Greece and Rome Refocused

- Unit 2. Ancient Greece, Cradle of Democracy
- Getting Started
  - What Are We Learning?
  - Observe and Think
  - Map Your Mind
- Ancient Greece, Cradle of Democracy
  - The Land of Greece
  - The History of Greece
    - Crete
    - Mycenae
    - Dark Age
    - Archaic Age
    - Classical Age
    - Hellenistic Age
  - Political Organization
  - An Unequal Society
    - Women
  - Economy
- Self-Evaluation Quiz
- Complementary Activites
  - The Greek and Latin Roots of English
  - One Myth, One Song
  - Games, Comics and Stuff
- References

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# Archaic Age

By the end of the 8th century BC, the Greeks adopted and modified the Phoenician alphabet. This made communication and writing easier. It is not by chance that Homer wrote the Illiad and the Odyssey at this time.

In this period, the Monarchy turned into an Oligarchy (oligos = few, archy = power, "the power of a few people"). The differences between the rich and poor were growing more and more. So, many people emigrated and founded colonies all over the Mediterranean Sea.

The figure of the tyrant was created with enough power to resolve social conflicts. Peisistratus was the most famous tyrant. People did not participate in the government of the city yet. (Click on the map to enlarge).

## Activity

Write on a blank map the name of the Greek and Phoenician colonies in the Iberian Peninsula according to the map above. Despite being a very good map, there are at least two colonies missing: Alonis (modern Villajosa) and Akra Leuké (modern Alicante). Add them to your map.

## Activity

Resumen textual alternativo
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