Ancient History Resources for Homeschool and Personal Study. This weeks topics: The First Olympic Games, Battle of Salamis, Hoplites, Democracy and Plato. Homer and the Iliad are found in week 10.

Ancient History is studied through the collection of archeological evidence, written records and oral stories or myths. Just because evidence shows a particular belief or custom was common at a particular time does not mean that everyone in that civilization shared that belief. When you study the topics for this week, you can either go deep on one topic for the week and skip the others or you can do a new topic each day. This outline is just a suggested pace, you can go slower or faster as needed. This outline is intended to provide you with a place to start. You will still need to do your own research.

Battle of Salamis

Homeschool Topics for Week 21

The First Olympic Games

Battle of Salamis

Hoplites

Democracy

Plato

Discussion Questions

The First Olympic Games

The First Olympic Games in 776 BC mark the beginning of the Classical period of Ancient Greece. The games took place every four years at Olympia. The most important contest was the Pentathlon in which each contestant took part in five sports: discus, javelin, long jump, wrestling, chariot races and running. Winners of all races were given an olive wreath. The Olympic Games were stopped in 393 BC and resumed in 1896 AD.

Battle of Salamis

The Battle of Salamis 480 BC was an underdog naval victory for the Greeks against the Persians. Once Greece was free from the threat of Persia, Athenian culture blossomed. Some say that this battle changed the course of Western civilization because it stopped Xerxes's efforts to control the area and gave confidence to other Greeks to revolt against Persian rule.

Hoplites

The Hoplites were not professional soldiers. They were free citizens who could provide their own weapons and armor. This equipment was handed down in families. Athenians were exempted from service as hoplites after age 60. Spartan soldiers never retired.

Democracy

Democracy was invented by the Greeks. Athens was a city-state governed by it's citizens. Only free-born adult males could be citizens. This new system of government was instituted to end the feuds between nobles. The Assembly was the group of citizens who decided if the city-state would go to war. Anyone could speak at the Assembly. Males voted by raising a hand or writing on a pottery shard and throwing their vote in a large jar. All citizens could serve on juries to judge criminals. Some juries had between 201 and 2500 members. The citizens voted guilty or not guilty.

Plato

Plato was the son of a prominent Greek family. His name is a nickname and we aren't sure what his real name was. He was the devoted follower of Socrates. He was sold into slavery later in life and rescued by another philosopher. His writings do not try to portray facts accurately the way a historian would but to create a dialogue between real or imagined people who are exploring true principles.

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