Page 36 - Key to Social Studies 5

During the development of the Minoan civilization, the Mycenaeans were creating small kingdoms on

high hills around Greece, but they all failed around 1000 B.C.E. and caused the Greek Dark Ages.

After the Dark Ages, Greece was on its way to recovery and expansion. Military leaders and in uential

people created small city-states, and they were called poleis.

Those leaders ruled these small city-states with absolute power, which meant that no one other than the

rulers or the elected citizens could have an opinion about the states’ decisions.

Sparta and Athens were two of the most powerful cities developed among the Greek city-states.

However, the cities did not have the same vision, and they both had their culture and beliefs.

Greece’s culture restricted most of women’s freedom; women in Greece, especially the rich ones, could

not leave their houses except for special occasions, and when they did, they had to have a man with

them.

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