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Ancient Greece: An Introduction

Peloponnesus Peninsula Dardanelles Greek Areas Balkan Penn.

Geographic Introduction The Basics –Mountainous peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea –Approximately 1,400 islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. –Access to the sea helped with trade and travel

Geographic Impact-Land Mountains- Covered ¾ of the land –Positive Created natural defenses. –Negatives Land transportation and communication difficult –Kept lands divided, making it difficult to unite politically –Established small, independent communities with little interest in cooperating with each other. –Gave their loyalties to local city-states

Geographic Impact- Land Only 20% of land was farmable –Not able to support large populations Did not provide enough water for large irrigation systems Based diet on staple crops such as grains, grapes and olives Lacked natural resources (timber, precious metals, and arable farmland)

Geographic Impact- Seas Mediterranean, Aegean, Ionian and Black Seas were important trade routes Seas were known as “liquid highways,” which linked Greeks to other societies Overseas trading was essential to Greek life because of the lack of natural resources

–Became great sailors Traders for resources- spread their culture Seek colonies for more living space –Within sailing distance of Egypt and Mesopotamia. This trading led to the cultural, technological, natural resource, and craft exchanges. –Led to a shift away from the barter system (trading one good for another) to a monetary system. Geographic Impact- Seas

Geographic Impact-Climate Greece has a Mediterranean climate Winters are mild (48 degrees) and wet –Allowed for limited farming Summers are warm (80 degrees) and dry –Led to drought This supported an outdoor lifestyle for most citizens of Ancient Greece

Early Civilizations Minoans: –Emerged on the island of Crete around 2000 BCE. –First civilization in this area. –Brought ideas from Egypt and Mesopotamia. –Depended on trade. –Destroyed around 1450 BCE.

Mycenaeans: –Early Greeks on the mainland. –Their legacy survived in legends and formed the core of Greek culture

The Trojan War According to legend, Mycenaean Kings fought a ten year war against Troy because a Trojan youth kidnapped Helen, the wife of a Greek King Achilles, the fierce Greek, and Hector of Troy led the two opposing forces City of Troy fell because of the Trojan Horse

The Dorians The Dorians moved into the war torn country and burned down the kingdoms Economy collapsed and trade ceased Started the Greek Dark Ages ( BCE)- no written records of this time

Homer The greatest storyteller according to Greek tradition, is a blind poet named Homer Famous for composing his epics- The Iliad and the Odyssey The Iliad details the Trojan War The Odyssey details the ten year voyage home of Odysseus- Greek King of Ithaca

Rise of the City-States Mainland Greece settled around 1200 BCE By 750 BCE, Greece was dominated by city-states (polis) –Included the major city and the surrounding countryside (numerous villages). –Had approximately 200,000 people. –Unified by language, culture, and religion

–Citizens could take part in government Included free, landowning males Had political rights and responsibility of civic participation Gathered at the fortified hilltop (acropolis) to conduct business. Women had very few- if any-rights Citizens

Played a major role in Greek city-states. Had little political rights Worked as builders, miners, craft producers, farmers, and house servants Often were captives of war. Slaves

Greek Religion Greek religion is known as mythology –Based on stories that offered explanations of natural phenomena, human qualities, and life events –Gods were not a source of morals

Greek Religion The gods quarreled and competed with each other constantly Unlike humans, the Greek gods lived forever The gods were led by Zeus who lived on the top of Mount Olympus

Important Greek Gods Hera: Wife of Zeus, protector of marriage Zeus: Leader of the gods

Important Greek Gods (cont.) Athena: Goddess of wisdom and poetry Apollo: God of sun and poetry

Important Greek Gods (cont.) Aphrodite: Goddess of love Artemis: Goddess of the hunt

Important Greek Gods (cont.) Poseidon: God of the Seas Hades: God of the underworld

The Role of Gods Gods were seen as offering answers to life’s mysteries It was important to keep the gods happy Temples were built and festivals were held in their honor

The Role of Gods Gods were the center of Greek life with each city dedicating itself to one god or goddess (Athens = Athena). Starting in 776 BCE, Greeks got together every four years in Olympia for a sports festival to honor Zeus. –The first Olympics

What are the root words? Who rules and what powers do they have? How do they get power/what determines their power? What role do they people have? Good or Bad? Aristocracy