Introduction to Ancient Greece

Geography Greece is a small country located in Europe Shaped like a hand with fingers that reach into the Mediterranean Sea Greece is a Peninsula (Land that is surrounded by water on 3 sides) Surrounded by the Ionian Sea to the west (left), Mediterranean Sea to the south and Aegean Sea to the East

Ancient Greece Map

Surrounding Bodies of Water

Geography Influence on the Ancient Greeks High Mountains kept ancient Greece communities isolated from one another Very little communication between Greek settlements (small communities or villages) Hard to travel by land, but easier to travel by sea Trade became essential to the development of Greek City-States Dangers (Storms, being attacked by pirates, and rocky shorelines)

Farming Most people in ancient Greece farmed despite the difficulties (Mountains, no major rivers, and very little rain) Needed to grow crops that used less land such as grapes and olives Produced a lot of Olive Oil for cooking, soap and fuel for lamps. Honey, Olive Oil, Wine, and Vegetable Gardens/Fruit Orchards. Raised sheep and goats (wool, milk and cheese)

Shortage of Farmland Because farmland was so scarce, warfare amongst Greek settlements was common. Had to look elsewhere for food Developed colonies (settlements in distant places)

Greek Colonies

Trading Ancient Greek Merchant Ships Sailed the Mediterranean Sea to help ancient Greece trade Describe an Ancient Greek Merchant Ship

Early Ancient Greece Minoan Civilization B.C.E. Located on the island of Crete Developed a broad sea trade network with Egypt, Greece, Sicily, Turkey Wrote on clay tablets Civilization ended with the possible invasion of the Mycenaeans from mainland Greece Mycenaean Civilization B.C.E. Mainland Greece Gained much of their power through trade and conquest. The Trojan War (10 year siege against the city of Troy) Two Epics (Iliad and Odyssey) by Homer Poems taught the Greeks what their gods were like and how the best of their heroes behaved. After the Trojan War, Greece entered the Dark Ages ( B.C.E.)