Greece

1. Greece

2. Geography Ancient Greece was found mainly on the mountainous Balkan peninsulawhich jutted out into the Mediterranean Sea. It also included about 2,000 islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas.

3. Sea and Land The civilization of Greece was shaped by both the seas and the land. The seas created important trade routes and connected Greece to other societies. Mountains covered about ¾ of the land so only 1/4 was suitable growth. The mountains also played a large role in the political system since the mountains divided the land into many regions.

4. When the large wave of Indo-Europeans migrated to Europe, India and Southwest Asia, some settled on the Greek mainland. These people became known asMycenaeans after their leading city Mycenae.

5. Mycenae Mycenae was located on a rocky ridge and surrounded by a large wall more than 20 feet thick. Mycenae and the villages were controlled by a warrior king and the other Mycenaean cities were controlled by different strong rulers.

6. Minoans By 3000 BCE the Minoans (remember them?) lived on the large Greek island of Crete, close by the Mycenaens Minoans had an elegant lifestyle for the time.

7. Well, maybe not that elegant, but they were highly civilized for their time.

8. The Mycenaeans make contact Mycenaeansmade contact with Minoans They realized the benefits of trade and began sailing to other areas in Aegean and Ionian Seas. Mycenaeans were influenced by the Minoans art, politics and they even adopted the Minoan writing system. Much of Western civilization has its roots in these 2 early civilizations.

9. Trojan Horse Trojan War…….fact or fiction?

10. Trojan War According to Greek stories, around 1200 BCE Mycenaeans fought a 10 year war against the city of Troy. Legend states that a Greek army destroyed Troy because a Trojan Prince had kidnapped the beautiful Helen, wife of a Greek Prince. (some evidence that this is true has been found in modern day Turkey).

11. Wonder where this name came from?

12. - Mycenaean civilization collapsed after the Trojan war and the Dorianstook over.They were less advancedNo written record for 400 years.They became a group of great story telling. The greatest storyteller of that time……a blind man named HomerHomerwrote epics– narrative poems celebrating Greek heroes.Iliad and the Odyssey is famous epic

13. Greek Mythology Ways for the Greeks to understand nature and other mysteries. Many gods and they were given human qualities like love, anger and jealousy but the gods lived forever. Zeus –ruler of gods Hera –his wife Hades- ruler of underworld Poseiden- ruler of the sea Athena- goddess of war and knowledge

14. Greek City States Polis, or city state, was the main form of government in ancient Greece. The polis included the city and villages nearby. Citizens would meet at the acropolis to discuss city government. Acropolis – a well protected hilltop for fighting, where a large building is located

17. Greek Politics City states had many different forms of government: Monarchy-1 ruler or king Aristocracy- rule by the ELITE few (wealthy) Oligarchy- rule by a small group Leads us to Athens and a limited democracy Democracy- Government in which the people rule themselves