1. Geography of Greece

3. Mountainous Terrain Mountains cover 75% of Greece
Difficult to unite of all Greece
Hard to communicate
Travel was difficult
Small independent and culturally diverse city-states form
Polis Greek city-state (Athens, Sparta, Corinth)

4. Mountainous Terrain Only 20% of the land is arable
Arable Land that is suitable for farming
Not enough food to support a large population
Crops included grain, grapes, and olives
How would Greece have to support its growing populations?
Answer: Expand & Colonize other territories

5. The Sea Greece is a both a peninsula and an archipelago
Archipelago series of islands
Surrounded by the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas
Almost all settlements within 85 miles of the coast
Relied on sea for transportation & food
Irregular coastline makes Greece ideal for trading posts

6. History & Origins of the Greeks
The Minoans
Earliest Greek culture (2800 BCE)
Location: Crete
Thalassocracy  “Sea power”
Dominated the region through trade
Never governed mainland Greece
But culture heavily influences development of Greece

7. History & Origins of the Greeks
The Minoans
Snake Goddess
Sign of fertility (particularly in Egypt)
Chief deity
Matriarchal?
Knossus
Frescoes
Bull Jumping
Labyrinth Myth
Place was designed like a labyrinth
Evidence of human sacrifice
Commercial & political center of Minoan civilization

9. History & Origins of the Greeks
Mycenaeans
Location: Mycenae (Southern Greece)
City was protected by a citadel w/20-foot thick wall
Government
From Mycenae, a warrior-king controlled the surrounding villages including Athens

10. The Citadel of Mycenae

11. History & Origins of the Greeks
Mycenaens
Contact with the Minoans (c BCE)
Developed seafaring trade
Adapted Minoan writing to Greek language
Laid foundations for Greek religion, art, and literature

12. History & Origins of the Greeks
Phoenicians ( B.C.E.)
“Carriers of Civilization”
Developed an alphabet
Greeks would add vowels later
Greece was Phoenicia’s number one trading partner
Greeks wanted Tyrian purple; a color made from sea snails for the elite’s clothing

14. History & Origins of the Greeks
The Dorians
The Dorian Invasion (1100 – 950 BCE)
Location: North of Mt. Olympus (modern Macedonia
They pillaged their way down to Peloponnesus and took over Mycenae
Government
Organized in tribes
Ruled by kings and aristocratic councils

15. History & Origins of the Greeks
The Dark Ages
Dorians were not as advanced as the Mycenaeans
Written records disappear until 750 BCE
Little is known about Greek history from BCE, hence the Dark Ages

16. Black Athena? Black Athena?
Historian Martin Bernal argues that the influence of Egypt on Greek culture has been underestimated
In turn, the role of Africa in the development of Western culture has been ignored
What evidence is there from this lesson that lends credence to Bernal’s controversial theory?