Geography & Early People of Greece

Geography Mountains

¾ of Greek mainland protected and isolated limited contact between

communities effect: Greece never unites w/ one

govt so it helped and hindered the development of city-states

Geography Natural harbors

no place more than 50 miles from the coast

effect: many make living from the seas

Geography Limited arable land

effect: some farming, but Greeks will look for more land

Mild climate effect: people spend time

outside and socialize

Economic DevelopmentCommerce and the spread of Hellenic culture

Shift from barter to money economy (coins)

Political DevelopmentGreek cities were designed to promote civic and commercial life

Colonization was prompted by overpopulation and the search for arable land

Minoans lived on Crete, traded in Mediterranean region

known for labyrinth palace at Knossos

frescoes show scenes of Minoan life and religion

Minoan fresco

Minoan fresco

Minoan fresco

Mycenaeans Indo-Europeans from central Asia

intermarried w/ native Hellenes on mainland Greece

set up kingdoms around hilltop fortresses

Mycenaeans adopted Minoan customs

said to have fought in legendary Trojan War Heinrich Schliemann – German archaeologist who discovered Troy

Trojan Horse

Dorians invaded Greece from the north

Mycenaeans weakened by infighting

Dorians easily won using iron weapons

Dorians Dorian period known as a “dark age”

refugees fled to Ionia (west coast of Asia Minor)

Ionians gradually come back, reintroduce culture