1. Early Years: Ancient Greece 2500 B.C.E. – 750 B.C.E.

2. Introduction Greece is the birthplace of the classical world Produced great philosophy, politics and sculpture Origin of democracy Polis – at the center of Greek life

3. Geography Many small mountain ranges No unifying river system like in Egypt and Mesopotamia Produced some food, but not enough to feed growing population Result: Geography encouraged development of trade and the sea became a central part of Greek life

4. Geography, cont. Greeks isolated from each other due to mountains Each city-state independent and established their own values, system of government Each was attached to their own independence Each was small- people get to participate in politics Also led to great rivalry and wars that damaged these great societies

5. The Peloponnesus

6. Economy Majority of Greeks farmed or raised livestock Products produced: Olives, figs, fish, cheese, grapes and chicken The Sea influenced the economy and every other aspect of Greek life

7. The Sea Long seacoast Good harbors Helped Greeks become good sailors and traders Their dominance of the sea helped the Greeks establish colonies throughout the Mediterranean

8. Map of Greece

9. Minoans 2000 B.C.E. to 1450 B.C.E. Earliest civilization to emerge in the Aegean region On the island Crete Named after Minos, a legendary King of Crete

10. Minoans: Crete

11. Minoans, cont. Great palace at Knossos This was the seat of all kings Artifacts reveal a complex and wealthy culture Probably part of a great trade empire We know that they had contact with Egyptians They controlled the seas

12. Fresco Painting in Palace

13. Crete: Palace of Knossos

14. Art from time of King Minos Throne

15. Minoan Civilization

16. Minoans Collapse Collapse suddenly around 1450 B.C.E. Cause uncertain Some believe it was a tsunami caused by a volcano on the island Others believe invasions by the Mycenaeans caused collapse

17. Mycenaeans: 1600-1100 B.C.E. Named after area where they lived, Mycenae An Indo-European people who came from central Asia into Europe Entered Greece from the north, gained control, and established a civilization Peak of civilization: 1400-1200 B.C.E.

18. Map of Mycenae

19. Mycenaeans, cont. Known for their fortified palace centers, built on hills and surrounded by walls Royal family lived within the walls, everyone else outside

20. Mycenaean Politics Various palace complexes in this region, with Mycenae the strongest Formed a loose confederation of independent states

21. Mycenaean Society Language: linear B ( a form of Greek script) Social Order: –King –Commanders of the army –Priests –Record keepers/govt. workers –Free citizenry: peasants, soldiers, artisans –Slaves and serfs

22. Society,cont. Military-based/warrior people Pride based on military heroics Conquered new territory (Crete and other islands) Did they conquer Troy as told by Homer in the Iliad? Traded extensively throughout Middle East and North Africa

23. Decline New invaders into Mycenae Burned Mycenae itself, then other states Enter a new period of instability and uncertainty

24. Mycenaeans

25. Dark Age of Ancient Greece: 1100- 750 B.C.E. After Mycenaeans collapse, population declines and food production dropped Farming will not recover until 850 B.C.E. Bad times saw people leaving mainland Greece and heading to southwest Asia Minor (Ionia) Another group moved into the Peloponnesus, the Dorians, and also on Crete and Rhodes

26. Dark Age Migrations

27. Dark Age, cont. Due to lack of agriculture, Greeks traded other goods Iron replaced bronze in making of weapons – now more affordable Farming tools made of iron helped revive agriculture Adopted Phoenician alphabet – made writing and reading easier to learn At end of Dark Age, Homer’s works appear

28. Homeric Age Two great epic poems: Iliad and Odyssey Stories had been passed down from multiple generations, and recorded by Homer Iliad: The Mycenaens, under Agamemmon attack and sack city of Troy for revenge for the kidnapping of Helen (Queen of Sparta) by Paris (prince of Troy) Book teaches values of heroism and honor and that a man’s character is more important than his accomplishments

30. Odyssey This is the story of the journey of Odysseus from Troy back to his home and wife Moral lesson: morality is tested constantly, and virtue is always better than giving into temptation

31. Homer’s Importance Greeks accepted these poems as recorded facts Values and stories became marks Greeks measured themselves against Greeks valued strength, honor, virtue, excellence – yet these were aristocratic values (wealthy) Homer provided a model of heroism that Greeks sought to emulate

32. The Polis After the age of Homer, came the Archaic (ancient times) Age of Greece This time period is marked by the development of the Greek polis as well as Greek colonization of the Mediterranean and Black Sea The polis was the center of Greek life It consisted of a city and the land that surrounded it (think suburb)

33. Polis, cont. The city was the center for politics, trade, religion, and social events Each polis had different values (military, education, arts) and were distinct – influenced by geography

34. Social Order in the Polis 1.Adult males – had political rights 2.Women and children- no political rights 3.Noncitizens – slaves and resident aliens (from a different polis) There was great loyalty to the polis, but great distrust towards other poleis Cause hostility and warfare

35. Summary The geography of Greece influenced the development of its economy, political and social structure as well as its history The formation of independent city- states, called poleis, led to innovation, creativity and advanced cultures, yet also to conflict and warfare that would bring ancient Greece to its ruin