Question

Using the Promethean board, please view the video "Assassin's Creed: The Secrets of Ancient Athens." Take notes on the clothes, architecture, and general life in ancient Greece. Then, write a prediction using the following questions: What do you think life was like in ancient Greece? What personality traits would these people need to survive? What might they value? [Submit in Canvas]

Answer 1

Notes on clothes, architecture, and general life in ancient Greece

Clothes
- Everyday garments were simple, loose, and made from wool or linen.
- Men: chiton (a tunic) and sometimes a himation (cloak) over it; short chitons for working or war, longer for formal occasions.
- Women: peplos or long chiton, often fastened with pins and belted at the waist; himation as an outer wrap.
- Footwear: leather sandals were common; many people went barefoot at home.
- Jewelry and decorative pins were used by wealthier people; dyes and patterns showed status.
- Soldiers wore bronze armor: helmets (often Corinthian style), breastplates, greaves, and carried large round shields (aspis/hoplon).
- Clothing was functional for warm Mediterranean weather but also indicated social role and wealth.

Architecture
- Temples and public buildings used three main column styles/orders: Doric (simple, sturdy), Ionic (slender, scroll capitals), and Corinthian (ornate, leafy capitals).
- Temples (e.g., Parthenon) built with stone and marble, with columns, pediments (sculpted gables), and entablatures.
- Public spaces included the Agora (market and civic center), stoas (covered colonnades for shops and meetings), and theaters built into hillsides for performances.
- Houses were often inward-facing with a central courtyard, small windows to the street, tile roofs, and rooms arranged around the courtyard.
- City walls for defense, harbors for trade, and roads connecting poleis; craftsmanship in stone carving and pottery decoration was advanced.

General life
- City-state (polis) structure: strong local identity (Athens, Sparta, etc.) with citizens participating in civic life (more in some poleis than others).
- Economy: farming (olives, grapes, grains), herding, fishing, craftsmanship, and extensive trade across the Mediterranean.
- Social roles: adult male citizens engaged in politics, military service, and public life; women mainly managed the household and family; slaves did much labor.
- Religion: polytheistic worship of gods (Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, etc.), temples, rituals, sacrifices, and many festivals (e.g., Panathenaea in Athens).
- Education: boys from wealthier families trained in reading, writing, poetry, music, and physical training (for military readiness); some vocational training for trades.
- Arts and public life: drama (tragedy, comedy), philosophy, public debates, athletic competitions (Olympics), and strong emphasis on physical fitness.
- Warfare: citizen-soldier hoplite armies and naval power (Athenian triremes); military service was an important civic duty.
- Values visible in daily life: honor, reputation, hospitality (xenia), excellence (arete), and respect for the gods and traditions.

Prediction (answering the questions)

What do you think life was like in ancient Greece?
- Life was communal and centered on the polis. Daily routines mixed work (farming, trade, crafts), religious practice, and social interaction in public spaces like the Agora. People experienced a lot of outdoor activity—markets, festivals, assemblies, and athletic contests. Wealthier citizens had more leisure for politics, arts, and education, while many others worked long hours in fields, workshops, or homes. Conflict and military service were common parts of life, so communities valued readiness for war and strong civic organization.

What personality traits would these people need to survive?
- Courage and physical fitness (for warfare and survival)
- Discipline and self-control (for military life and civic responsibilities)
- Resourcefulness and hard work (for farming, trade, and crafts)
- Social intelligence and rhetorical skill (to participate in civic life and negotiate)
- Piety and respect for tradition (to fit into religious and social norms)
- Loyalty to family and polis (to maintain social order and mutual defense)

What might they value?
- Civic duty and honor (protecting and contributing to the polis)
- Arete (excellence in both mind and body)
- Reputation and honor among peers
- Hospitality (xenia) and proper social conduct
- Beauty, order, and proportion (seen in art and architecture)
- Religious observance and favor of the gods
- Skillful craftsmanship and trade connections

You can copy/paste these notes and the prediction into Canvas for your submission. If you watched specific scenes in the video that showed particular clothing details, buildings, or daily activities, add one or two examples from those scenes to make the submission match what you saw on the Promethean board.