Early Ancient GreeceGeography

The Big IdeaGreece’s geography and its nearness to the sea strongly influenced the development of trade and the growth of city-states.

Greek MainlandPhysically, Greece is a

land of rough mountains, narrow valleys, and no major rivers. However, it has a long coastline with many inlets and bays. The combination of physical features had several effects on Greek character and history. People settled in the flat areas along the coast and in valleys.

• 3200 km of coastline

Small amount of fertile landFig vines and olives thrivePeople also grew grain

crops - barleyFew natural resourcesRelied on foreign trade

The mountains significantly influenced Greek political life. Mountains acted as a natural partition among Greek communities so contact with other villages was difficult. It was very difficult to unite the country under one government.

Therefore the Greeks were content to live in a collection of small independent city-states (called polis) which were often at war with each other. Mountains made Greece a difficult territory to conquer by land.

Mountains hindered communication and transportation between city states. Rugged terrain made transportation difficult. For example, the city state of Sparta was only about 60 miles from Olympia, the site of the Olympic Games. Yet it took Spartans nearly a week to travel the distance.

Greece was never able to feed a large population. It is estimated that no more than 2 million people lived in ancient Greece at one time.

About three fourths of Greece is covered with mountains, the highest of which is Mount Olympus, the towering, snow-capped “home of the gods.”

Ancient Greek Diet

Breakfast:

Bread Dipped in

WineLunch: Bread

Dipped in Wine

with olives, figs,

cheese or dried

fishSupper: Vegetables, fruit,

fish, honey cakes

Note: Beef was very Expensive and Rare

Wine was the main

drink. Milk was not

drank that was

considered barbaric

Ancient Egypt Diet

Main Drinks: Beer

Wine

Ate a lot of

vegetables such

as; lentils,

lettuce, peas,

cucumbers,

onions and

radishes

Variety of breads

Variety of meats including; cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs

Variety of fruits

including; dates,

melons,

pomegranates,

apricots

Wealthy had a greater variety of food choices, the poor had little choice

Fruits and vegetables could grown in only a few places. Meat was rare because the country lacked grasslands to feed large herds of cattle or flocks of sheep. The three principal Greek crops were grains, grapes and olives.

The Aegean Sea and the neighboring Ionian and Black seas united the Greek people. The “watery ways.” As the Greek poet Homer called them, were the links between most parts of Greece. Because travel was so difficult on the mainland, Greeks turned to the seas on all sides adn became great shipbuilders and fishermen.

Aegean Sea

Aegean SeaMore than 2000 islands dot Aegean, remnants of

submerged mountain systemSome islands were rocky and infertileOthers had rich soils ideal for farmingEarliest Aegean civilization began on one of these

fertile islands, CreteSpread to other islands and mainland GreeceUnlike river valley societies of Egypt and

Mesopotamia, Greek civilization was oriented to the sea

Sea was a vast blue highway linking all parts of the country

Sea TravelGeography forced Greeks to become fine

sailorsGreeks sailed from island to island across the

Aegean and around the whole rim of the Mediterranean sharing products and ideas

Sea travel had its dangers – violent storms and strong prevailing winds could make navigation difficult

The sea was a source of food as well as a way of trading with other communities.

Sea travel was also a link with other societies. Even in small ships and without compasses, Greek sailors could go from one island to another to reach the older, rich civilizations of Asia and Egypt. Sea travel and trade were important because Greece itself was poor in resources

Across the southern end of the Aegean Sea lies the largest of the Greek islands, Crete. Here an elegant civilization flourished from about 2000 to 1400 BC. Scholars call it Minoan after Minos, a legendary king of Crete

Crete was a land of abundant agricultural wealth. It is about 200 km long and is divided into regions by tall mountain ranges. It has a semi-tropical climate.

Crete

Greece has a Mediterranean climate. Temperatures are moderate, and rain falls only in winter.