Geography of Greece

1. Geography of Greece

3. Geography of Greece • Based on these maps, what are two things we know about Greece’s geography? • Surrounded by the sea • Mostly mountainous

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

10. 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

11. The Citadel of Mycenae

12. History & Origins of the Greeks • Mycenaens • Contact with the Minoans (c. 1500 BCE) • Developed seafaring trade • Adapted Minoan writing to Greek language • Laid foundations for Greek religion, art, and literature • Trojan War • Evidence suggest a real war between Greece & the independent Anatolian city of Troy took place • Exact nature of war is unknown

13. History & Origins of the Greeks • Phoenicians (1200 - 539 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

15. 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

16. 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 1150 - 750 BCE, hence the Dark Ages • “Black” Athens? • 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