1. The Geography and Early People of Ancient Greece

2. The Geography of Greece
Greece is very mountainous
Separated the different city-states from one another
Had many peninsulas
2 main ones
Peloponnesus
Balkan
Had many different waterways
Seas
Straits
Islands
Harbors

3. The Geography of Greece
Europe
Black Sea
Dardanelles
Strait that connects Aegean Sea to the Black Sea
Strait- thin area of water connecting two other waterways
Macedonia
Asia Minor/ Anatolia
Mediterranean Sea

4. Greek Geography Information
Greece was ¾ covered in mountains
Left little land for regular farming
Forced to grow/harvest other products;
Olives, grapes, seafood, etc.
Mountains force Greeks to use seas
Increased their sailing abilities
Increased their necessity to trade by sea
Travel to areas like Italy, Egypt, Phoenicia

5. Effect of Geography on Greece
Effected Greece economically
Limited farmable (arable) land for crops
Forces them to depend on the seas
Also forces them to colonize other lands to farm
Effected Greece socially
All were Greek, but they were not unified
Saw themselves as separate peoples
Spartans, Athenians, Ionians, Mycenaeans
Mountains separated each different group
Effected Greece politically
Each area created its own rules, gov’t and citizenship
Government styles of the time include;
Monarchy, Tyranny, Democracy, Oligarchy

6. Governing the City-States
Between 750 B.C. and 500 B.C., the Greeks evolved different forms of government.
At first, the ruler was a king.
A government in which a king or queen exercises central power is called a monarchy.
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7. Slowly, power shifted to a class of noble landowners.
At first, the nobles defended the king, but in time, they won power for themselves.
A government ruled by a landholding elite is called an aristocracy.
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8. As trade expanded, a new class of wealthy merchants, farmers, and artisans came to dominate some city-states.
A government in which power is in the hands of a small, powerful elite, usually from the business class, is called an oligarchy. .
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9. Tyrant
Tyrant, Greek tyrannos, a cruel and oppressive ruler or, in ancient Greece, a ruler who seized power unconstitutionally or inherited such power
1. How might the development of city-states cause rivalries within the same country?

10. The Minoans
The Minoans established a brilliant early civilization on the island of Crete.
The Minoans traded with Egypt and Mesopotamia.
They acquired ideas and technology that they adapted to their own culture.
The Minoans helped to shape the first Greek civilization.
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12. The Epics of Homer
“Every man make up his mind to fight And move on his enemy! Strong as I am, It’s hard for me to face so many men And fight with all at once And yet I will!” Homer, Iliad
The Iliad and the Odyssey reveal many of the values of ancient Greeks. Homer’s heroes display honor, courage, and eloquence.
The epics of Homer have been inspiring writers for almost 3,000 years.
Katfish Rules
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13. Early People of Greece Indo-Europeans spread into Greece
Mycenaeans settled around 2000BC
Name came from city- Mycenae
Mycenae included city of Athens
Ruled by kings (known as a monarchy)
Mycenaeans fight Troy in Trojan War
Fought over Helen of Troy
Mycenaeans win when they use the Trojan Horse
Dorians move into area after Mycenaeans
Following the Dorians, Greek broke into city-states

14. Homer and the Illiad & Odyssey
Homer – famous writer of epic poems
Thought to have been blind
One of the most famous writers in history
Writes the Illiad and the Odyssey
Tells the stories of the travels of characters to and from the Trojan War
Incorporates numerous gods and goddesses
Showed the incorporation of Greek mythology into the daily lives of the Greek people

15. Greek Religion and Mythology
Greek religion was polytheistic and practiced by all Greeks
Greek mythology had 3 purposes
Explaining natural phenomena
Storms, thunder, lightning etc. happening in nature
Explaining human qualities
Speed, knowledge, strength, sight, etc.
Explaining life events
Births, deaths, marriages, etc.
Symbols and representations of gods spread to Rome and can still be seen today in everyday life

16. Early Cities of Greece Early Cities of Greece
Early Greek cities focused on two ideas
Promoting civic participation
Getting people involved in the decisions of the city
Promoting a commercial (business) life
Getting people to trade products and ideas
Greek city-states known as the polis
Polis- was a city and surrounding countryside
Example- Washington DC and its suburbs
Agora- city center- like a business district
Acropolis- fortified (protected) area of city
Not all cities had these
Some cities built their agora in their acropolis

17. Uses of areas of the Greek Polis
The Agora
Used for discussion and trade
Men would meet for food, clothes, ideas
Women were rarely seen in the agora
The Acropolis
Used for protection and a sign of power
Made it easy to see oncoming attackers
Provided a place for royalty, women and children to hide during times of war

18. Early City-states Examples of agoras Athens agora (L)
Destroyed agora (R)
Early City-states

19. Modern Example of a Polis
CITY CENTER
(AGORA)
Could be acropolis AND agora, doesn’t have to though
All Blue area and Agora makes up POLIS
Surrounding Land
(COUNTRYSIDE)

20. Processing- Find the Polis
Locate the 2 areas that would be considered a polis. How can you tell?

21. The Famous Athenian Acropolis
A fortified hilltop for protection
Walls are actually the mountain its located on (marble)

22. Ancient Greek Society Early Greek society was broken into two groups
Free people
Adult males; usually wealthy and landowners
Considered to be citizens w/ rights and responsibility for civic participation in the city-state
Slaves
Not based on race/color
Had no political rights and were the property of the wealthy
Women and foreigners have no political rights
Women rarely seen in Greek public life

23. Daily Life in Greece Daily life very different for men, women & slaves
For Men – life based around the agora
Expected to participate in conversation of the city
Expected to serve in military and be educated
For women – life based in the home
Not expected to be educated
Expected to stay in the home and tend to children
For Slaves – life based on doing daily chores
Expected to run the errands of the home
Expected to protect the family while men are away

24. Forms of Government Many different ways to govern a city-state
Monarchy – ruling by a king or queen (usually king)
1st way most Greek city states were ruled
Aristocracy – rule by small group of wealthy land owners
Usually gained power and land from a former king
Oligarchy – rule by a few powerful people
Usually military leaders or a person with a strong army
Tyranny – rule by one very powerful person
Usually came to power by appealing to the poor and starting a revolution against the rich