Ancient Greece Geography

Flag of Greece

Key Facts of Ancient Greece  Ancient Greece’s history dates back over 5,000 years ago.  10 Million people call Greece their home.  The land of Greece measures at 51,000 sq. mi.  Athens in the capital city.  Major cities and population: Athens, Patra, Piraeus, Larisa and Salonica.

Ancient Greek Geographic Landmarks  Much of Greece has mountainous and rocky terrain.  The Pindus Mountains start in Northern Greece and stretch south to the Gulf of Patra.  The Peloponnesus Mountains are in the southern part of Greece.  20% of Greece is made up of islands.  Most of the people in Greece live along the coast, rivers and harbors.

Points of Interest in Greece  Greece has many ancient ruins, some over 4,000 years old.  Greece also has many medieval churches.  Greece also has many well known sculptures, paintings, pottery, poetry and playwriting.

Mount Olympus

The Acropolis

The Parthenon

Major Industries of Greece  The land of Greece is not productive for farming, thus the citizens have struggled to have a strong economy.  The standard of living in Greece is lower than that of other European nations.  Manufacturing and tourism are very important to the economy of Greece.  Fishing, farming (wheat, fruits, vegetables, olives, and grapes, and ranching (goats and sheep) are also important to the economy of Greece.

Historical Highlights  The Ancient Greeks may have come from the Northern part of Africa.  Ancient Greeks produces philosophers and scholars (Socrates and Plato)  They created the first democratic government.  Created mathematics  Greeks contributed the Illiad and The Odyssey.  They held the first Olymic games in 776 BC.

Greek Climate  Most of Greece has a mild climate. It is coller in the summer and warmer in the winter.  Summers are warm and dry.  Winters are cool and rainy.  Mountains in Greece may receive snowfall in the winters.

Greece has Thousands of Islands