Context

Introduction

Ancient Greece, the splendid cradle of Western civilization, exerted an unparalleled cultural influence that extends to the present day. During the Classical Period (5th and 4th centuries BCE) Greece reached its cultural and political apogee with the dominance of the city-states of Athens and Sparta. This era was later followed by the Hellenistic Period (3rd to 1st centuries BCE). The Hellenistic period marks the spread of Greek culture across vast regions of Asia and North Africa, a phenomenon driven by the conquests of Alexander the Great.

The contrast between these two eras shows significant changes in politics, economics, art, and philosophy, marking the transition from Classical to Hellenistic Greece. Through the study of these eras, we can better understand the roots of critical thinking, democratic governance, the arts, and science.

A Bridge to the Present

The importance of Ancient Greece is undeniable. Our current democratic political system has its origins in Classical Greece, specifically in Athens, where adult male citizens had the right to participate in the decisions of the polis. Furthermore, Greek thinkers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle shaped Western philosophy, establishing the foundations for critical and philosophical thinking.

Hellenism, in turn, disseminated these Greek ideals and innovations across vast and diverse regions, influencing societies in Asia, Egypt, and Rome. This dissemination of Greek culture served as the bedrock for Roman culture, which in turn shaped the Western world. Thus, by exploring the theme of Ancient Greece, you will be delving into the foundations of our modern society.

Recommended Resources

For a complete and in-depth study, we recommend the following resources:

• The book "The History of Ancient Greece" by Claude Mossé.
• The History of Art website, with a section dedicated to Greek art from the Classical to the Hellenistic period.
• The BBC documentary "Greece: The Story of a Civilization", available on the Youtube streaming platform.
• The BBC Bitesize website, whose History content covers Ancient Greece.
• The book "The World of Athens" by Christian Meier, for a detailed view of Classical Greece.

Hands-on Activity

Activity Title: A Journey Through Classical and Hellenistic Greece

Project Aim

Throughout this activity, students will explore the defining aspects of the Classical and Hellenistic Periods of Ancient Greece, with a focus on political, economic, artistic, and philosophical elements. The aim is to develop a solid understanding of how Classical Greece evolved into the Hellenistic era and how these changes shaped modern Western civilization.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 members. Each group will be responsible for creating a multimedia presentation that explores in detail a specific aspect of the Classical and Hellenistic Periods (e.g.: politics, economics, art, or philosophy). The presentation should contextualize the topic, discuss its development between the two periods, and explore its influence on the modern world.

Materials Required

1. Computer with internet access to research the topic and prepare the presentation.
2. Materials for creating the multimedia presentation, which may include digital tools such as PowerPoint, Prezi, Canva, etc.
3. Recording device (can be a smartphone) to record the final presentation, should the group opt for a video presentation.

Detailed Step-by-Step Activity

1. Divide the class into groups of 3 to 5 participants.
2. Each group chooses an aspect (politics, economics, art, or philosophy) of the Classical and Hellenistic Periods to focus their research on.
3. Groups conduct comprehensive research on the chosen topic using the previously suggested resources.
4. Each group organizes the gathered information into a multimedia presentation. The presentation should include: Introduction to the topic, Detailed description of the topic during the Classical Period, Transition to the Hellenistic Period, Detailed description of the topic during the Hellenistic Period, and Relevance of the topic in the modern world.
5. The group can choose to record the presentation as a video or present it live to the class.
6. In addition to the multimedia presentation, groups must produce a detailed written report on the researched topic, following the report structure suggested in the project introduction.

Project Deliverables

Groups must submit two main deliverables for assessment: the multimedia presentation and the written report.

The multimedia presentation should be clearly structured, visually appealing, and feasible to be presented in a 45-minute class. It should be coherent and aligned with the written report.

The written report should follow the suggested report format and be between 5-7 pages long. It should expand on the ideas presented in the multimedia presentation in more depth and with scholarly references. The report should contain the following sections: Introduction, Development (detailed description of the topic during the Classical Period, transition to the Hellenistic Period, and detailed description of the topic during the Hellenistic Period), Conclusions (learnings and conclusions drawn from the project), and Bibliography.

The estimated time commitment for the project per student is between two to four hours and the submission deadline is one week after groups and topics have been defined.