Geography and Early Greek Civilization In this lesson, students will identify characteristics of Greece’s geography and its impact on the development of ancient cultures. Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms and concepts: The Geography of Greece Geographic Effects on Greek cultures Polis E. Napp

Greece is mountainous. E. Napp

Greece is a mountainous peninsula with islands. E. Napp

The Geography of Greece Ancient Greece consisted of a large mountainous peninsula and islands in the Aegean Sea. Its hilly terrain made farming difficult Its location encouraged trade. E. Napp

Mountains separated Greek cities. E. Napp

The Effects of Mountains Greece’s mountainous terrain separated the ancient Greek cities. As such, the ancient Greeks never developed a unified system of government. The ancient Greeks developed the polis or city-state. E. Napp

The Greeks lived in separate city-states. E. Napp

The Polis Polis was the Greek word for “city-state”. A polis was an independent city and its surrounding farmland. Every polis had its own government and laws but the Greeks shared a common language and religion. E. Napp

The ancient Greeks farmed but it was difficult. Hills are not suited for farming. E. Napp

However, there is always the sea. E. Napp

Even today, the Greeks have access to the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea. E. Napp

The Seas Greece is a peninsula and islands. Seas surround parts of Greece. The Seas allowed the Greeks to travel and trade. Trade encouraged cultural diffusion. E. Napp

Trade and Cultural Diffusion The seas allowed the Greeks to depend heavily on trade. Trade encouraged cultural diffusion. The Greeks were exposed to the Phoenician alphabet and Egyptian geometry. E. Napp

Questions for Reflection: Why was it difficult to farm in ancient Greece? Why did the Greeks depend heavily on trade? List two geographic features and their effects on the Greeks. Why did the ancient Greeks never develop a unified system of government? Define polis. E. Napp