Early Civilizations of Ancient Greece SS.A ; SS.B ; SS.B

The First Greek Civilizations Most city-states in ancient Greece were located in valleys and flat plains nestled between the peninsula’s many mountain ranges. Because of their relative isolation, these city-states developed independently of one another; with different cultures, traditions and ways of life.

Geography in Greece The independence of Greek city-states often lead to wars between them, in turn, devastating Greek society. The isolation, and small size of Greek city-states also cultivated an atmosphere of heavy civic involvement—almost everyone was interested in the politics of their city-state or region. Greece’s position on the coast, encouraged Greek exploration, and lead to Greeks colonizing areas across the Aegean, Mediterranean and Black seas.

Map of Greece

The Minoan Civilization 2800 B.C.: A Bronze Age civilization flourishes on the island of Crete (SE of the Greek mainland)—named after famous King Minos—with a capital at Knossos B.C.: Minoan civilization flourishes and establishes a sea empire based on trade. Sudden collapse of Minoans around 1450, usually linked to a Mycenaean invasion.

The Mycenaeans B.C.: Civilization named for city-state of Mycenae in southern Greece Indo-European people, who entered Greece from the north around 1900 B.C. Mycenaeans were a warrior culture, and held high ideals of heroism and honor Mycenaean city-states were monarchies

Mycenaean Influence Mycenaean influence spread, by way of trade, throughout the Mediterranean world Mycenaeans traded goods in places like Egypt, Syria, Sicily and Italy. Mycenaeans also conquered Crete and other islands in the Aegean Sea The Greek poet Homer, wrote about a war between Mycenae and Troy—a city-state in Asia Minor

The Trojan War King Agamemnon of Mycenae, leads a Greek force against the city-state of Troy The Trojan prince, Paris, took Agamemnon’s sister-in-law—Helen—back to Troy, and Greeks want her back Greeks sneak in to city, with a trick, and destroy Troy By 1100 B.C. Mycenae is conquered by other Greeks from the north

The Trojan Horse

The Greek Dark Age B.C.: Greece suffers from loss of population and declining agriculture Many Mycenaean Greeks left Greece for Ionian Greece, coastal regions of Asia Minor (today’s Turkey) Iron weapons replace Bronze weapons as war between remaining cities increases Adaptation of the Phoenician alphabet

From the Dark, Into the Light Two other groups of Greeks begin to establish city-states in different regions of the Greek mainland: –Aeolian Greeks: settle in northern and central Greece; including Athens –Dorian Greeks: settle on the island of Crete, other Aegean islands and the Peloponnese; including Sparta The poetry of Homer also dates to the end of the Dark Age

The Poetry of Homer Epic Poems: long poems telling of deeds of a great hero –Homer’s two famous epics: the Iliad (tells the story of the Trojan War) and the Odyssey (tells of Odysseus’ voyage home from war) Arete: the ideals of courage and honor, taught as something all young Greek men should strive for.

Homer

Home Learning Write three (3) paragraphs on how geography affected the development of Greek city-states, politics and culture.