1 Homer probably lived around 725 b.c.

, but his works have roots in the civilization that had flourished in Greece a thousand years earlier. Why is Homer credited with this work, when the stories had already been present for nearly a millennium? He gave name to character, and allowed them to have characters to relate to within the stories. Also providing evidence to the collapse of two previous civilizations. 2 Scholars call the palace builders and their civiliza-tion Minoan(mih-NO-un), after King Minos of later Greek myth. He was supposed to have ruled a great sea empire from his palace at Knossos. For having ruled a great sea empire, how did this civilization disappear and not continue to flourish? As stated in the book, it is believed that part of it was wiped out by a violent volcano eruption around 1600 B.C. The rest potentially being conquered and destroyed by invasion around 1500 B.C. 3 Homers poems shaped Greeces national identity by praising its heroes and by looking back toward the glory days of the Mycenaeans. Why is it that a series of poems were made out to look back on the glory days of the Mycenaeans? During the time, it was taken that these epics were factual, there was no question about the gods existence and the events that took place. 4 The Archaic era laid the groundwork for much of lasting importance in Western civilization. How did the Archaic era of Greece lay the groundwork for lasting importance in Western Civilization? Through the growth of individualism and the community, whether through great times or hardship and established an origin for multiple government forms. 5 An observer of ninth century b.c. Greece would hardly have predicted greatness of that poor, illiterate society of small settlements and low-level trade. How did a did Greece manage to flourish out of these conditions from the beginning? As stated in the book, perhaps following examples of the Phoenicians, they established trade in Syria, the edge of the trade caravan from Mesopotamia, and various other locations. Making usage of the Phoenician alphabet as well. 6 Hoplites were amateur soldiers. Most were full-time farmers outside the fighting season, which lasted only for the summer months. Th e notion of the farmer-soldier, independent and free, would have a lasting impact on Western political thought. How would the idea of the famer-soldier effect Western political thought? Maybe because they were no longer just famers, they were soldiers, albeit amateurs, they were armed and had a degree of power now as well. 7 During the seventh and sixth centuries b.c., all the major Greek poleis except Sparta became tyrannies. Why is it that Sparta was able to not come under tyrant reign when all others have failed? They were not a city-state for change, and their laws were thought to be given all at once by Lycurgus. Sparta was one of the most conservative societies of the time.

8 Th is realism, however, was expressed within limits, for the favorite subject of Archaic sculptors was not ordinary people but idealized, beautiful youth. The goal was to show people not as they were but as they might be. Why is it that they wanted to depict what things might be as opposed to what they actually were? Maybe trying to give themselves what they perceived to be perfect, or perfect in the eyes of the gods. Or perhaps just trying to model themselves after what they believed the gods appearance might be. 9 As in other ancient cultures, so in Greece, divination was an important element of religion. Divination was institutionalized in oracles, places where a god or hero might be consulted for advice. Why is it that the Ancient Greeks did not believe in divination institutionalized in kings and ruler type figures? Rulers seemed to change out relatively frequently and how can someone who seized control be appointed by the gods? 10 . Yet Solons work also had an unexpected byproduct: the growth of slavery in Athens. How could a city that was so involved with freedom, individual development, and citizenship advocate slavery? As much of the south did during the earlier half of this countrys history, little thought was given to liberties and privilege of others. Just a matter of work needed to be done, and they did not want to have to pay for the work to be done. Such was the time.