The Early Greeks

Mr. Roe6th Grade

Social Studies

K-W-L Chart

Begin by filling out the “K” section of your K-W-L chart for this section.

BIG IDEA (s)• The geography of Greece influenced where people

settled and what they did.

• The Minoans earned their living by building ships and trading.

• Mycenaeans built the first Greek kingdoms and spread their power across the Mediterranean region. 

• The idea of citizenship developed in Greek city-states.

• Colonies and trade spread Greek culture and spurred industry. 

Content Vocabulary• Peninsula• Polis• Agora• Colony

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*Explain how and where the idea of citizenship developed

*How geography influenced Greek civilization and culture

By the end of this section, you will submit:

• K-W-L Chart• Reading Notes (Cornell or Class Led)• Compare/Contrast Minoan and Mycenaean Chart• Independent Research Info

Connection to Today

Our culture today is infiltrated with images, ideas, and literature that

stems from these ancient times. Where, and in what ways, have you

seen influences from Greek art, literature, culture, or language?

I. The Geography of Greece

a. geography influenced where people settled and what they did b. Greece is a peninsula surrounded by seas c. Mountains and seas divided Greeks form each other

II. The Minoans a. Earned living by shipbuilding and trading

1. Minoans were the first civilization to rise in Greece a. Were not Greeks themselves b. Controlled the seas, and traded

c. Civilization suddenly collapsed1. Possibly by tidal wave2. Possibly by Mycenaeans (mainland)

III. The First Greek Kingdoms

a. Mycenaeans built first Greek kingdom b. Originally from Asia

A. What were the Mycenaean kingdoms like? 1. Centered around a palace on a hill 2. Farms and estates surrounded the palace walls 3. Slaves and farmers lived on farms/estates

a. sheltered inside walls during dangerous times 4. Craftsmen worked inside palace wallsB. Power from trade and war 1. Copied much of Minoan culture 2. Replaced Minoans as major powerC. What was the Dark Age? 1. Poverty struck, people stopped trading 2. Began to forget their language and culture 3. Many Greeks left mainland to islands and Asia a. Spread Greek influence further

4. Eventually, farmers started to make surpluses a. Thus, trade began again 5. Developed new alphabet (based on the Phoenicians)

a. 24 letters, made reading/writing easier

This Week’s Challenge

Memorize the Greek alphabet (I will test you)!

If you can recite it faster than me, I will double your Roebucks award!

80 Roebucks

Partner Check

What does citizenship mean to you? What makes a good citizen? How can you show good citizenship? How do you show citizenship at school, at home, and in your community?

IV. The Polis a. The idea of citizenship developed in Greek city states b. Nobles overthrew kings and formed city-states c. Polis means city-state in Greek

1. Acropolis, a fortified area, center of Polis

d. Agora was an open area beneath acropolis1. Served as a market and a place to debate

c . Most city-states were very independent

A. What Was Greek Citizenship? 1. City-state run by its citizens (community members) a. treat each other as equals b. have rights and responsibilities to community c. Only free, native born men could be citizens 2. Rights of citizens a. Vote, debate, hold office, own property, defend themselves in court

B. Citizens as Soldiers 1. Hoplites were citizens who became soldiers in times of war

a. fought on foot and were heavily armedb. Shield was crucial

V. A Move to Colonize

a. Colonies and trade expanded Greek culture b. Colony is a new territory linked to its homeland 1. Colonies traded regularly with home city-state 2. Colonies provided

How did geography affect civilization?

Example: Pottery became popular in areas with a lot of clay

SummaryGeography influenced the way Greek communities

developed

The Minoan civilization on the island of Crete built ships and became wealthy from trade

The Mycenaeans created the first Greek kingdoms

After the Dark Age, the Greeks set up colonies and trade increased

The idea of citizenship developed in Greek city-states

K-W-L Chart

Please take this time to add to your KWL chart for this

section!