Download Section 1: Geography and the Early Greeks

Sponge-Lets have a conversation
• Please answer the following on your own
piece of paper.
• -What do YOU do if we have a fire?
• -What do YOU do when we have an
earthquake?
• -What do you YOU do if an intruder is in the
building?
• Write the answers in your notebook.
Ancient
Greece
Section 1: Geography and the Early
Greeks
Geography of Greece
Section Focus
• Greece is a collection of
islands and a mainland
peninsula in the
Mediterranean Sea.
• Rocky land forced the
people to turn to the sea
for food.
• Became one of the
ancient world’s
greatest civilizations.
Geography of Greece
• Mountainous land and
numerous islands meant
farming was difficult.
• Because of the
mountains travel was
dangerous!
• Travel was difficult so
isolated small farming
villages developed.
Geography of Greece
• Main seas were:
– Ionian
– Aegean
– Mediterranean
-Traveling by sea
could be dangerous.
• Shipbuilding soon
began and allowed
trade with other
civilizations.
The Minoans
• Greek history begins
with the Minoans on
the island of Crete.
• Crete was abundant
with trees.
• Large-scale architecture
and shipbuilding began.
The Minoans
• Discovered how to grow
grapes and olives.
• Soon grew rich trading
wine and olive oil.
• Dominated Aegean Sea but
disappeared for unknown reason.
• All control of Aegean passed
to the Mycenaeans.
The Mycenaeans
• Mycenaeans settled in mainland
Greece around 2000 B.C.
• Were visited by Minoan traders
before their disappearance.
• Learned how to make boats,
bronze, wine, and olive oil from
Minoans.
• Were more violent then the
Minoans
The Mycenaeans
Greek Mythology
• The Minoans and Mycenaeans
lived in time period before
advanced science.
• Created myths and legends
to explain their world.
• Greeks lived and died
by their strong beliefs.
• Stories of mythology influence our
language, literature, and world today.
Myths Explain the World
• Mythology: collection of stories
about gods and heroes that try to
explain how the world works.
• Greek mythology focused
on 12 Olympian Gods.
• Believed that gods
controlled world events;
natural and historical.
Myths Explain the World
• Many Greeks visited oracles
for advice from gods.
• Had feasts, festivals,
sacrifices, and built temples
to honor Gods.
• Greeks did everything;
science, sports, arts, & wars,
to please Gods.
The Trojan War
• One oracle predicted a
war that would destroy
Greece.
• Around 1200 B.C. the Mycenaeans
attacked the city of Troy because of
trade taxes.
• Story was recorded by poet Homer
in the Iliad (war) and the Odyssey
(trip home).
The Trojan War
• Almost all of Greece was
involved with war.
• Bloody war lasted 10 years.
• Ended when the Mycenaeans
secretly entered city with Trojan
Horse.
• Killed all inside and burned
Troy to the Ground.
The City-States
• For protection and stability, the
Greeks began city-states.
• City-states, or polis, protected
the people, but became very
independent.
• Greek life revolved around the
polis for:
– Economics
– Culture
– Leadership
The City-States
• Many new city-states
emerged and trade grew.
• Greece, once again,
became rich and
powerful.