Ancient Greece Unit
Unit Overview:

The first new content unit of 8th grade Global Studies class focuses on the Ancient Greeks.  During this unit we will trace the group's earliest origins back to the Minoans and Mycenaeans.  Then we will try to understand their political organization as city-states and their rationale for becoming the first human civilization to use a democratic system of government.  War is an unfortunate aspect of life but the Ancient Greeks were no strangers to violence.  We will uncover the strategies and ramifications of the Persian Wars and the Peloponnesian wars.  Also, no discussion about Greece would be complete without exploring the incredible achievements and contributions that they made to science, math, literature, and art.  Finally we will wrap up the unit with a few lessons about Alexander the Great and his impact on Greece and beyond!