Geography of Ancient Greece

This is a physical map of Greece. What do you notice? What is the absolute location?

Geography shapes settlement of people Couldn't settle in mountains No farming Had to settle in coastal plains and river valleys Isolated communities Effect: different govt. and ways of life

Peninsulas and Islands Peninsula: an area of land surrounded by water on 3 sides Greece is one big peninsula with many smaller peninsulas coming off of it. How will the geography affect the people living there?

Benefits of the Sea Since they couldn't travel over the mountains, Greeks used the sea to travel 3 main seas: Mediterranean, Ionian, Agean Became great ship builders and sailors Used the sea for food and trade What is the benefit of being able to trade with different groups of people?

First People of Greece Many cultures settled here 2 earliest: Minoans and Mycenaeans Minoans: built advanced society by 200 BC on the Island of Crete Mycenaeans: built towns on Greek mainland Both influenced entire Agean Region and shaped culture in Greece

Minoans One of best ship builders of their time Carried goods to eastern Mediterranean Traded wood, olive oil, and pottery for things like copper, gold, silver, and jewels Volcanoes nearby that can cause damage and affect life and may have led to the end of their civilization

Mycenaeans First to be considered Greek because they spoke the Greek language Lived on mainland and built many strong fortresses Mid 1400s, Minoan society declined and Mycenaeans took over Crete Became major traders Set up colonies in northern Greece and Italy and shipped goods to markets

Trade not always peaceful Would often attack other kingdoms and sometimes started war 1200s, society began to fall apart because of invaders from Europe Earthquakes destroyed many cities Period of warfare and disorder called Dark Ages