1. The Geography of Greece
The Land and Its People

2. Location

3. Physical Geography

4. Physical Geography Very mountainous
75% covered in mountains
Difficult to cultivate
Small farms, vineyards, olive groves flourish
In ancient times, land was said to be stripped of trees
Soil overused
Erosion

5. Physical Geography Surrounded by seas
Important for communication, trade, military, food, mythology
Due to rugged interior, best to travel by sea
Made trade easier
Could get what they could not grow
Increased flow of ideas in and out

6. Climate Mediterranean climate Low rainfall, hot summers
War/cool winters
Windy coast
Good climate for longevity of life
Many outdoor activities
Art of conversation and debate
Average citizen took great interest in civic affairs

8. The Hellenes (aka Greeks)
The Greeks of Classical times called themselves the “Hellenes” and their country was Hellas

9. Impact of Geography on Culture
Cut off by the mountains and the seas
ISOLATED!
Formation of city-states (polis) – NO central gov’t
Limited interaction and unity; religion and language in common
Created fierce rivalries

10. Greek City States

11. Importance of the Seas Sea became a vital link
Hundreds of bays to provide safe harbours
Skilled sailors
Traded olive oil, wine, marble
Returned with grains, metals, ideas
Adopted Phoenician alphabet
Became basis for all Western alphabets

12. Trade Routes

13. So what did the Greeks do?
Remember…
They are isolated
They have nice weather
They like rivalries

14. Went to War Trojan Persian Peloponnesian 13th or 12th Century BCE
Versus Peloponnesian League led by Sparta

15. Developed Great Thinkers
Homer, Socrates, Plato (philosophers)
Herodotus (father of history)
Archimedes (Archimedes screw)

16. Built Temples

17. Wrote Poetry and Dramas
Tragedy
Sophocles
Euripides
Comedy
Aristophanes
Performed outside with little scenery
Stadium seating

19. Athens Birthplace of democracy Location of the Parthenon
Temple dedicated to Athena
Goddess of war, civilization, wisdom, strength, strategy, crafts, justice, skill

20. Sparta
Warrior State

21. Olympus
Home of the Greek gods (led by Zeus)

22. Olympia
Home to the Olympics

23. Delphi Home to the Oracle of Delphi
Oracle breathed fumes from a crack in the rock and once high, she could tell the future
Prophecies came first from Gia (mother earth) and then Apollo

24. Mycenae Home of King Agamemnon
Leader of Greeks in the war against Troy

25. Knossos
Theseus and the Minotaur
Centre of Minoan civilization

26. Troy
Trojan War

27. Corinth
On the isthmus of Corinth – the narrow stretch of land that joins the Peloponnesus to mainland Greece
Rivaled Athens and Thebes in wealth
Major trade and commerce centre

28. Thebes Major rival of Athens
Most dominant city-state when Alexander and the Macedonians conquered Greece