Ancient Greece World History I

Historical Background The island of Crete was home to an early civilization now called the Minoans. These people were traders, who set up posts throughout the Aegean world. The Minoan civilization vanished by 1400 B.C. WHY??? A sudden volcanic eruption Invaders called the Mycenaeans, who were the first Greek-speaking people An earthquake and huge wave

The Region enters a “DARK AGE” The Mycenaean civilization dominated the Aegean region from 1400 B.C. to 1200 B.C. The Region enters a “DARK AGE” Sea traders who lived in separate city-states. The Mycenaeans fought in the Trojan War against Troy, a trading city that controlled vital straits connecting the Mediterranean & Black seas.

Two epic poems of this era, attributed to Homer, enhance our understanding of this era. The Iliad tells about the Trojan War and the adventures of Achilles, the mightiest Greek warrior. The Odyssey tells about the struggle of the Greek hero Odysseus as he tries to return home after the war.

Geography The physical geography of the Aegean basin shaped the economic, social, and political development of Greek civilization. The expansion of Greek civilization, through trade and colonization, led to the spread of Hellenic culture across the Mediterranean and Black seas.

Questions How did the mountains, seas, islands, harbors, peninsulas, and straits of the Aegean Basin shape Greek economic, social and political development of patterns of trade and colonization?

Location and place WHI.5a Aegean Sea Greek peninsula, Europe, and Asia Minor Mediterranean Sea Black Sea, Strait of Dardanelles Athens, Sparta, Troy Macedonia Aegean sea—lies between the Greek peninsula and Asia Minor; often crossed to trade with other civilizations Begins on Greek peninsula and spreads into Europe and across to Asia Minor over time Mediterranean Sea—south of Greece; also crossed by sailors and traders; trade with places in North Africa and the Middle East Black Sea—route into Central Europe and Asia Athens, Sparta, and Troy—cities important to this unit; Athens most culturally advanced; Sparta = militaristic society; Troy trading partner across the Aegean Macedonia—to the north; Philip and Alexander come from here

Mediterranean Caspian Word Bank (some words will NOT be used) Mediterranean Caspian Yellow Red Aegean Black Italy Greece Russia Asia Minor Macedonia Egypt D G A F C E B H

Economic and social development WHI.5a Economic and social development Agriculture (limited arable land) Commerce and the spread of Hellenic culture Shift from barter to money economy (coins) Limited arable land—what does arable mean? Fertile What might the Greeks have done because of this? Needed to trade with other civilizations to get the supplies they needed; established colonies to furnish goods What is commerce? Trade, business, exchanging, and so on… Commerce led to the spread of their culture (called Hellenic; refers to early Greek civilization) Review: Explain a barter economy—system of trading one item for another. Introduction of coins—made from precious metals; each city-state minted their own coins with symbols unique to each

Coins What is pictured on the front side of the coin (on left)? Athena What animal is on the back side of the coin? Owl What do you think the symbols alongside the owl are? Greek letters Where might this particular coin have come from…which city-state? Athens

Political development WHI.5a Political development Mountainous terrain helped and hindered the development of city-states Greek cities were designed to promote civic and commercial life Colonization related to overpopulation and the search for arable land Mountains made it difficult for the peoples of Greece to unite as one political unit; therefore you have the development of numerous smaller political units called city-states The Greek word for city = polis Civic Life— Commercial Life— Colonization—what is colonization? Because the Greeks needed more land to sustain their growing population colonies were established all around the Mediterranean Sea

Greek Mythology Greek mythology was based on a polytheistic religion that was integral to the culture, politics, and art in ancient Greece. Many of Western civilization’s symbols, metaphors, words, and idealized images come from ancient Greek mythology.

Questions How did mythology help the early Greek civilization explain the natural world and the human condition? What impact did Greek mythology have on later civilizations and the contemporary world?

Mythology Greek gods and goddesses Based on polytheistic religion Explanations of natural phenomena, human qualities, and life events Greek gods and goddesses Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Aphrodite Symbols and images in Western literature, art, monumental architecture, and politics

This is a “PG” rated class 

Zeus Supreme deity of the Greeks. (Chief of all Gods). Mature man with a “flowing” beard. Grand dispenser of Justice. Palace was on Mt. Olympus with other gods.

Hera Jealous wife and sister of Zeus. Protectress of marriage and childbirth. Vindictive toward those whom Zeus fell in love with.