Ancient GREECE2000 B.C. to 500

B.C.

A Brief Introduction

Standards

• SS 6.4• Students analyze the geographic,

political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilization of ancient Greece.

Greece: Basic Geography

• Greece is a peninsula that sits in the Mediterranean region of the world.

• This region sits near Europe, Africa and Asia.

• This peninsula is surrounded by the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas.

• Greece is also composed of small islands that are close to the peninsula.

The Minoans: The 1st Civilization of the Region

• This group of people were known as the Minoans, they settled on the island of Crete and were led by King Minos.

• King Minos shows up in Greek Mythology.

• He is the King who traps his “son” into a labyrinth and offers young men and women to please the gods.

• They vanish from historical record around 1400 B.C.

Geography of Greece:Creation of a Distinct Culture

• The peninsula that forms Greece has a series of splintering peninsulas, isthmuses and islands that make it a rugged terrain.

• Here, the land is rocky and mountainous.

• No real arable land and not easily connected with a network of roads.

• This geographic isolation helped local regions create distinct identities.

Mediterranean Culture

• The Greeks were expert sailors, fishermen and traders.

• They did this out of necessity. • To travel about, you needed boats.• To eat, they harvested the bounty of the seas.• To find additional resources, the Greeks had to

travel abroad and trade.

Adapting to the Geography

• The rocky land and Mediterranean climate, little rain and dry hot summers made it difficult for the Greeks to grow much.

• Since less than 25% of Greece has usable land, the Greeks learned not to rely on grains for a bulk of their food stuffs.

• They grew crops such as grapes and olives.• Prolific vines and trees with large harvests and

multiple uses.

Early Rule: The Mycenaeans & Dorians

• 2000 B.C., groups of early Greeks begin to migrate to the north and form kingdoms.

• Writing systems begins to emerge. Influenced by the Mycenaeans of the Peloponnesian Peninsula.

• They ruled by a monarchy. Here, one man ruled the region.

• 1100 B.C., the Dorians conquer the Mycenaeans and the shifting tide for dominant rule begins.

The Trojan War

• Mycenaean culture was preserved/maintained by the Ionians.

• Trojan War was initiated over a man named Paris and a maiden named Helen of Troy.

• A war fought for 10 years over the capture of this young woman of incredible beauty.

• A blind poet named Homer tells the story of this epic war.

Greek City-States

• Greek City-States are formed. No longer ruled by Kings. The City-State is referred to as Polis.

• Polis is the root for the word “politic,” the art and practice of government.

• Greek City-States were governed by the citizens.

• City-States/Polises were governed by rules created by the citizens.

• Serves as the early model of modern government.

Greek Society

• Because of limited resources, extreme levels of wealth could not be attained.

• Divided levels led to a division of labor and skills.

• These levels did have a place within their society and were accepted as “normal” for the time.

• The society was divided into 4 levels.• Aristocrats• Small Farmers• Merchants and Artisans• Slave

Greek Family

• The Greek Family:• Men and Women had defined roles and

expectations.• Men ruled the household and had public duties.• Woman managed the home and the children

• Children were valued and an important part to the continuation of the Polis.• Children had a basic education. Boys were allowed

formal studies til the age of 18.

• Women held varying roles within Greek society.• Some held duties within the home, arts, community,

and other areas.

Greek Trade and Expansion

• Commerce and Trade• Greeks sailed about the open seas and traded

goods with foreign lands.• New goods and gold made the Greeks wealthy

and powerful.

• Conquest and Expansion• Trade was acceptable, but as they grew in

wealth and power, they used force to seize new resources, territories and peoples to grow.

• New lands meant expansion. Colonies were put in place and officials were appointed to rule in the name of the nation.