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Geography of Ancient Greece

The Size

• Greece occupied about 45,000 square miles– about the size of Louisiana

• Many islands

• Spread culture through colonization

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The Sea

• Greece is a Peninsula surrounded by water

• Aegean Sea (to the East)• Ionian Sea (to the West)• Black Sea (to the North-West)• Mediterranean Sea (to the South)

• Trade was imperative because Greece was not rich in natural resources.

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The Land

• Mountains covered 75% of Greece– Mount Olympus (highest, home of Greek

Gods)– Made for difficult travel, but good protection

• Fertile Valleys covered 25% and made for the living areas known as city-states

• Not enough fresh-water to feed a large population (only about 2 million people)

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The Climate

• Moderate temperatures• Only rains in winter• Led to outdoor living

– Agora (marketplace)– Gymnasium– Political meetings– Theatre– Religious ceremonies

• Participation in city-states was a DUTY & a VIRTUE

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The Bronze Age

• Island Life– Minoan Life

• Mainland Life– Mycenaean Life– Trojan War

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Minoan Society

• On Island of Crete (to the South)• Height of power from 2000-1400 BC• Lived a prosperous life from trade

• Evidence that women shared social equality

Minoan’s

• No use of Greek language or religion but influenced Greece

• Made contact with advanced Egypt and mainland Greece

• The cause for the end of Minoan Civilization is debated– Some historians claim a tsunami triggered by a

volcanic eruption on a nearby island– Most however believe it was due to invasion by the

Mycenaeans8

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Mycenaean Society

• Lived on Mainland of Greece• Flourished from 1600-1200 B.C.• Migrated from India, Egypt, and other lands• Walled-cities for protection• Most were farmers living

outside of walls• Commercial network selling

pottery spread from Syria to

Italy

Mycenaean Warriors

• Prided themselves on heroic deeds in battle.

• Evidence of battle through Homer’s poetry

• Enormous wealth from war/

• plunder & trade– even indoor plumbing

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Trojan War

• Famous Mycenaean War

• Happened around 1200 B.C.

• Trojan prince had taken

Helen, wife of a Greek king.

• Trojan Horse

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Dark Ages

• Dorians

• Homer

• Arete

• The Olympics

• Religion/ Mythology

A Mycenaean Death Mask

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Dorian Migration

• Mycenaean Society was destroyed by invaders around 1200 B.C.

• From 1150-750 B.C., distant relatives known as the Dorians settled there.

• They destroyed trade and lost all writing (causing the term “Dark Ages”)

• Many Greeks left mainland and moved to Ionia

End of Dark Ages

• Iron replaces bronze and for weapons and farming tools

• Phoenician alphabet (24 letters) is adopted and makes learning to read and write easier

• Homer’s work appears

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Homer

» The most famous “bard” during the Dark Ages.

» Children had to memorize his work as a way of learning history.

» Explained that Greek society was based on agriculture and warrior-aristocracy controlled the wealth and the power.

» Stories carried values that will be appreciated through the times, “that virtue is better policy than vice.”-- Odyssey

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The Iliad Story of Trojan War

The Slaying of Hector

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The OdysseyStory of a Odysseus, a hero’s journey home

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Arete

• To Strive for excellence, show courage, and win fame and honor

• It is won in a struggle or contest to protect family, friends, or your own honor/ reputation

• Homer the Greeks a model of Arete through his epics

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The Olympics

• Competition took place in Olympia every four years, beginning in 776 B.C.

• Lasted 5 days

• Halted all wars

• Winners crowned with a

wreath of olive leaves

• Real prize was Arete

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Mount Olympus

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Gods and Goddesses

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Gods and Goddesses

• Very human, with human emotions, but immortal

• Gathered at Mount Olympus

• MYTHS – stories about gods intended to explain mysteries of nature and human existence

• Religion was closely linked to government and polis’ pride.