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Greece Chapter 5. Cultures of the Mountains and the Sea. Chapter 5 Section 1. In ancient times, Greece was not a united country. It was a collection of separate lands where Greek-speaking people lived. Geography Shapes Greek Life.
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Cultures of the Mountains and the Sea Chapter 5 Section 1
In ancient times, Greece was not a united country. It was a collection of separate lands where Greek-speaking people lived.
Greece (or Hellas) is located in the southern part of Europe. It also included approximately 1,400 islands in the Aegean (ih•JEE•uhn) and Ionian (eye•OH•nee•uhn) seas. Lands on the western coast of Anatolia were also part of ancient Greece.
Greece is separated from the rest of the Europe by a chain of high mountains which form a great wall on the north.
These land forms were like barriers. Moving over the land was difficult.
For these reasons, Greeks living in different areas could not be easily united.
Good farmland covered only about one fifth of Greece and could not support many people. Only certain crops could be grown.
Therefore, the Greeks’choice of foods was somewhat limited. Their diet included fish, grains, grapes, and olives.
The Greeks had easyaccess to the sea, however. They became excellent sailors.
Trade became importantbecause Greece had few natural resources.
Greece has a varied climate with temperatures averaging 48 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. In ancient times, these moderate temperatures supported an outdoor life for many Greek citizens.
They attended public events and even conducted government outside.
A large wave of people moved from Europe, India, and Southwest Asia.
Some of these people settled on the Greek mainland around 2000 B.C. They were later called Mycenaeans. They were ruled by powerful warrior kings.
The Mycenaean's developed a strong culture. They borrowed from the Minoan culture of Crete.
They adopted the Minoan form of writing and some religious beliefs. The Mycenaeans also became interested in trade.
According to legend, Mycenaean kings fought a ten year war with the people of Troy, a city in Anatolia. This conflict was called the Trojan War.
A great storyteller named Homermade up epics (narrative poems celebrating heroic deeds), based on tales he heard.
Homer’s two great epics were The Iliad and The Odyssey. Both center on the heroes of the Trojan war.
The heroes of The Iliadare warriors: the fierce Greek, Achilles (uh•KIHL•eez), and the courageous and noble Hector of Troy. The Iliad tells about the Mycenaean warriors courage and noble actions in battle.
The war was said to have started because a Trojan youth kidnapped a Greek woman. Her name was Helen.
Trojan War Summary • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMh-6QthKsc
The main hero of The Odyssey is a Greek warrior named Odysseus. Most of this epic takes place after the Trojan War.
The Greeks also created a rich set of myths. These stories explain the actions of gods and events in nature.
Zeus Introduction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRq7lLawQB4
In Greek myths, gods often act like humans. For example, they show feelings, such as love, hate, and jealousy.
