F.+Greek+v+Greek


 * Part 1: **You will be creating a representative // City-State Flag // for your chosen neutral polis. (see  //  example below)  //


 * Step 1: Introduction ** - Look at the pictures below and read the text for a background on this assignment.




 * Athens: ** Athens is located in south-central Greece on a large plain surrounded by mountains, and lies about four miles from the [|Aegean Sea]. Because of Athens' proximity to the sea, it developed strong trade relationships with other city-states, allowing it to become powerful and prosperous. During the fifth century B.C.E., Athens secured its powerful trade status by constructing the [|Long Walls]. These two parallel walls stretched for four miles, connecting Athens with its port city [|Piraeus], and thus ensuring the safe transport of trade goods inland from the coast. Another major Athenian economic asset was silver - obtained from the silver mine of Mt. Laurium - which helped finance the Athenians' social and military programs.

By the early 500s B.C.E., Athens had become the most important Greek city-state, primarily for two reasons: its democratic form of government, and its strong encouragement of the arts. Most free male Athenian citizens could vote and hold public office. Talented people from throughout Greece came to Athens to learn and study in various artistic fields. the best artists, architects, and writers came together in this unique, [|cosmopolitan] city that became noted for its beauty and splendor.

In the early fifth century B.C.E., invasions from the [|Persian Empire] severely threatened Athens' independence and prosperity. After defeating the Persians in 479 B.C.E., Athens put together an alliance - called the [|Delian League] - of numerous Greek city-states that would serve as a mutual defense pact against future Persian aggression. Over time, as Athens grew more powerful, it became the dominant member of the alliance. League members paid an annual tribute to Athens in exchange for Athenian protection. Eventually, Athens used these resources to create a naval empire in the Aegean Sea and to fight its major enemy during the latter part of the fifth century B.C.E.


 * [[image:PeloponnesianWarPic.jpg]]Sparta: ** The city-state of Sparta was located in the southeastern part of the Greek region known as the Peloponnesus. The city sat on the northern tip of a plain, between high mountain regions to the east and west, and about 25 miles from the sea. Sparta's location on a fertile and rain-nourished plain enabled it to develop a strong farming economy. Though based on fertile land, this farming economy was also a product of cheap forced labor. A large class of serfs called [|helots] (pronounced HEH-lots) farmed the land and allowed the free Spartans to concentrate their efforts on other pursuits.

Sparta rose as a powerful city-state on the basis of its strong and stable [|oligarchic] government and its militaristic lifestyle. All male citizens were required to perform full-time military service. This well-trained, full-time army enabled Sparta to be the dominant military power in southern Greece for several hundred years. In addition, it helped ensure that the helots would not rebel against the Spartans. In contrast to Athenian society, the Spartans' lifestyle was rigid and anti-intellectual. Spartans scorned wealth, splendor, and the arts: even during the height of their prosperity, they continued to build only wooden houses, and erected very few public monuments.

During the sixth century B.C.E., Sparta became the most prominent and powerful city on the Peloponnesus. Around 550 the Spartans became leaders of an alliance of Greek city-states that created a powerful, united force against all its enemies. The alliance - called the [|Peloponnesian League] - helped Athens defeat Persia during the Persian Wars (490-479 B.C.E.). However, Athens' power and prestige continued to rise throughout the fifth century B.C.E. Sparta began to fear the spread of Athenian democracy to other city-states, which in turn might encourage Sparta's own helot class to rebel against the Spartan government. Thus, the Peloponnesian League began to seek ways to curb, or stop the growth of Athenian influence.


 * Step 2: Choose a City-State and Make a Flag ** - Read the article, Background Information on Neutral City-States.

Select one of the city-states from your reading above and create a flag on a piece of printer paper. You might need to do some additional research on your city-state. Use Infohio, Wikipedia, an online Google search of your neutral city-state, or Encyclopedia Britanica on the iPad (last resort, with permission).

When you draw your flag, include 5 of your city-state's characteristics. Do not draw any people on the flag or write any words. Below is a sample of a possible Spartan flag. Do not copy the sample flag or any component of the flag. Fill the page with your flag. You should explain the components of your flag (include information similar to example) on the back of your flag. Your explanation should be written in complete sentences, written neatly, with no spelling errors. Use colored pencil to complete your drawing. Papers completed in marker will not be accepted. Name on back.
 * FLAG DIRECTIONS **: BE SURE YOU READ AND FOLLOW ALL DIRECTIONS FOR COMPLETING YOUR POLIS FLAG



An excellent example- this one from one of your classmates: Syracuse