4 - Ancient Greece - Reason

The role that physical geography played in the growth and development of Greek civilization, city-states and the development of colonies and trade is explored in this unit. Students will gain knowledge of the legacy that the Greek civilization has had on modern arts, literature, government, science, and philosophy.

Taken From:http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/ancient-greece/images/a/a7/Acropolis.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100731200809

Image One - Ancient Athens

Key Concept

Systems - How do systems create control?

Related Concepts

Power, Perspectives - How do different forms of governance create a sense of power? Can the achievements of the different states be perceived differently?

Global Context

Identities and relationships - How are the identities of people different in Ancient Greece? What is the relationship between people and their environment as well as each other?

Statement of Inquiry

Government systems can favour the few or the many; they are shaped by significant factors and are evaluated from different perspectives.

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions: Remembering facts and topics

  • Why did Greece develop into city-states?
  • What were some of the “big ideas” in ancient Greece that has had a lasting influence in history to this day?
  • What were the features of the different government systems in Ancient Greece?
      • Oligarchy
      • Aristocracy
      • Tyranny
      • Monarchy
      • Democracy
  • What was the education in Athens and Sparta like?

Conceptual Questions: Analysing big ideas


  • How did Athenian democracy work in practice?
  • Why has the system known as “democracy” be held as a ‘shining beacon’ in human history?
  • Why did Athenian democracy ultimately fail?
  • Why did the educational systems in Athens and Sparta differ?
  • What links do the education systems of Athens and Sparta have to their systems of government?
  • How did these two Greek powers clash and what was the outcome?

Debatable Questions: Evaluating perspectives and developing theories

  • Could Athenian democracy last in the long term without changing its form?
  • How can we decide what is the "best" sort of education?

Useful Sheets - Unit Outline

Google Document

Approaches to Learning - Ancient Greece

Google Document