1. Essential Question:
What role did geography play in the development of classical Greece?
Warm-Up Question:
What do you think of when I say “Greece”?

2. The first major classical civilization was ancient Greece
After the river valley era, a number of classical civilizations developed in the Mediterranean and in Asia
The first major classical civilization was ancient Greece
Classic cultures created high levels of achievement in art, science, & technology that impacted future ages

3. Impact of Geography on Greece: Identify 1 geographic feature & propose how it might impact the culture of Greece

4. Impact of Geography on Greece: Identify 1 geographic feature & propose how it might impact the culture of Greece

5. Greece’s lack of natural resources & location on the Mediterranean Sea encouraged Greek trade with neighboring societies
Geography Shapes Greek Life
The Sea The sea shaped Greek civilization just as rivers shaped the ancient civilizations of Egypt, the Fertile Crescent, India, and China. In one sense, the Greeks did not live on a land but around a sea. Greeks rarely had to travel more than 85 miles to reach the coastline. The Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea, and the neighboring Black Sea were important transportation routes for the Greek people. These seaways linked most parts of Greece. As the Greeks became skilled sailors, sea travel connected Greece with other societies. Sea travel and trade were also important because Greece lacked natural resources, such as timber, precious metals, and usable farmland.
The Land Rugged mountains covered about three-fourths of ancient Greece. The mountain chains ran mainly from northwest to southeast along the Balkan Peninsula. Mountains divided the land into a number of different regions. This significantly influenced Greek political life. Instead of a single government, the Greeks developed small, independent communities within each little valley and its surrounding mountains. Most Greeks gave their loyalty to these local communities. In ancient times, the uneven terrain also made land transportation difficult. Of the few roads that existed, most were little more than dirt paths. It often took travelers several days to complete a journey that might take a few hours today. Much of the land itself was stony, and only a small part of it was arable, or suitable for farming. Tiny but fertile valleys covered about one-fourth of Greece. The small streams that watered these valleys were not suitable for large-scale irrigation projects. With so little fertile farmland or fresh water for irrigation, Greece was never able to support a large population. Historians estimate that no more than a few million people lived in ancient Greece at any given time. Even this small population could not expect the land to support a life of luxury. A desire for more living space, grassland for raising livestock, and adequate farmland may have been factors that motivated the Greeks to seek new sites for colonies

6. Mountains covered about 75% of Greece which divided the people & made unifying the Greek people nearly impossible
Geography Shapes Greek Life
The Land Rugged mountains covered about three-fourths of ancient Greece. The mountain chains ran mainly from northwest to southeast along the Balkan Peninsula. Mountains divided the land into a number of different regions. This significantly influenced Greek political life. Instead of a single government, the Greeks developed small, independent communities within each little valley and its surrounding mountains. Most Greeks gave their loyalty to these local communities. In ancient times, the uneven terrain also made land transportation difficult. Of the few roads that existed, most were little more than dirt paths. It often took travelers several days to complete a journey that might take a few hours today. Much of the land itself was stony, and only a small part of it was arable, or suitable for farming. Tiny but fertile valleys covered about one-fourth of Greece. The small streams that watered these valleys were not suitable for large-scale irrigation projects. With so little fertile farmland or fresh water for irrigation, Greece was never able to support a large population. Historians estimate that no more than a few million people lived in ancient Greece at any given time. Even this small population could not expect the land to support a life of luxury. A desire for more living space, grassland for raising livestock, and adequate farmland may have been factors that motivated the Greeks to seek new sites for colonies

7. The Greeks developed independent city-states, called polis, within each valley & its surrounding mountains
A city-state is when a city acts like its own country with its own government, laws, military, customs, and culture.
Geography Shapes Greek Life
The Land Rugged mountains covered about three-fourths of ancient Greece. The mountain chains ran mainly from northwest to southeast along the Balkan Peninsula. Mountains divided the land into a number of different regions. This significantly influenced Greek political life. Instead of a single government, the Greeks developed small, independent communities within each little valley and its surrounding mountains. Most Greeks gave their loyalty to these local communities. In ancient times, the uneven terrain also made land transportation difficult. Of the few roads that existed, most were little more than dirt paths. It often took travelers several days to complete a journey that might take a few hours today. Much of the land itself was stony, and only a small part of it was arable, or suitable for farming. Tiny but fertile valleys covered about one-fourth of Greece. The small streams that watered these valleys were not suitable for large-scale irrigation projects. With so little fertile farmland or fresh water for irrigation, Greece was never able to support a large population. Historians estimate that no more than a few million people lived in ancient Greece at any given time. Even this small population could not expect the land to support a life of luxury. A desire for more living space, grassland for raising livestock, and adequate farmland may have been factors that motivated the Greeks to seek new sites for colonies

8. Greek Culture
Despite their lack of unity, the Greeks shared some common characteristics:
Greeks shared the same language
Greek writing was influenced by the Phoenician alphabet & became the basis for Latin
Greeks were polytheistic & believed that the gods

9. Invincible except for his left Achilles heal
Literature
Invincible except for his left Achilles heal
The Trojan War forms the backdrop of the blind poet Homer’s the Iliad. An epic is a narrative poem that celebrates heroic deeds. The heroes in the Illiad are the fierce Achilles of Greece and the noble and courageous Hector of Troy.

10. Greeks were polytheistic & believed that the gods were immortal but had human qualities; Religion became the basis for Greek mythology
Zeus King of the gods
Athena Goddess of wisdom
Aphrodite Goddess of love
Apollo God of sun & music
Ares God of war
Hades God of underworld
Hera Goddess of family
Poseidon God of the seas
Aphrodite The sensual goddess of Love and Beauty
Apollo The youthful god of the Sun and the Music
Ares The fierce god of War
Artemis The wild goddess of the Hunt
Athena The sophisticated goddess of Wisdom and Arts
Demeter The natural goddess of the Harvest
Dionysus The joyful god of the Wine
Hades The gloomy god of the Underworld
Hephaestus The ill-favored god of Metallurgy
Hera The mature goddess of the Family
Hermes The cunning god of the Trade
Hestia The calm goddess of the Hearth
Poseidon The moody god of the Seas
Zeus The heavenly King of the Gods and ruler of mankind

11. Most Greek city-states had an agora that was the center for trade & government
City-states had an acropolis, a temple on a hill dedicated to a sacred god
Most Greek city-states had an agora that was the center for trade & government
the gods

12. Differences Among Greek City-States
Despite similar language & religion, the Greek polis were very different from each other, especially how they were governed
Geography Shapes Greek Life
The Land Rugged mountains covered about three-fourths of ancient Greece. The mountain chains ran mainly from northwest to southeast along the Balkan Peninsula. Mountains divided the land into a number of different regions. This significantly influenced Greek political life. Instead of a single government, the Greeks developed small, independent communities within each little valley and its surrounding mountains. Most Greeks gave their loyalty to these local communities. In ancient times, the uneven terrain also made land transportation difficult. Of the few roads that existed, most were little more than dirt paths. It often took travelers several days to complete a journey that might take a few hours today. Much of the land itself was stony, and only a small part of it was arable, or suitable for farming. Tiny but fertile valleys covered about one-fourth of Greece. The small streams that watered these valleys were not suitable for large-scale irrigation projects. With so little fertile farmland or fresh water for irrigation, Greece was never able to support a large population. Historians estimate that no more than a few million people lived in ancient Greece at any given time. Even this small population could not expect the land to support a life of luxury. A desire for more living space, grassland for raising livestock, and adequate farmland may have been factors that motivated the Greeks to seek new sites for colonies

13. Differences Among Greek City-States
Some polis had a monarchy, a gov’t ruled by a king

14. Differences Among Greek City-States
Some polis had an aristocracy, a gov’t ruled by elite nobles
Practiced in Corinth

15. Differences Among Greek City-States
Some polis like Sparta had an oligarchy, a gov’t ruled by a small group of citizens

16. Differences Among Greek City-States
Some polis like Athens had a direct democracy, a gov’t ruled by citizens who vote on decisions

17. The Greek city-states Athens & Sparta represented the differences among polis
Athenian society focused on wealth & culture:
Athens had a direct democracy in which both rich & poor citizens could vote & hold public office
Under the leadership of Pericles, Athens grew to be a powerful city-state that flourished both culturally and economically

18. Athenian society focused on wealth & culture
Architects built the Parthenon to honor the goddess Athena

19. Athenian society focused on wealth & culture
Theater had both comedies & tragedies
Artists created realistic sculptures

20. Olympic Games
Most events tested the skills that were necessary for battle
Held every four years at Olympia to honor their Gods, began in 776BCE
Events included long distance running, wrestling, the long jump, the javelin, and the discuss throw.
Women were allowed to compete against other women

21. The Greek city-states Athens & Sparta represented the differences among polis
King Leonidas:"Spartans! Prepare for glory!"
Daxos:"Glory? Have you gone mad? There is no glory to be had now! Only retreat, or surrender or death."
King Leonidas:"It's an easy choice for us, Arcadian! Spartans never retreat! Spartans never surrender! Go spread the word. Let every Greek assembled know the truth of this. Let each among them search his own soul. And while your at it, search your own."
Spartans society did have slaves called Helots. These slaves were responsible for farming duties.
Spartan society focused on military strength, not freedom & learning
Spartan men served in the military until 60 years old
Boys began military training at age 7
Women ran family estates while men trained or fought
Because of the presence of slaves, women were also given a military training so that when the men were away, they could protect the city.
Spartan Daily Life From around 600 until 371 B.C., Sparta had the most powerful army in Greece. However, the Spartan people paid a high price for their military supremacy. All forms of individual expression were discouraged. As a result, Spartans did not value the arts, literature, or other artistic and intellectual pursuits. Spartans valued duty, strength, and discipline over freedom, individuality, beauty, and learning. Since men were expected to serve in the army until the age of 60, their daily life centered on military training. Boys left home when they were 7 and moved into army barracks, where they stayed until they reached the age of 30. They spent their days marching, exercising, and fighting. They undertook these activities in all weathers, wearing only light tunics and no shoes. At night, they slept without blankets on hard benches. Their daily diet consisted of little more than a bowl of coarse black porridge. Those who were not satisfied were encouraged to steal food. Such training produced tough, resourceful soldiers. Spartan girls also led hardy lives. They received some military training, and they also ran, wrestled, and played sports. Like boys, girls were taught to put service to Sparta above everything—even love of family. A legend says that Spartan women told husbands and sons going to war to “come back with your shield or on it.” As adults, Spartan women had considerable freedom, especially in running the family estates when their husbands were on active military service. Such freedom surprised men from other Greek city-states. This was particularly true of Athens, where women were expected to remain out of sight and quietly raise children.

23. Athenian society focused on wealth & culture
Later became teacher to Alexander the Great
Philosophers Socrates, Plato, & Aristotle questioned assumptions & the use of logic to find answers to questions

24. Sparta defeated Athens, but the war weakened the Greeks
Athens & Sparta competed for influence in Greece & developed a strong rivalry that eventually led to the Peloponnesian War
Sparta defeated Athens, but the war weakened the Greeks

25. Spartans showed their strength during the Persian Wars

26. Closure Activity
Where would you rather live: Athens or Sparta? Why?