Ancient Greece Chapter 5

I. Greek Culture and Geography In ancient times Greece was not a united country Polis – A city and all its surrounding countryside Each polis acted as their own country

A. The Sea Shapes Greek life just as rivers shaped early civilizations All Greeks lived within 85 miles of the sea Water links all of Greece together Greece has poor natural resources but was able to create a vast trade network

B. The Land 75% of Greece is covered by mountains Made it impossible to unite the Greeks under a single government Every city ruled itself independently from other cities

Modern Greek City

C. Mycenaean Civilization 1st civilization in Greece Mycenae – Civilization developed around this leading city Linear B – Mycenaean writing Important because Western Civilization has roots in Greek civilization

D. Trojan War 1250 BC – Troy soldiers(Paris) kidnapped, the Mycenaean King’s wife, Helen of Troy Greeks fought a ten year war with the city of Troy Famous Trojan Horse 1872 – Historians discovered the site of ancient Troy

Trojan Horse

E. Epics of Homer Dark Ages – 400 year period in which Greeks did not write from 1150 BC to 750 BC Homer – Author whose books ended the Dark Ages

F. Homer’s Books Most famous books 1) The Iliad 2) The Odyssey Greek hero Achilles, covers the final weeks of the Trojan War 2) The Odyssey Greek hero Odysseus, tells the story of his return home from the Trojan War

G. Importance of Books 1) Greeks started writing again 2) Detailed a code of conduct for all Greeks Fight hard Obey commanders Praise the gods 3) Books were read at public readings and became textbooks at Greek schools

H. Greek Myths Myths – Traditional stories about gods and goddesses Used by Greeks to answer the mysteries of nature Zeus – Ruler of the gods who lived on Mount Olympus

King of the Gods