- Unit Question - What is power? Where does it come from?
- Historical Context - Ancient Greece, Greek Mythology and Philosophies, Homer’s Iliad and The Odyssey
- Final Assessment – Greek Democracy Speech (see Election Center tab)
Ancient Greece: In the Beginning
Before the time of a democratic Athens, or a conquering Alexander the Great, there existed a fledgling Greek society that remains shrouded in mystery. A time so mysterious, that it was often regarded by the Classical Greeks as a time constructed by myth more than by man. It was a civilization that appeared from nothing, building palatial city-states and expanding trade across the known world.
They conquered neighboring societies and waged wars that would become legend hundreds of years later. They were the Mycenaeans. A society that once ruled the Late Bronze Age of Greece, they promptly vanished from history and slowly faded into legend. Read more: The Rise, The Fall, and The Mystery

Greek Mythology and
Homer’s Iliad and The Odyssey
You will be assigned 1 of the 24 books (or chapters) that make up the epic tale of Homer's The Odyssey. Each of these books (or chapters) have been summarized and translated into English already. Your job is to tell the story of your book so the class can understand. This idea and assignment came from: Spark Notes: Homer's The Odyssey. If you need help or need an overview of the main characters this site will help.
Greek Mythology Resources:
(2021-2022 School Year) 6A & 6B- Extra History: The Trojan War History vs. Myth (Video)
- Timeline: The Lost City of Troy - Lost Worlds (Full Documentary)
- History Channel: True Story of Troy - Ancient War (Full Documentary)
- Ancient Discoveries: The Epic Siege of Troy (Documentary)
- Just for fun: Monty Python's Trojan Rabbit (from The Holy Grail movie)
- Spark Notes: Homer's The Odyssey
- The Odyssey Animation Video (funny)
- Shmoop: The Odyssey Summary & Video (funny)
- Video SparkNotes: Homer's The Odyssey: Part 1
- Video SparkNotes: Homer's The Odyssey: Part 2
- Video SparkNotes: Homer's The Odyssey: Part 3
- Quizlet: Homer's The Odyssey
- SparkNotes: Homer's The Odyssey Quiz
- CRASH COURSE: Homer's The Odyssey




Ancient Greece:
Rise of Greek City-States
TO BE A CITIZEN OF A CITY-STATE: The ancient Greeks referred to themselves as citizens of their individual city-states. Each city-state (polis) had its own personality, goals, laws and customs. Ancient Greeks were very loyal to their city-state. The city-states had many things in common. They all believed in the same gods. They all spoke the same language. But if you asked an ancient Greek where he was from, he would not say, "I live in Greece." If he was from Sparta, he would say, "I am Spartan." If he lived in Athens, he would say, "I am Athenian." And so it went. The city-states might band together to fight a common foe, but they also went to war with each other. There was no central government in ancient Greece. Each city-state had its own form of government. Some city-states, like Corinth, were ruled by kings. Some, like Sparta, were ruled by a small group of men. Others, like Athens, experimented with new forms of government. Five of the most powerful Greek city-states: Athens, Sparta Corinth, Megara, Argos. Learn more about each city-state from Mr. Donn's website: Mr. Donn's Ancient Greece website
Rise of Greek City-States Resources:
- Greek City-States and Athenian Democracy Video Lesson
- Ancient Greece Assignments - MrDowling.pdf (homework) Including: The Cradle of Civilizations WS, Homer WS, Sparta WS, Athens WS, Persia WS, & The Peloponnesian War WS
- Mr. Donn - Ancient Greece Geography Maps
- Ancient Greece 101 - An Empire of City-States (Video)
- CRASH COURSE: The Persians and Greeks
- See U In History: The Peloponnesian War (Video)

Democracy in Athens
Directions: Read p.304-317 in your My World History textbook and/or Vermont University: Athenian Democracy and answer the Democracy in Athens Discussion Questions in your COMP books:
Discussion Questions:
- What is democracy?
- What details show that Athens developed a system of democracy?
- Can you name other forms of government?
- How did Solon contribute to the development of democracy in Athens?
- How did Pericles change the practice of government in Athens?
- How was the democracy in Athens different from the democracy we enjoy in the U.S.A.?
Greek Philosophy &
Democracy during the Golden Age
(Classical Period)
The Classical Period or Golden Age of Greece, from around 500 to 300 BCE, has given us the great monuments, art, philosophy, architecture and literature which are the building blocks of our own civilization. Read more: Travel Guide: History of Greece
Greek Philosophy & Democracy during the Golden Age (Classical Period) Resources:
- Ancient Greek History PPT
- What the Ancient Knew Video (Science, Math, & Philosophy)
- Ancient Greeks: The Revolution of Democracy | History Channel Documentary (Video)
- History Channel: The Ancient Greeks - Golden Age (Video)
- Soft Schools: Greece Quiz
- Greece Practice Test
- The Greeks - Socrates Video
- On Trial: Great Speeches Socrates "In His Own Defense"
- Socrates Trial Quiz
- Comparing Athens to US Democracy.doc (classwork)
- Greek Governments Worksheet.docx (classwork)
- Decline of the Greek City-States Video Lesson


Alexander the Great and his Empire


Alexander III of Macedonia streaked like a meteor across the ancient world. When he was
only 20, he inherited an empire that included the kingdom of Macedonia and the city-states of Greece.
Almost immediately, Alexander set out to conquer the Persian Empire, which stretched from Egypt to
India. He achieved his dream by the time he was 30, but he died just a few years later.
Directions: Read p.334-337 in your My World History textbook and/or use the Alexander the Great and his Empire resources to complete:
- Philip of Macedonia History
- CRASH COURSE: Alexander the Great
- Epic History: Alexander the Great Documentary
- History Channel: Alexander the Great "All Time Greatest Commanders" Documentary
- Alexander the Great "Engineering an Empire" Documentary
- 10 Facts about Alexander the Great (Short Video)