Today in class we watched a couple of videos about Baltimore and Los Angeles. The Baltimore video was pretty bad but the Los Angeles video was a lot better. We watched the videos because it was given us an idea of what we are going to do with our project. The videos were funny and enjoyable.

Today in class we did a review of Ancient Greece. We went over our notes and shared what we have. Devin was the teacher for the day and we told us what info we should have in our notes. I had most of the notes that was said in class. We made sure that we know the types of government and the difference between Athens and Sparta. Athens had infantry but Sparta had a navy.

Citiizens and Communities: The Greek City-State

Citizens and Communities: The Greek City-State
Acropolis-the high fortified citadel and religious center of an ancient Greek town.
The Greek city-states were first developed at exactly the time the Assyrians were reaching for power westward from Mesopotamia.
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, usually hereditary ruler (a monarch).
Oligarchy-a state in which supreme power is held by a small group.
Triremes-massive fighting vessels with 3 banks of oars, used to ram or board enemy ships.
Tyranny-rule by a self-proclaimed dictator (a tyrant).
Democracy-in ancient Greece, a form of government in which all adult male citizens were entitled to make part in decision making.
Sparta
The Spartans were the descendants of Greeks who had conquered part of the southern mainland, the territory of Laconia.
Helots-noncitizens forced to work for landholders in the ancient city-state of Sparta.
Athens
The Athenian homeland was the peninsula of Attica in the central region of mainland Greece.
Aristocrats-members of prominent and long-established Athenian families.
In the sixth century B.C., the Persians conquered a realm that stretched from the borders of India to the Nile and the Aegean.
The state covered the cost of official salaries by court fines, custom duties, an annual tax on aliens, and various sales taxes.
Ostracism-banishment for ten years by majority vote of the Athenian Assembly.
Aliens
The fifty thousand or so resident aliens were a very varied group.
Some were wealthy businessmen, or independent women.
Slaves
The hundred thousand or so slaves in Athens were also a very diverse group.
Not all of them live lives of total subjection and powerlessness.

Ancient Greece

Geography of Greece
Mountainous peninsula
-Mountains cover 3/4
Approximately 1,400 islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas
Location shaped its culture
Skilled sailors
poor natural resources
Difficult to unite the Ancient Greeks because of the terrain; developed small, independent communities
Approximately 20% suitable for farming
Fertile valleys cover 1/4 of peninsula
Because of geography the Greek diet consists of grains, grapes, and olives
Lack of resources most likely led to Greek colonization
Temperatures range from 48 degrees in the winter to 80 degrees in the summer
Mycenaens
Began around 2000 B.C.
Located on a rocky ridge and protected by a 20 ft. thick wall
Kings dominated Greece from 1600-1200 B.C.
-Controlled trade in the region
1400 B.C. Mycenaens invade Crete and absorbed Minoan culture and language
Culture in Decline
Around 1200 B.C. sea people began to invade Mycenae and burnt palace after palace
The Dorians moved into the war-torn region
-Far less advanced
-Economy collapsed
-Writing disappeared for 400 years
Known as the Dark Ages of Greek History
Homer and Myths
Stories were passed on by word of mouth
Homer lived at the end of the "Greek Dark Age"
Recorded stories of the Trojan War in The Iliad and The Odyssey written 750-700 B.C.
Trojan War was one of the last conquests of the Mycenaens
-Odyssey was 12,110 lines of dactylic hexameter

Today in class we had auditions for whoever could a teacher. We also went over some notes that we already learned. We just reviewed everything to make sure that we have all the information. The class was fun because we were teaching the info to other students and they made it go by fast.

Today in class we went over the test. We went over the answer and made corrections. I am happy with my grade but I thought I could get a better grade. We could keep the test because some of the info that was on the test could be on the final.

Building a pyramid

Today in class we played this game where we have to build a pyramid. It seemed fairly easy but everything you choose played a part on ho your pyramid went. It was hard because it was a lot of things you have to do to make it work. We had to complete the pyramid within the class period. It took me a couple of tries but I finally chose everything correctly and I finally was able to build a pyramid.

The First European Civilization: The Greeks

2200—400 B.C.

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.

Greece were innovators in warfare, developing methods of fighting by and sea after 500 B.C., enabled them to preserve their independence against the mighty kings of Persia

Barbarian-the distinctive way of life based on farming, warfare, and tribal organization that became widespread in Europe around 2500 B.C.

By 4000 B.C. farming and village life had spread throughout the continent.

By 3500 B.C. there were people in Western Europe who were numerous and well organized to construct ceremonial monuments.

Megaliths-massive rough-cut stones used to construct monuments and tombs.

Stonehenge was repeatedly rebuilt over a period of several hundred years, until it was finished about 2000 B.C.

Stonehenge consists of about 160 massive boulders, weighing up to 50 tons each.

Stonehenge is the most famous of megalithic structures was built by a farming and trading people in the west of England in 2000 B.C.

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 Greeks settled in Greece from about 2000 B.C. onward. Between 1200 and 800 B.C. The spread to islands and western coastlands of the Aegean Sea, Greeks continued to migrate across Europe and Asia from the western Mediterranean to the borders of India, but the Aegean region remained the center of the Greek world.

Short Answer

Three Technological Innovations or Inventions of the Ancient Egyptians
The three inventions are the wheel and plow, sailboats, and calendars. The wheel and plow allowed people to grow food so they can store it. Wooden sailboats were constructed to increase transport ability on the Nile. The calendar was made to make a sense of the seasonal cycles


Three Important features of the Egyptian Pyramids
Pyramids were massive stone tombs, originally covered in marble but the marble was later stripped off during the Muslim Conquest. The Great Sphinx of Giza was a pyramid that was built from 2555 to 2532 B.C. It is a recumbent lion with a human's head. The pyramid is the oldest monument statue in the world.

Essay

Describe the Social Hierarchy of the Ancient Egyptians
The hierarchy or social class of Ancient Egypt includes pharaoh, government officials-nobles, priests, soldiers, scribes, merchants, artisans, farmers, and slaves and servants. Most of these classes were held by men. Women would just take care of the house and children. The slaves and servants were at the bottom and pharaoh was at the top. The social class would be ranked like a pyramid. The highest class at the top and the lower class at the bottom.

Starting at the bottom, the slaves and servants would helped the wealthy with household and child raising duties. The farmers would raise wheat, barley, lentils, onions which benefited from irrigation of the Nile. Artisans would carve statues and reliefs showing military and scenes in the afterlife. The money/barter system was used by merchants. They might accept bags of grain for payment-later, coinage came about. Scribes kept records, told stories, wrote poetry, described anatomy, and described anatomy and medical treatments. Soldiers would use wooden weapons (bow and arrow, spears) with bronze tips and might ride chariots. The upper class was known as the "White Kilt Class" which include priests, physicians, and engineers. The Pharaoh was at the top, they were a religious and political leader. They hold the titles "Lord of the Two Lands and High Priests of Every Temple," they ruled upper and lower Egypt, owned all land, made laws, collected taxes, and defended Egypt against foreigners.

Some women dressed like men so they can become pharaoh. The Pharaoh was all powerful, worshipped as a god, and connected to other major gods and goddesses. The pharaoh was referred to as a god-king. Pharaoh had many wives some with their own sister. They all followed under these leaders and rulers. Women weren't big in Egypt as men were, only a few wielded real political power. They weren't apart of the high social classes. Some women could inherit money and land and even divorce their husbands.


Discuss the Importance of the Nile River in the lives of Egyptians
The Nile River was a major part of the geography of Egypt. It was much revered in lore and writing. The Nile River was surrounded by Egypt. It flows South to North. It is 4000 (4258) miles long. The Nile empties into the Mediterranean Sea.

The Nile is for drinking, irrigation, bathing and transportation. They can also use the Nile for trade.  Every July it floods. Every October it leaves behind rich soil which can be used for farming. The top of Nile is called the delta and it is a broad, marshy, triangular area of fertile soil. Managing the river required technological breakthroughs in irrigation.

 The Nile can be a life or death feature for the Egyptians. They can use it for water, food and feed for their animals. Without the Nile River there won't be a civilization in Egypt because it is all desert. The Egyptians would keep dates of when the Nile would flood so they can keep a record and be ready for when the next flood would happen. After the Nile floods they would be able to grow crops because of the fertile ground.

Today in class we watched a video that covered what we talked about in class. The video was about Egypt. The video may have a couple facts wrong had a lot of the same info we learned. We were going to have a test today but instead we watched a video to give us more info.

Today in class we went over our notes and studied for our test. We shared our notes with anyone to see if our notes are complete and accurate. We watched the videos over again to see if our notes are complete and that we have everything important written down.

Ancient Egypt

Today in class we talked about Ancient Egypt.
Geography
The Nile is for drinking, irrigation, bathing, and transportation.
Every July it floods.
Every October it leaves behind rich soil.
The Delta is a broad, marshy, triangular area of fertile soil.
Managing the river required technology breakthroughs in irrigation.
Pyramids
The Great Sphinx of Giza
Built 2555-2532 B.C.
A recumbent lion with a human's head.
Oldest monument statue in the world.
Daily Life
Pharaoh, Government, Officials-Nobles: Pharaoh was a religious and political leader.
Holding the titles "Lord of the Two Lands and High Priest of Every Temple."
Ruler of upper and lower Egypt, owned all land, made laws, collected taxes, and defended Egypt against foreigners.
Hatshepsut was a woman who served as pharaoh.
Cleopatra VII also served as a pharaoh 51-30 B.C.
Priests: upper class, known as the "white kilt class"-priests, physicians, and engineers.
Soldiers: used wooden weapons (bow and arrow, spears) with bronze tips and might ride chariots.
Scribes: kept records, told stories, wrote poetry, described anatomy and medical treatments.
Merchants: money/barter system was used-merchants might accept bags of grain for payment-later coinage came about
Artisans: would carve statues and reliefs showing military and scenes in the afterlife.
Farmers: raised wheat, barley, lentils, onions-benefited from irrigation of the Nile.
Slave and Servants: helped the wealthy with household and child raising duties.
Goddesses and Gods
Over 2000 gods and goddesses.
Sun god-Ra.
they "controlled" the lives of humans.

Egypt

Today in class we continued to talk about Egypt.
The Nile flows from South to North.
The Writing of the Word of God
The earliest Egyptian writing formed c. 3100 B.C. and were small pictures known as hieroglyphs.
They represented religious words, or parts of words, and most commonly adorned temples.
Hieratic script was a shorthand developed by scribes and priests.
Hieratic script was usually written in ink on papyrus, which was made from mashed Nile reeds.
Papyrus, the precursor to paper, was stored in scrolls and these scrolls, were the books of ancient Egypt.
Calendars and Sailboats
Egyptian astronomers, created a calendar with 365 days to make better sense of the seasonal cycles.
Egyptian doctors wrote extensively on health issues and created potions and cures for a number of common ailments because of their excellent knowledge of the human anatomy.
Wooden sailboats were constructed to increase transport ability on the Nile.
Pyramids and Temples
Pyramids were massive stone tombs, originally covered in marble but the marble was later stripped off during the Muslim conquest.
The temple of Amon at Karnak is the largest religious building in the world, also made out of huge blocks of stone.
The Rhythm of Egypt's History
Egypt's history is one of long period of unbroken stability punctuated with occasionally periods of turmoil and disruption.

Egypt

Today in class we talked about the Land of the Pharaohs and Egypt
The Nile and the "Two Lands"
Upper Egypt was 500 miles long strip of fertile land along the Nile
Lower Egypt was a wide land of the Nile delta, emptying into the Mediterranean Sea
The Nile was the major provider of life for the Egyptians and was much revered in lore and writing
3100 B.C. Egypt was united under 1 King or "Pharaoh"
Government by a God-King
Pharaoh was all powerful, worshipped as a god, and connected to other major gods and goddesses
"Maat"-Egyptians relied on a harmony and balance of the universe
Pharaohs had multiple wives even with their sisters, all routes to financial and social successes were trough the palace
Women could inherit money and land and divorce their  husbands
Only some women wielded real political power
Gods, Humans, and Everlasting Life
Gods were portrayed with animal heads or bodies
Egyptians believed in an after-life and mummified the bodies to preserve them for his post-death journey

Land of the Pharaohs: Egypt

Land of the Pharaohs: Egypt
During the Neolithic Age the people of the Nile had moved toward civilization.
The Narmer Palette-used for grinding makeup for divine images in an Upper Egyptian temple about 3100 B.C.
Egypt stretches along the lower reaches of the Nile's four-thousand-mile course from Central Africa to the Mediterranean Sea.
Egypt is divided into 2 sections called by the ancient Egyptians the "Two Lands"
Pharaohs-the rulers of ancient Egypt
The most successful of these rulers, Hathsepsut, reigned as a "king" shortly after 1500 B.C.
A book of "wisdom" (advice on the conduct of life was written about 1800 B.C.
Many Egyptian deities, tracing back from the Stone Age, were originally conceived. in the form of animals
Hieroglyphs-the earliest Egyptian writing, in which pictures stood for whole words or separate sounds of words
Around 700 B.C. an even faster shorthand, the demotic (popular) script came into use.
Papyrus scrolls (rolls) became the books of the ancient world
The Egyptians built larger boats by fastening wooden planks together to make the hulls.
By 3100 B.C. they equipped the boats with masts and sails to catch the wind
Pyramid-a massive structure with slopping sides that met at an apex, used as a royal tomb in ancient Egypt
The power of the Pharaohs first reached its height in the period as known to modern scholars as the Old Kingdom beginning about 2700 B.C.
About 2200 B.C. a series of weak pharaohs allowed local officials to gain independent hereditary power in in the regions that they controlled
Before 2050 B.C. Egypt remained in turmoil but after 2050 B.C. a dynasty from the up-river city of Thebes brought the whole country under its rule, to form the middle kingdom
Egypt was dominated in 3 different times: In 525 B.C. Egypt became a province of the empire Persia, from 333 B.C. it was ruled by the Greeks, and finally in 30 B.C. it was conquered by the Romans