Geographical Features

What I See What I Predict On Second Thought

Based on what you have just seen, in your own words,

describe the geography of

Greece.

I. Geographical Features of Ancient Greece

• Greece is made up of a mainland peninsula and hundreds of rocky islands

• Major landform = mountains and islands• Only 1/5 of Greece is farmable (20%)• Surrounded by the Mediterranean, Ionian,

Aegean Seas• Climate= mild (avg temp 57-86 degrees/

rainfall depends on area)

Predict how the geography will affect how

the Greek people live? Food Supply Jobs

Government Military Strength

Predict how the geography will affect how

the Greek people live? Food Supply* Crops that can grow in rocky soil ( wheat, barley, grapes and olives)* fish/meat/cheeses (shepherds)

Jobsfishermen; sailors; traders

Shepherds (sheep)

GovernmentPeople separated by mountains and islands = separate city states that were fiercely independent

Military StrengthMountains and rocky coastline provided protection

As a result……..

Competition for natural resources +

independent governments/culture =

1. CONSTANT WARFARE

2. Need for Greeks to colonize other areas

• For homework tonight you will have 2 questions to answer after reading pages 118-120 in your JAT book.

Read p.118-120 in your JAT book and compare and contrast these 2 early Greek cultures in the following

areas: where were they from; when did they rule; how did they make their money; what happened to them

Minoans Mycenaeans

2. What were the Dark Ages of Greece?

Minoans Mycenaeans

From the island of Crete Originally from Central Asia but conquered mainland Greece

Lived in Crete from sometime before 2000 B.C. to around 1450 B.C.

From around 1900 B.C. to around 1100 B.C.

Wealth came from trade.

Controlled the Eastern Mediterranean

Copied ideas from the Minoans; trade; conquered other lands (trade and war)

2 Theories1. Undersea earthquakes

caused tidal waves that wiped them out.

2. Conquered by Mycenaeans

By 1200:Earthquakes and fighting among kingdoms had weakened them

What were the Dark Ages of Greece?

• 1. 1100-750 B.C. were hard years ( trade slowed; people were very poor)

• 2. No longer a surplus of food= no time on your hands to do other things. Previous knowledge was lost (writing; inventions)

• 3. Population shift from mainland Greece to other islands. Learned new farming technology and regained surplus of food.

• 4. Trade increased/society recovered

The Governments of Ancient Greece

• Although the Greeks are known for city-states and the idea of citizenship, they had many different types of government. In this section we are going to find out:

• what those other governments were like• what happened to them• Study two of the best known ones; Athens and

Sparta