Ancient Greece

Chapter 11 Section 1The Geography of

Greece* An amazing power point made by RACHEL KIM*

Geography Shapes Ancient Greek Life

- Greece is a peninsula, a body of land that has water on all three sides, that sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea

- The southern tip of Greece forms another peninsula called the Peloponnesus

- An isthmus is a narrow strip of land that links the Peloponnesus to the rest of Greece

- 70-80% of Greece is covered by mountains

- The mountainous landscape and environment makes land transportation very difficult

- This also made it hard to unite Greece under one government

- There are no large rivers on which Greeks could travel

- Greek weather:

1.Winter- rainy and mild. Around 50 degrees F

2.Summer- hot and dry. Around 80 degrees F

3.Warm climate during the summer encouraged outdoor activities and athletic competitions

- Rocky Greek lands made only 20-30% of the land suitable for farming. This creates a big problem for farmers and herders, which make up more than half of the Greek population

- Greece also lacked natural resources, like precious metals

- However Greece did have plenty of stone for building, and good sites for harbors

- Greek society:

1. Upper class were made up of some landowners (They could support themselves)

2. Only men could own property (As a girl, I feel This is totally not fair)

3. Landowners usually had enough money to pay for war equipments like swords, shields, and helmets (This allowed them to serve in the army for Greece)

4. Poor people and merchants made up the rest of Greek society

Trade helps Greece prosper

- The sea influenced Greece in so many ways

- Most Greek cities were built right on harbors

- The Mediterranean in the south was the largest sea

- The smaller Ionian SEA (West), and the Agean Sea (east) branched to the Mediterranean

- All three seas were used As transportation routes (Mainly the Mediterranean)

The Earliest Greeks

Quick Review (Yay! Aren’t you excited?)

• What were the main features of the geography of Greece?

• How did the mountains affect life in Greece?

• How did the sea affect Greek life?

• How did the sea help the Greek economy?

• How did trade influence Greek culture?

• What did the Greeks learn from trading with other people?