Benchmark Review Part II12/18/12

Greece has three main parts: the mainland, which is part of southern Europe; the peninsula, which nearly touches the mainland and is connected to it by just a thin strip of land;

and the islands, which number more than 2,000. The peninsula is called the Peloponnesus. The largest island, Crete, lies in the Mediterranean Sea, south of the mainland. Most of the islands of ancient Greece, however, were not suitable places for people to make their homes.

The mountains and the seas of Greece contributed greatly to the isolation of ancient Greek communities.

Because travel over the mountains and across the water was so difficult, the people in different settlements had little communication with each other.

Over time, as the population of ancient Greece increased, it became harder to produce enough food for everyone.

So the Greeks took to the seas, traveling to Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), France, Italy, Spain, and Africa to set up trading colonies.

The map opposite shows Greek colonies and trading routes about 550 B.C.E.

1. What are three places from which mainland Greece imported trade goods?

CarthageEgyptPhoenicia

2. Describe the location of the Aegean Sea.East of Greece, between Greece and Asia Minor, the sea closest to the Black Sea

3. Most of the Greek settlements away from mainland Greece were located where?Why were such locations chosen?At the seacoast, on sailing routes, they were chosen for natural harbors and good farmland, the colonies needed to trade by sea with mainland Greece.

4. Which form of transportation was used to carry most trade goods? ShipsExplain why the ancient Greeks chose that form of transportation. The mountains were hard to cross, and land travel was difficult, so most shipping of goods was done by water

5. What makes much of Greece a peninsula?

The water on three sides

6. How did the Greek mountains affect communication?

They isolated communities

7. The ancient Greeks did not like to travel on land because they

Found traveling through the mountains difficult.

8. How was it possible that different parts of Greece had different forms of government?

Steep mountains kept people from different areas apart

Democracy in Athens different from other ancient forms of government because all citizens shared ruling power.

Ancient Greek democracy was different from democracy in the United States today because, citizens in Athens voted directly on all issues.

The idea that, people should rule themselves, is still important today , came from ancient Athens.

Having, juries of citizens, is a part of American democracy that comes from the ancient Greeks.

The roman Republic and the United States are considered republics because the people elect representatives to make laws for them.