It’s All Greek to Me!

Directions: The teacher shows the PowerPoint program, “It’s All Greek To Me” on a large screen projection while students follow along, filling in the blanks on the accompanying worksheet. Students try to guess the blank words. The teacher clicks on the blanks to have the words and accompanying sound effects appear. Students fill in the correct words. Students use the worksheet as a review for a test on the Greek vocabulary words.

This program was created by Marie Sontag mesontag@hotmail.com It may be freely used for educational purposes by credentialed teachers in a classroom setting. All other uses must obtain permission. Marie Sontag, 1999

Independent city-states such as A_____ and S_____. A p____ consisted of the city and its surrounding countryside. Some were large, such as Athens (1,000 square miles). Most were much smaller (many had less than 1__ square miles.)

thensparta olis

00

The fortified, h ___-ground area of a c___. The Acropolis usually overlooked the sea, so G_____ could easily see if they were being attacked.

igh ity

reeks

The f___ men of a p____. In Athens, only the citizens could take part in the government and vote. They all had to serve in the a____ and volunteer for jury duty. To qualify as a citizen, a man had to be b___ to Athenian p______.

ree olis

rmy

ornarents

A man born o_______ Athens, but who had come to live in Athens, usually to trade or practice a craft. M_____ had to pay taxes and serve in the army, if required. Metics could n____ become citizens. They had n__ say in government, could not own houses or land, and could not speak in a court of l___.

utside

etics

ot o

aw

Workers owned by the people. Some s_____ were skilled craftsmen. Their owners would sometimes set them up in a business, sharing the profits with the slaves. Some slaves saved up money to b__ their freedom. However, freed slaves could never become c______ or metics.

laves

uyitizens

This is a Greek word meaning “the b___ people.” The aristocrats were usually r___ landowners and were the ones who r__ the government.

est

ichan

This is a Greek word meaning “r___ by the f__.” The aristocratic form of government was called an oligarchy.

uleew

The aristocrats formed a c______ of rulers who made policies for the city-states, which were then carried out by magistrates. This council was called the A__________.

ouncil

reopagus

Archons were the m________ who carried out the policies of the A________ (council of aristocrats). The Archons were also a__________.

agistratesreopagus

ristocrats

This word means “r____.” By 650 B.C, trade had increased, creating a large middle class of merchants, craftsmen and b______ who wanted more of a say in the government, but couldn’t because they weren’t a_________. Occasionally, riots broke out between the middle class and the aristocrats or the p___ and the aristocrats. Strong rulers (t______) then arose who took over control of the government, taking away voting rights of the c_______.

uler

ankers

ristocrats

yrants

itizens

oor

In ___ B.C., a man named D____ was appointed by the citizens of Athens to rewrite their l___. The new laws were so h____ that a crime such as stealing food was punishable by d____. Ever since, harsh laws have been called “draconian.”

621 racoaws

arsheath

City-states consisted of a f__ rich people and a l____ number of poor people. Around ___ B.C., city-states also began to include a growing m_____ class. When the rich and poor fought with each other, the Greeks called this “s____” because things came to a standstill. Many states were weakened by it. One reason Athens and Sparta became so powerful is that they both managed to a____ much stasis.

ewarge 650

iddletasis

void

The Greek root words for democracy are demos¸meaning p_____, and kratos, meaning power or r___. Some city-states overthrew their t______ and adopted democracy, or rule by the people. In ___ B.C., Athens was the first city-state to introduce democracy. Under this system, all citizens had a s__ in the government of their city-state.

eopleule

yrants508

ay

After ___ B.C., the council drew up new laws and policies that were then debated in the assembly. The people of Athens descended from ten tribes, so 50 councilors from each t____ were chosen by l__, making the entire council a body of ___ c_______.

508

ribeot 500itizens

Under democracy, e____ citizen could speak and v___ at the Assembly, which met about once every ten days. At least _____ citizens had to be present for a meeting to take place. If too f__ people attended, special police were sent out to round up more citizens. The Assembly debated proposals which were then passed on to the Council. The Assembly could approve, change or r_____ the items drawn up by the Council. The art of debate and making persuasive speeches developed during this time period, because a persuasive speaker could s___ the votes of the people.

very ote6,000

ew

eject

way

Those accused of breaking a law went before a j___ of over 200 c______ to have their case decided. All citizens over 30 were expected to volunteer for jury service, and were paid for their loss of earnings while hearing a case. There were no judges or lawyers. Since m_____ couldn’t speak in court, it became popular among metics to hire good s_______ who were c_______ to speak for them.

ury itizens

etics

peakers itizens

Credits

“It’s All Greek to Me” was created by Marie Sontag and may be reproduced for classroom use only by credentialed teachers. Marie Sontag, 1999, all rights reserved. For more information, go to www.TimeTrek.org