Ancient GREECE 2000 B.C. to 500 B.C.

1. Ancient GREECE2000 B.C. to 500 B.C. A Brief Introduction

2. Standards • SS 6.4 • Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilization of ancient Greece.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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.