that there was a Dark Age in Greece that we have little information about because nothing was being written down by these "Sea People." We also learned about the Dorians and the only form of writing about these times sound mythical so is hard to depict the truth.

2/24/2014: Sparta and Athens

LO3: Citizens and Communities: The Greek City-States:

• Vocab:
• acropolis- the high fortified citadel and religious center of an ancient Greek town.
• hoplite- a heavily armed and armored citizen-soldier of ancient Greece.
• phalanx- a unit of several hundred hoplites, who closed ranks by joining shields when approaching the enemy.
• monarchy- a state in which supreme power is held by a single, usual hereditary ruler(a monarch)
• oligarchy- a state in which supreme power is held by a small group.
• triremes- massive fighting vessels with three banks of oars, used to ram or board enemy ships.
• tyranny- rule by self-proclaimed dictator and tator(tyrant).
• democracy- in ancient Greece, a form of government in which all adult male citizens were entitled to take part in celebration.
• helots- noncitizens forced to work for landholders in the ancient city-state of Sparta. 
• aristocrats- members of prominent and long-established Athenian families.
• ostracism- Banishment for ten years by majority vote of the Athenian Assembly.
• 
  
• Greek City-states :
• small places, generally consist of no more than a town and a few square miles of countryside.
• Athens and Sparta were giants among city-states 
• about the size of a couple US countries
• each only had about a few thousand people
• the Greek city-states were the first to name there people by the Greek word "polites" meaning citizens.
• the male citizens went to war for the Greeks
• they had to pay for the things that they carried into war with them 
• such as bronze helmets and armor, round shields, long spears with iron blades, and short iron swords.
• "Alongside Mesopotamia and Egypt there now appeared a third great civilization: that of classical Greece." 
• city-states founded by powerful families 

Sparta: The Military Ideal

• decedents of the Greeks who conquered part of the southern mainland.
• they pushed westward because they couldn't grow anything 
• they had to accept a government 
• this helped hold down the Messenians
• they had been rebelling and causing havoc 
• no one knows when or how the government was decided on but it was 
• the citizens could approve or disapprove the laws the elders wrote up
• to protect themselves they sealed off all of their boarders to foreigners
• "Instead of softening their feet with shoes, his rule was to make them hardy through going barefoot....Instead of pampering them with a variety of clothes, his rule was to habituate them to a single garment the whole year through, thinking that so they would be better prepared to withstand the variations of heat and cold."

Athens: Freedom and Power

• The Athenians didn't agree with the way the Spartan's lived
• difference of Athens to Sparta
• Sparta was agricultural and landlocked, and Athens were prosperous and had access to the sea
• Sparta had a powerful army and Athens had a strong navy
• Sparta was isolated from everyone and Athens welcomed foriegn ideas and visitors
• Sparta was a controlled society and Athenians were proud of their free way of life.
• Spartans had physical fitness and military courage and Athenians had literature and art

Way of life:

• most slaves were treated fairly 
• women were not a big part of the democracy 

Greek Words:

2/21/2014: Greeks

Greeks:

• new ideas
• incredible art forms
• democratic government w/ citizen participation 

The European Barbarians:

• 400 BC
• farming and village life spreads from Sumerian Egyptian lands across SW Asia and NE Africa, and the European continent
• 3500 BC
• some are organized enough to construct megaliths, massive rough-cut stones used to construct monument and tombs, such as Stonehenge(finished in England in 2000BC), consisting of 160 massive boulders weighing up to 50 tons (100,000 pounds) each, stacked and circled and aligned to the movements of sun and moon.
• From 2500 BC on-Indo-
• European nomads migrated from the steppes of eastern Europe 
• their language would evolve into Greek and Latin 
• Their lives centered around strength and courage, comradeship and loyalty, contests and battle
• Thinner population than Egypt or Mesopotamia-
• they formed tribes, social and political unit consisting of communities held together by common interests, tradition, and real or mythical ties of kinship.
• tribes were headed by powerful hereditary chieftains, thought of as kings (or, rarely, queens)
• This is how Europe came to be populated by speakers of Indo-European languages who were skilled in farming, metalworking, trade, and warfare 
• no cities, no written records, no fixed structures of government 
• they were barbarians(from Greek barbaros-"non-Greek")
• they adopted the way of life of those they encountered, and as they traveled (from 2000BC to AD 1000), this is how civilization eventually spread throughout Europe.
• The distinctive civilization the Greeks developed is the first that counts as definitely "Western" 

I probably didn't have to copy all of this but at least i have all of the notes now so that I won't fail a test in the future.

2/19/2014

Today in Western Civilization we went over are tests which i got a 92 on. I guess it was a pretty good grade but i would like to do better because i have a lot of making up to do from last semester. Also i am trying to keep my grades up really high because my biology grade is really low because i am awful at biology. Another thing i learned in class today was that i should write the letters next tot he test so i can quiz myself for when exams come around for later on in in the semester. Hopefully i will achieve in this class but who knows.

2/18/2014

I don't really know if I have to blog tonight but I am going to anyway just in case. Today in Western Civilization we built a pyramid on our computers and we had to make sure that nothing went wrong like all of the workers dying or having it take too long stuff like that. It was fun i guess but more stressful. I am glad that Alexa and I got 20/20 because i need the grade I think because I don't think that I did amazing on the test but who knows. Also it  is starting to feel like spring outside but I am sure it will be freezing again really soon anyway.

2/17/2014: Greece

The First European Civilization: The Greeks

"Within Classical Greek Civilization there appeared ideas, art forms, and types of government whose influence on Western Civilization has lasted down to the present day."

The European Barbarians:

• focused on farming and welfare.
• barbarian- a term used to describe a distinctive way of life based on farming, warfare, and tribal organization that became widespread in Europe beginning around 2500 B.C.
• megaliths- massive rough-cut stones used to construct monuments and tombs 
• tribe- a social and political unit consisting of a group of communities held together by common interests, traditions, and real mythical ties of kinship. 
• The Earliest Europeans
• By 4000 B.C. farming and village life had spread throughout the continent.
• They may have been the one of the first people to build a plow
• The Barbarian Way of Life
• "When a leading warrior died, his horses and chariot, his bronze (or later iron) swords and daggers, and his gold and silver drinking cups would all go to the grave with him presumably so that he could go on riding, fighting, and drinking as a comrade of the gods in the afterlife.

The Aegean Encounter:

The farming wealth of the Aegean region, like that of Palestine, came from a combination of grain fields, vine-yard, and olive groves that was common throughout the Mediterranean land.

Greeks:

• had a government
• democracy 
• Minoan Civilization 
• arose in the Aegean island of Crete
• they traded with many people around the Mediterranean
• The Arrival of the Greeks: Mycenaean Civilization:
• They combined everything about themselves to form a new ethnicity called the Greeks
• The "Dark Ages":
• colony- in ancient greece, a new city-state settled in an oversea territory by a group sponsored by a city-state located elsewhere 
• oracle- a priest or priestess who was believed to give answers that were inspired by a god or goddess to question from worshipers at a temple.
• "the minstrels' listeners absorbed the traditional values that the heroic songs celebrated- the values of a warrior aristocracy that was at home on both land and sea."

2/14/2014: Short Answers

Short Answer.  Use at least three informative sentences to answer each of these questions.  This means you write at least three sentences for A, and at least three sentences for B.  Post your answer on your blog.  Five points for each short answer, for a total of ten points.

Short Answer A:  Name and describe three technological innovations or inventions of the ancient Egyptians.

AND

Short Answer B:  Describe three important features of the Egyptian pyramids.

1. The Egyptians came up with some of the biggest inventions such as irrigation which they used for watering there crops so that they could grow more food for the people. They also came up with a form of writing called hieratics which are symbols that mean certain words and hieroglyphs which were pictures that described certain words, symbols, and sounds. Also the Egyptians built sailboats which some might say was there biggest invention yet because it helped the people travel along the river to different cities. The Egyptians were known for all of there amazing buildings especially the pyramids.

2. One of the biggest important features of the pyramids was the polished marble that coated the pyramid's sides to keep thieves from getting in. Although once the marble was stripped it was still hard for burglars to get through the 5,000 pounds of 2.3 million cut blocks which would be another important feature on the pyramids. Another feature that was very important in trying to keep the thieves from getting all of the riches inside the pyramids would be the winding corridors. These pyramids are some of the biggest wonders in the entire world and once held some of the greatest pharaohs.   

2/13/2014: Essay Questions

"Essay.  Answer both of the following essay questions.  Organize your response into at least three paragraphs.  Use these paragraphs to give details and provide evidence for your answer.  Post your essay in your blog.  You may use your blog, your notes, or your text as a resource for this essay.  This assignment is worth 20 points, and will be a part of your grade for your 100-point test on Prehistory, Mesopotamia, and ancient Egypt, which will be given on the day we return to school.  This essay assignment is due by midnight tonight.

ESSAY A:  Describe the social hierarchy of the ancient Egyptians.

AND

ESSAY B: Discuss the importance of the Nile River in the lives of Egyptians."

The ancient Egyptians used a social hierarchy that was made up of seven different groups that showed where you stood within the society. The social hierarchy started with the servants and the slaves who were at the bottom. Their jobs included helping raise the wealthy with household and child raising duties. Then came the farmers who raised wheat, barley, and lentils. Then the Artisans who carved statues and drawings that showed military and afterlife. After that was the Merchants who used a bartering and money system and sometimes they excepted grains or other goods. Then the scribes were next and they kept records, told stories, taught medical treatments, and wrote hieroglyphs and hieratics. Then there were the soldiers who used wooden weapons with bronze tips and sometimes and road chariots. After that came the Upper class who were known as the "white kilt class" because their clothes were always extremely clean the people in this class were usually priests, physicians, and engineers.Then the person with the highest rank is the pharaoh who was the religious and political leader and he held two titles the 'Lord of the Two Lands' and the 'High Priest of Every Temple.' He owned all of the land, made laws, collected taxes, and defended Egypt against foreigners. Then there was also Hatshepsut which was what a women pharaoh was called. Those were all of the ranks in the hierarchy.

Ancient Egypt was very important to the people of Egypt and was built of many pyramids where the pharaohs were kept after their death. Some of the pyramids were as big as 50 stories tall. Also the people who built the pyramids actually wanted to build them because they felt like it was an honor to do something for the pharaoh. The main life-line of Egypt was the Nile and one fact about the river was that it flows from South to North.

The Nile was used for everything back in Egypt. The Egyptians used the Nile for transportation, bathing, and irrigation. Irrigation was one of the biggest break-throughs in Ancient Egypt. The people of Egypt learned how to use the river for all of there crops at different times of the year. They learned that Nile flooded in July and that the best soil could be found in October. The Nile was the source of life for all of the people who lived in the few mile radius around the river. They also used the river to move food and good down stream but they had to watch how the water moved so that way nothing would go wrong. Also when everything was going right with the river and food wise everyone would call that time "Maat."

2/12/2014

Today in class we didn't really do much we pretty much reviewed some more and got ready for all of the snow we are supposed to be having. I don't know if I believe we are going to get as much snow as they say but I feel like everyone is prepared to get a lot. Since we didn't really do much in class I don't think there is a lot to write. Also even though I want it to snow I am not looking forward to all of the work I am going to be receiving. I am receiving work for classes I am not even having tomorrow. Anyway i just really want there to be warmer weather because there is always less stress when it is warmer outside.

2/11/2014

Today in Western Civilization we learned more about mummification which you would only have done if you were very wealthy so pretty much only if you were a pharaoh. Besides that we didn't learn anything and Laura and Arie just kept arguing and Mr. Schick broke the desk. It was a very eventful class. But I don't really think that I learned anything that I hadn't learned in the other classes. I hope we don't have the test tomorrow though because I have a lot of homework to do tonight. Also my mom said we are supposed to get a good amount of snow because she works for Constellation Energy/ BGE and has to work Storm Duty. I have a lot of studying i need to do for this test because it is my first test in Western Civilization and I didn't do amazing in Human Geography so this class will let me know if i can take honors next year.

2/10/2014: My laptop had a virus

Today in Western Civilization we finished learning about Egypt and we were told that we have a test on Wednesday. I couldn't type a lot of stuff because I didn't have my laptop since I might have downloaded a virus but not on purpose. We talked about all the main points in Ancient Egypt such which were geography, daily life, pharaohs, goddesses and gods, and pyramids. The geography was centered around the Nile. The Nile moves into a Delta which where the Nile meets the Mesopotamia. Also every July it floods and then in October there is rich soil. The Nile was used for drinking, irrigation, bathing, and transportation. The biggest break through back then was irrigation. The social ladder consists of Slaves and Servants, Farmers, Artisans, Merchant, Scribes, Soldiers, Upper class, Pharaoh.

2/7/2014

Today in Western Civilization we finished learning a bunch of information on Egypt. I learned that the Nile river flows from South to North and that 95 percent of people live within a few miles from the river because the land a little bit farther away is to arid to grow anything and live in that area. The Nile was huge provider to the people's lives and the people in Egypt learned to irrigate crops. The leader of Egypt was a pharaoh which is someone who is worshiped as a god and can supposedly speak to the gods. He is also supposed to keep them happy if there is ever a drought or a plague the pharaoh can be over thrown because the people believe that he has angered the gods or the pharaoh will pass down his power to his son. There were not many women who were ever put in charge. When everything was going right and the people had enough food and believed the gods were happy they called it "maat." The people viewed the gods as a combination of strong animals and humans.

2/4/2014: LO3

Land of the Pharaohs: Egypt

• The Nile and the "Two Lands"
• Upper Egypt 
• a narrow strip of fertile land
• five hundred miles in length and about twelve miles in width 
• located alongside the river as it flows across the North African desert
• Lower Egypt
• a delta 
• fan-shaped pattern of water ways
• formed by the Nile before it reached the sea
• pharaohs- the rulers of ancient Egypt 
• Government by a God-King
• "Hail to thee, O Nile, that issues from the earth and comes to keep Egypt alive! Hidden in his form of appearance, a darkness by day, to whom minstrels have sung. He that waters the meadows which Re created, in order to keep every kid alive. He that makes to drink the desert and the place distant from water: that is his dew coming down from heaven."
• Tending the "Cattle of God"
• Men and Women Under the Pharaohs
• Gods, Humans, and Everlasting Life 
• The Soul Declares Its Innocence
• The Writing of the Words of God
• hieroglyphs- the earliest Egyptian writing, in which pictures stood for whole words or seperate sounds of words.
• Calendars and Sailboats 
• Pyramids and Temples 
• pyramid- a massive structure with sloping slides that met at an apex, used as a royal tomb in ancient Egypt 
• The Rhythm of Egypt's History 

2/3/2014: Snow Day

Today in Western Civilization I was extremely tired but guess what I still had to come into school because Harford County felt the need to send us in to school for two hours. I only took a math test and was give math homework to complete. They decided to let us out at ten o'clock because of the snow even when the weather forecast called for about five inches of snow. It will probably keep snowing until around 4 so why on earth did they make us come in when we will still have to make up the day. I am annoyed I had to wake up early because even though we are leaving early I won't be able to get any sleep. Don't get me wrong I am happy to get out early but i would rather be sleeping at home. This day is almost over but I don't have a ride home so i don't know what I am going to do oh well.

1/31/2014: Notes

Before Civilization and the Prehistoric Era

• "If we reduce the time since the first humanlike species appeared (about 2.5 million years ago) to the period of a twenty four hour day the five-thousand-year era of civilization takes up less than the last three minutes."

• The Origins and "Ages" of Human beginning
• Paleolithic (Old Stone) Age- The earliest and longest period of prehistory, when humans used simple stone tools.
• Neolithic (New Stone) Age- The period of human history characterized by advances in stone tool-making and the beginnings of agricultural.
• The Hunting Gathering Way of Life
• The Agricultural Revolution 
• Agricultural Revolution, also called Neolithic Revolution- The shift from hunting and gathering food to a more settled way of life based on farming and herding that occurred gradually between 8000 and 4000 BC in much of western Asia, northern Africa, and Europe, and separately in other parts of the world.
• Climate, Skills, and Technologies
• Villages and Families
• polytheism- the belief in many gods or goddesses 
• Over many generations, the life of village communities and families came to be regulated by complex systems of tradition, custom, and authority, out of which the law and government of civilized societies would ultimately grow."  
• New Environmental Conditions 
• around 10,000 BC, the planet was warming and the ice sheet that covered much of the Northern Hemisphere began to melt and withdraw northward.
• southwestern asia emerged as a region with a mid climate, fertile soil, and a good water supply- key elements for cultivating crops.
• wild grasses that bore nourishing seeds flourished naturally in the grasslands above the river valleys of the region
• The Developments of Techniques for Domesticating Plants
• women of hunting and gathering bands, who were responsible for plant food, were probably the ones who noticed that the seeds of wild grasses could sprout into plants, and they began tending garden patches.
• by choosing to put back into the soil the seeds of those grasses that grew best and were easiest to harvest, cultivators helped breed (over many generations) wheat and barley.
• Tools were fashioned to make farming possible on a large scale, Stone-bladed holes loosened the soil for seeding, and flint-edged sickles cut the edible seeds from the stalks.
• The Development of Techniques for Domesticating Animals
• wild dogs were the first animals to be tamed- probably by the men of hunting bands.
• sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle were domesticated to provide meat, wool, skins, and milk.
• toward the end of Neolithic Age, humans began to use oxen for farming, along with a new tool- the plow. The oxen and plow made it possible to cultivate larger fields and feed more people.
• with the invention of the wheel, oxen were also used to pull carts and transport goods and people.
•   Villages and Civilization
• "Nurtured by a favorable environment and then toughened by harsher conditions, there grew up in southern Mesopotamia a new kind of society, so much more complex than the older one that today it counts as one of the world's first true civilizations."