1. Ancient Greece Lesson 1 Geography of Ancient Greece

2. Vocabulary Peninsula Peninsula Harbor Harbor Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea Crete Crete Rhodes Rhodes Attica Attica Peloponnesus Peloponnesus Phoenicia Phoenicia

3. Read Aloud “The good Odysseus…spread his sail: seated he steered…Seventeen days he sailed across the sea, on the eighteenth he saw that he’d drawn close to shadowed peaks; he now was near the coast of [an] island; in the mist that land took on the likeness of a shield.” “The good Odysseus…spread his sail: seated he steered…Seventeen days he sailed across the sea, on the eighteenth he saw that he’d drawn close to shadowed peaks; he now was near the coast of [an] island; in the mist that land took on the likeness of a shield.” About 2700 years ago Greeks first began listening to the one above, of a poet named Homer. Homer’s stories about Odysseus helped the ancient Greeks imagine a distant age much different from their own. They also express the strong connection the people of ancient Greece felt with the sea (Banks, 2001, p.192). About 2700 years ago Greeks first began listening to the one above, of a poet named Homer. Homer’s stories about Odysseus helped the ancient Greeks imagine a distant age much different from their own. They also express the strong connection the people of ancient Greece felt with the sea (Banks, 2001, p.192).

4. The big picture China – 1500 BC – Shang Dynasty China – 1500 BC – Shang Dynasty Egypt – 1500 BC – Pharaohs building along Mediterranean Egypt – 1500 BC – Pharaohs building along Mediterranean Greece – a civilization 1000 years old Greece – a civilization 1000 years old Unlike others: Unlike others: –No great river –No silt –Instead Rocky landscape Rocky landscape Surrounded by the sea Surrounded by the sea

5. Mountains and Seas Southern European mainland Southern European mainland 400 islands 400 islands Crete – biggest island Crete – biggest island Rhodes Rhodes – east of Crete – east of Crete near Turkey near Turkey ideal rest stop between Greece and Asia ideal rest stop between Greece and Asia Mainland Greece Mainland Greece –One out of every nine acres = mountains or hills –Travel difficult –Little farmable land –Herds of goats and sheep live on wild plants

6. Land Along the Coast Sections of Greece Sections of Greece –Attica Farm land Farm land Wedge-shaped peninsula, an area of land nearly surrounded by water Wedge-shaped peninsula, an area of land nearly surrounded by water Natural harbors, sheltered place along a coast Natural harbors, sheltered place along a coast –Epirus – upper section of mainland Greece –Peloponnesus Giant hand reaching toward Crete Giant hand reaching toward Crete Thin band of fertile area Thin band of fertile area Several rivers that dry up in the summer Several rivers that dry up in the summer

7. Map Work Geography’s Impact on life 1. Method of quickest transportation because of mountains 1. Method of quickest transportation because of mountains 2. How long is Crete? 2. How long is Crete? 3. In what direction would someone travel to move from Crete to Rhodes? 3. In what direction would someone travel to move from Crete to Rhodes? P. 193 P. 193

8. Early Economy in Greece Made a living from little fertile soil Made a living from little fertile soil Agriculture in Ancient Greece Agriculture in Ancient Greece –Hot summers –Wet and windy winters –Crops Wheat and barley for bread Wheat and barley for bread Major crops Major crops –Olives and grapes –Shrubs help with sheep, goats, and cattle Timing - plow at the right time Timing - plow at the right time

9. Crossing the seas Land’s limitation led men to the sea Land’s limitation led men to the sea Sailed to Sailed to –Egypt to trade –Phoenicia – today’s Lebanon –Ports across the Mediterranean Sea Mainly traded Mainly traded –Exported olive oil Cooking Cooking Lamp fuel Lamp fuel –Imported grain

10. Why It Matters Cradle of civilization Influence of ancient cultures remains today

11. MAIN IDEAS Unlike the Nile and Huang River valleys, Greece has land that is hilly and rocky, making farming difficult in most areas. Unlike the Nile and Huang River valleys, Greece has land that is hilly and rocky, making farming difficult in most areas. Ancient Greeks used the Mediterranean Sea as a “highway” to trade for goods they could not produce themselves Ancient Greeks used the Mediterranean Sea as a “highway” to trade for goods they could not produce themselves Olive oil – a product of a crop that grows well in Greece’s rocky soil-became valuable to trade for grain. Olive oil – a product of a crop that grows well in Greece’s rocky soil-became valuable to trade for grain.

12. Think About It Why was farming a challenge in Greece? Why was timing important? Why was farming a challenge in Greece? Why was timing important? Contrast the geography of Greece with that of an ancient river valley civilization such as Mesopotamia or the Indus Valley. Contrast the geography of Greece with that of an ancient river valley civilization such as Mesopotamia or the Indus Valley. How did ancient Greeks use the sea to spread their products and culture to other regions? How did ancient Greeks use the sea to spread their products and culture to other regions? What effects did geography have on the ways ancient Greek met their needs? What effects did geography have on the ways ancient Greek met their needs? Draw a map of the Mediterranean Sea region. Draw in arrows to show where ancient Greeks sailed. Draw a map of the Mediterranean Sea region. Draw in arrows to show where ancient Greeks sailed.

13. Effects of geography Effect one Effect one Effect two Effect two Effect three Effect three