9th Grade

Subject: Global History and Geography I

Unit 3: Ancient Western World
Content Standards:
9.3a: Geographic factors encouraged and hindered a states/empires expansion and interactions.
9.3b: Empires used belief systems, systems of law, forms of government, military forces and social
hierarchies to consolidate and expand power.
9.3c A period of peace, prosperity, and cultural achievements can be designated as a Golden Age.
9.3d: Political, socioeconomic, and environmental issues, external conflicts, and nomadic invasions led
to the decline and fall of Classical empires.
9.4a: Afro-Eurasian trans regional trade networks grew across land and bodies of water.
9.4b: New technologies facilitated and improved interregional trade during this era by allowing people
to traverse previously prohibitive physical landscapes and waterways.
9.4c: Interregional travelers, traders, missionaries, and nomads carried products and natural resources,
and brought with them enslaved people and ideas that led to cultural diffusion.
9.4d: Control of Transregional trade and economic growth contributed to the emergence and expansion
of political states.
9.5a: Following the fall of the Roman Empire, divergent societies emerged in Europe.
9.5b: Political states and empires employed a variety of techniques for expanding and maintain control,
and sometimes disrupted state-building in other regions.
9.5c: Periods of stability and prosperity enabled cultural, technological, and scientific achievements, and
innovations that built on or blended with available knowledge, and often led to cultural diffusion.
Compelling Question:
Examine how modern civilizations have used the foundations from the Ancient Western lands.
Content Outline:
I.

Ancient Civilization of Greece

A. Geography
1. Located in Europe and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea
2. Very mild climate
3. Divided by mountains
B. Effects of Geography
1. Mild climate encouraged the Greeks to enjoy the outdoors
2. Mountains prevented the Greeks from uniting and forced them to form
isolated city- states (Polis = city state)
3. Governments differed from each city-state
a. Monarchy: Monarch rules and power is hereditary
b. Aristocracy: Aristocrats or landowning elite rule
c. Oligarchy: a few citizens, who control the military, rule
d. Democracy: every citizen participates

In Greece there were 2 major city-states: Sparta and Athens.

SPARTA

Located in the South of Greece

Their whole society evolved around the military. They had many slaves called
helots that worked the land. To keep them in line, Sparta figured it had to be as
cruel as possible.

All men served in the army and all women were expected to give birth to healthy
sons
Since the military life was stressed, new ideas and the arts were discouraged. If
you belong to the army or even play on a team, does the leader or the
coach stress for you to care about yourself or your squad? In Sparta, people
were taught that the city-state came first
(Tell them that unhealthy newborns were left to die, at the age 7 boys entered the
military forever, they had a strict diet, cold showers, etc., at 20 they could marry
but had to sleep with the other soldiers and at 30 could leave to live with their wife
but had to still be in the military. Girls had to strengthen their body so that they
would produce healthy sons and manage the home while their husbands were
gone)
Sparta didnt care about anyone else, so they decided to isolate themselves from
the rest of Greece.

Athens
The biggest contribution that Athens had was the introduction of democracy. What is democracy? Democracy is when
you have people participate in the government rather having a dynasty or a single ruler. Every citizen could vote on
different government issues. The only catch was that the only people at could be citizens were male Athenians. Women,
Slaves and foreigners could not participate in government

C. Sparta
1. Ruled by an oligarchy
2. Whole society revolved around the military

All men served in the army

Age 7:Boys went into military (strict diets, taught to
be tough, sly and cruel)
Age 20: Could marry but had to sleep in barracks
with other soldiers
Age 30: Could live at home but was till part of the

D. Athens
1. Biggest Contribution was the introduction of democracy
Athenian Democracy (Direct Democracy)
American Democracy
No Executive Branch
President is Head of Executive Branch
Legislative: Laws proposed and voted
Legislative: Elected representatives
on directly from citizens
propose and vote on laws
Citizens: males over 18
Citizens: Both genders either born in
US or naturalized

Persian Wars (500 B.C. 479 B.C.)This occurred when Persia (show map- Asia Minor) tried to come and invade the
city-state of Ionia.
The other city- states rallied to the side of Ionia against Persia, including Sparta.
Why? (wanted to get rid of outside threat)
What were the 2 major city- states in Greece? Athens and Sparta Which one had
the military? Sparta So while Athens tried to build up a military, the Spartans went
to become the major force that would stop the Persians. The Spartans were getting
walloped, they were getting murdered, but they were holding up the Persian
attack. In comes Athens. Athens had a fresh army and took care of whatever was
left of the Persian army. Who do you think became the hero of the Persian
War? Athens. Who did most of the work? Sparta Because of the war, Athens

takes all the credit of defeating the Persians and assumes itself as the most
powerful and influential city-state. They formed the Delian League or an alliance of
city-states, to prevent another attack form Persia. Athens assumed the head of this
League. How do you think Sparta felt about this?
Under the leadership of Pericles, Athens entered a Golden Age What do you think
the term Golden Age means? In the Olympics, what do you think that the medal
gold represents? The term golden means the height of a society. During that time
many buildings were built and the best artists, writers and thinkers came to
Greece. What is a thinker? What is another name for a thinker? Can you
name any famous philosophers? Read excerpt on page 117 on Socrates
conversation with Euthyphro.
Remember how we said that Sparta felt about Athens? Well the hatred built as time
went on and as more people resented Athens for its boasting. Sparta finally took
action and formed the Peloponnesian League to combat the Delian League. In 431
BC -401 BC Sparta and Athens went to war and this was called the Peloponnesian
War. The Athenians could not stop the hatred and the resentment of Sparta and
they were defeated. But since the war was so horrible, no city-state came out on
top. So now you don't have a superior city-state that everyone could look up to.
In 338 BC the King Phillip of Macedonia (North of Greece- See map) took over all of
the Greek city- states. His son became the next king and he was one of the most
powerful rulers that have ever lived. His name was Alexander the Great (tell
the story of how he calmed a horse down by turning it away from its
shadow). He conquered all the land from Macedonia (including Greece, Egypt,
Persia) to the ancient civilization of the Indus River Valley. This was in fact a GOOD
thing for the Greeks because Alexander likes the ideas and accomplishments of the
Greeks. So he spread the Greek culture throughout the land that he conquered. So
Alexander, even though he ruled over the Greek city-states, he helped spread the
culture of the Greeks, more than anyone else. This period that the culture was
spread by Alexander is called the Hellenistic Age

(338 BC- 323 BC). Some of the effects even included the expansion of rights of women.
II.

Golden Age of Athens (460 BC- 429 BC)

A. Philosophy:
1. Stressed reason over tradition

2. Socrates: Socratic Method

3. Plato: Believed that womens talents could be equal or superior to
men
4. Aristotle: Believed in the power of Education
B. Architecture

1. Everything should be perfect and proportional Columns were often

used
C. Art

1. Human anatomy was stressed so subjects were shown as perfect

D. Literature

1. Dramas (Homers Iliad) and Comedies (Satires or mockeries)

E. History

1. Herodotus: Father of History

F.

Medicine

1. Hippocrates: Father of Medicine (Hippocratic Oath)

G. Math

1. Pythagoras
H. Mythology

III.

Decline of the Greeks

A. Persian Wars (500 BC- 479 BC)
1. Persia invades Greece. Sparta leads the defense while Athens builds an
army
2. Athens enters towards the end of the war and takes credit for the victory
B. Peloponnesian War (431 BC- 404 BC)
1. Due to resentment and competition, Sparta and Athens go to war. Athens is
defeated.
C. Macedonia
1. In 338 BC, Phillip of Macedonia conquered all of the Greek city- states
2. His son, Alexander the Great, conquered an Empire that spanned from
Macedonia to the Indus River Valley
3. Hellenistic Age (338 BC- 323 BC)- Alexander spread Greek culture
throughout the Empire

Greek Philosophy:
"A NEW VIEW OF HUMAN BEINGS"
PHILOS [wisdom] + SOPHOS [love of] ------> PHILOSOPHY [love of wisdom]
GOALS OF PHILOSOPHY:
1. Search for the "truth" and for the nature of the universe.
2. Establish a set of beliefs by which to live.
PROBLEM:
How do you give human beings the greatest amount of freedom and at
the same time, preserve law and order in the society?
Freedom of the individual ----------------> ? <----------------- interests of society
fair balance
SOLUTION:
Each individual had certain personal rights which could not be withdrawn
by any government. No citizen was above the law, yet all men
participated in making the law.
WHY?
Man in unique because he could REASON! ! !

Socrates:
* "Know thyself!"
* Knowledge of oneself is more important than knowledge of the world.
* Each person will arrive at "the truth" through careful thought [use reason!]
* The Socratic Method --> questioning and answering and more questioning to find the
truth.

Plato:
* "Truth is not found in the things you see."
* What is the meaning of justice?

The Republic- concept of the "ideal state" [utopia] with a philosopher-king, the best
type of ruler.

Aristotle:
* "Before we can know anything about a subject, we must classify and systematize all
the
facts available.
* Moderation in all things.
* Stressed self-control and self-reliance.
Logic.
* "Scientific Method."
The Roman Empire
The Geography of Italy/Roman Empire
Italy is a peninsula
Apennine mountains- divided east and west
Had ideal land for farming
Rome- only 18 miles inland from the Tiber River- safe from pirates
People of the Roman Empire
Indo-Europeans
Latins
Greeks
Etruscans
The Roman Republic
After the fall of the Etruscan influence the Romans established a republic
Republic- the leader is not a monarch and some citizens have the right to vote
War and Conquest
Rome was surrounded by enemies
Continuous warfare for 200 years
Romans went against Apennines who settled in Rome
Conquest gave the Romans control over a large part of the Italian Peninsula
When Romans went against Etruscans- the gained the remaining piece of the Italian peninsula
Successful Strategies
Militarily they were accomplished and persistent
When one army failed another one was built
Political Structure
Originally it was ruled by kings under the Etruscans
Moved to a different form of government which included the plebeians and the patricians
Chief executive officers of the Roman Republic were the consuls and praetors
Had a Senate- 300 patricians who served for life
There was conflict between the patricians and plebeians
Code of laws: Twelve Tables

Roman Expansion
Issue with the state of Carthage which had a large empire which encompassed the coast of northern
Africa, Southern Spain, Sardinia, Corsica, and Western Sicily
The Punic Wars
First Punic War was fought against Carthage in 264 BCE
Started when Romans sent army to Sicily
Second Punic War was fought against Hannibal who wanted to try to take over the Romans
40,000 Romans were killed but Rome recovered
Third Punic War was fought with Carthage
Section 2: From Republic to Empire
The Decline of the Roman Republic
Senate became very powerful
The Senate directed wars in the third and second centuries
Growing Unrest
Senate was controlled by wealthy and powerful families
Bought small-peasant farm land and used the farmers for slave labor
Rise in the estates led to a decline in the number of small citizen farmers
Two brothers: Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus- came to believe that the basic cause of Romes problems
was the decline of the small farmer
A New Role for the Army
Marius- Roman general
Roman army was made of men who were landholders of small farms
Swore oath of loyalty
Lucius Cornelius Sulla- next army general
Went into Asia Minor
The End of the Republic
Crassus, Pompey and Julius Caesar had great military and political power
First Triumvirate- all three leaders were given different locations to rule over, and this caused issues
Second Triumvirate- Struggle over power. Three men: Octavian, Caesar and Antony
The Beginning of the Roman Empire
27 BCE- Octavian proclaimed the restoration of the Republic.
Octavian took the tile of Augustus the revered one
Senate gave him the title of imperator- commander in chief
Led an army
Stabilized frontiers for the Roman Empire
Augustan Age- when Augustus dominated the Roman world for 45 years
Section 3: The Early Roman Empire

Emperors of the Early Empire

Augustuss new political system allowed the emperor to select his successor from his natural or adopted
family
Nero- someone to watch out for
Pax Romana- power of emperor spread
The Empire Expands
Rome expanded
Emperors and the imperial government provided a degree of unity throughout the empire
Roman culture, Roman law, and Latin language spread
Greek was used in the east thanks to Alexander the Great
Economy and Society
Trade- Silk Road!
Separation between the rich and the poor
Roman Arts and Literature
After the Roman Empire conquered Greece, the Romans began to adopt many aspects of Greek culture
Romans spread Greco-Roman civilization throughout their empire
Engineered and constructed roads, bridges, and aqueducts
Life in the Roman World
Paterfamilias- male head of the household
Romans raised children at home
Upper class children were expected to learn how to read and write
Roman males believed in the weakness of females and that women needed to have male guardians
The Roman Empire and Christianity
Roman Religion
The official state religion of Rome focused on the worship of a number of gods and goddesses including
Jupiter, the chief god; Hera, the wife of Jupiter; Mars, the god of war; Venus, the god of love; Diana, the
goddess of the hunt; and Pluto, the god of the underworld. The Romans were tolerant of other religion as long
as the followers paid taxes and served in the army. They allowed the worship of native gods and goddesses
throughout the provinces. They even adopted some of the local gods.
Jewish Unrest
The Jewish people had considerable freedom in Hellenistic times, but Judea came under Roman rule by
6 CE. Reactions to that rule varied from a desire to cooperate to a desire to overthrow the Romans. The Jews,
who are monotheistic, clashed with the Romans over the Romans insistence that the emperor was a go. When a
revolt against Rome began in 66 CE, the Romans crushed the opposition and the Jewish temple at Jerusalem
was destroyed in 72 CE. Later, the Jews were expelled from Jerusalem in what is now known as the Diaspora,
or the scattering.
The Rise of Christianity
A few decades before the Jewish revolt, a man named Jesus traveled throughout Judea and neighboring
Galilee. He preached messages of humility, charity, and love towards other, ethical concepts that would help

shape the value system of Western civilization. He explained that he had come to fulfill the work of the prophets
and to bring the salvation that God had promised to Israel.
Jesus eventually became a controversial figure, and some opponents turned him over to Roman
authorities. The Romans disliked his pacifist teachings, and the Jews disliked his criticism of their practices.
The procurator, or the official in charge of Judea was Pontius Pilate. He ordered that Jesus be crucified. After
that event, his followers said Jesus had risen from the dead and appeared to them. They called Jesus the
Messiah, which means the anointed one and referred to the long-awaited savior of the Jewish people.
The Spread of Christianity
After the death of Jesus, his apostles carried the messages of his life and beliefs. These apostles, men
who had followed or been influenced by Christ, became leaders in the spread of Christianity. Among them was
Simon Peter, a leader of the apostles during Jesus lifetime. Another was Paul, who joined the movement later,
and who brought the message of Jesus both to the Jews and the Gentiles (non-Jews). He traveled throughout
Asia Minor and the Aegean establishing Christian communities. (The words Christ and Christian come from
Christos, the Greek term for Messiah).
Roman Persecution
At first the Roman paid little attention to the Christians. Later, however, they saw Christianity as
harmful to the Roman state, because the Christians did not worship to state gods or the emperors, who,
beginning with Augustus, were officially made gods by the Roman Senate. They tried to eliminate this threat
through systematic persecution. The Romans began persecuting the Christians during the reign of Nero (54-68
CE). He blamed them for a fire that destroyed much of Rome and subjected them to cruel deaths. In the second
century, persecution diminished. By the end of the reign of the five good emperors, Christians were a small but
strong minority in the Roman world.
The Triumph of Christianity
There were several reasons for the eventual rise of Christianity. First, persecution may have strengthened
the religion by forcing followers to organize themselves and establish a structure. This included the clergy (the
church and its leaders) and the laity (the church members).
The Christian message also had great power in contrast to the official state-based religion of Rome,
which was impersonal and existed for the good of Rome. The Christian message was personal and offered
salvation and eternal life to individuals. This poor and outsiders were drawn to its message of a loving god and
reward in heaven for good deeds.
The Christian belief system was also familiar. Like religious that had come before, it offered immortality
as the result of the sacrificial death of a savior-god.
Christianity also gave its followers a sense of belonging. Communities formed based on its values. In
addition, while Christianity appealed to all classes, its messages that all were equal in the sight of god was
especially compelling to the poor and powerless.
While some persecution still occurred in the third century, the growing force of Christianity could not be
denied. Constantine became the first Christian emperor in the fourth century. In 313 CE he made Christianity
equal to all other religions in Rome with the Edict of Milan. Under Theodosius, Romans adopted Christianity as
their official religion.
Content: Ancient Greece/Alexander the Great
Essential Questions:
How did geography impact Ancient Greece?
Why is Ancient Greece considered to be one of the founders of Western culture?
How did Alexander the Greats conquests lead to cultural diffusion?
Student Objectives:

Students will be able to describe how geographical features (mountains and waterways) impacted how
Ancient Greece formed.
Students will be able to identify how features of Ancient Greece (democracy) impact Western cultures.
Students will be able to examine the impact Alexander the Great had on Greece and on the Hellenistic
culture.

Enduing Understanding:
Athens
Sparta
Minoans
Mycenae
Polis
Democracy
Process:
Students will develop historical thinking skills through the use of: student generate timelines, graphic
organizers, and the reading of primary and secondary sources.
Metacognitive Questions:
How did the history of Ancient Greece impact the people of the time and how does it continue to impact
societies today?
Key Vocabulary:
Polis, Acropolis, Tyrant, Democracy, Oligarchy, Direct Democracy, Philosophy, Hellenistic Era
Content: Ancient Rome/Introduction of Monotheistic Religions
Essential Questions:
Examine the ways in which Rome transitioned from a republic to an empire.
Describe why one of the goals of the Roman Empire was to expand.
How did Christianity impact Ancient Rome?
Student Objectives:
Students will be able to determine how the geography impacted Rome.
Students will be able to identify the location of Rome.
Students will be able to describe the features of the Roman Republic.
Students will be able to examine the greatest achievements of the Roman Empire.
Students will be able to analyze the factors that led to the fall of Rome.
Enduring Understanding:
Republic
Pax Romana
Triumvirate
Monotheistic
Plebian
Patrician
Process:

Students will develop historical thinking skills through the use of: student generated timelines, graphic
organizers, and the reading of primary and secondary sources.

Assessment:
Students will have formative and summative assessments based on the New York State Standards and
Common Core Standards.
Common Core Standards:
RH.9-10.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary
describing political, social, or economic aspects of history/social science.
RH.9-10.7: Integrate quantitative or technical analysis (e.g. charts, research data) with qualitative
analysis in print or digital text.
RH.9-10.8: Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the authors claims.
WHST.9-10.2: Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events,
scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes.
WHST.9-10.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are
appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.