Chapter 7: The Ancient Greeks Lesson 1: Rise of Greek civilization

Maps of Greece Ancient Greece Modern Greece

Mountains and Seas First civilization to develop in Europe and Westernmost part of asia. Dominated by mountains and seas Mainland is on the southern part of Europe's balkan Peninsula Peninsula: is a body of land with water on three sides To the east of Greek Mainland is another peninsula called Anatolia (belongs to modern day Turkey) Aegean Sea is in the middle with islands laying between Greece and Anatolia Goods and ideas traded between islands Today’s Greeks fish and trade and other ancient greeks settles in farming communities. Wheat, Barley, Olives, and Grapes were common crops

An Island Civilization Mountains and valleys divide inland communities Due to geography many became independent. An Island Civilization A.D. 1900 British archaeologist named Arthur Evans discovered site on Crete Called Knossos. Discovered palace of legendary king Minos Family lived with him. Palace had many rooms- some used to store oil, wine, and grain Built by Minoans who were the first to develop in the Aegean region (NOT GREEKS). Lasted from about 2500 B.C. to 1450 B.C.

Trade an important economic activity for the minoans Built ships using the wood from crete’s forests Sailed to Egypt and Syria where they traded pottery and stone vases for ivory and metals. Minoan ships also patrolled east Mediterranean Sea to protect Minoan trade from pirates. Collapsed sometime in 1450 B.C. Reasons unknown Two theories: Earthquakes destroyed cities or Mycenaeans invaded Crete.

A Mainland Civilization About 2000 B.c. the mycenaeans left central asia and moved to mainland greece. Mixed with locals and set up multiple kingdoms Mycenaean Kingdom: 1800s German Archaeologist named Heinrich Schliemann discover ruins of place in Mycenae. Each Mycenaean king live in palace built on a hill. Thick stone walls protect palace and kingdom’s people Nobles live on estates (large farms) outside of walls Workers and slaves lived in villages on estates. Artisans made leather goods, clothes, and jars for wine and olive oil. Gov’t officials record wealth and collected wheat, livestock, and honey as taxes.

Traders and warriors: A Dark Age: Mycenaeans adopted features of Minoan culture. Built ships and worked with bronze Used celestial bodies to navigate seas Worshipped Minoan’s chief god the Earth Mother Mid- 1400s controlled the Aegean area bringing new wealth to the Mycenaeans Military strength expanded A Dark Age: Civilization declined over time. Kingdoms fought one another and earth quakes destroyed their infastructure. 1100 b.C. Mycenaean civilization crumbled.

Dorians invaded the Greek mainland from the north and took control of most of the region. Next 300 years known as the Dark Ages Trade slowed down, less was sold, and most were very poor Farmers grew only enough to feed their families Many people stopped writing and keeping records Dorian warriors introduced weapons and the skill of iron making As dorians pushed in, people in mainland push out- settling in the Aegean islands and western shore of anatolia. The Hellenes: By 750 B.C. many descendants who ran away returned to the mainland Brought back ideas, crafts, and skills Small communities that developed were called the Hellenes or Greeks Farmers in communities grew more than enough crops and traded with each other and neighbors

Colonies and Trade: Trade increased and writing needed Borrowed from Phoenicians Greek alphabet had 24 letters that represented different sounds Record keeping became easier Started writing down tales that had been told by bards (storytellers) Colonies and Trade: Recovered from dark ages and population increased By 700 B.C. they could not produce enough food to feed the population and communities sent out people to establish colonies in the Aegean area. Between 750 B.C. and 550 B.C. Many colonies found along the coasts of the Mediterranean sea and the black sea Traded with ”parent” cities on the Greek mainland Shipped grains, metals, fish , and timber, and enslaved people to Greece.

What did a polis look like? Mainland sent wine, olive oil, and pottery to the colonies As they began making coins from metal, trade expanded. Colonies became wealthy People in different colonies specialized in making certain products The Greek City-State Due to geography communities developed loyalties to their community. After Dark Ages nobles overthrew kings and ruled city-states Each city-state or polis: was an independent country. What did a polis look like? Was the basic political unit of Greek civilization Fort on a hilltop of every polis or acropolis Built to honor gods Outside of acropolis was an agora (place used as a marketplace, social gathering area and official business).

What did Citizenship Mean to THe Greeks: City-states usually small but some covered hundreds of square miles 500 B.C. nearly 300,000 people lived in the city-state of Athens What did Citizenship Mean to THe Greeks: Citizens were members of a political community with rights and responsibilities. Male citizens: Could vote Hold public office Own property And defend selves in court Responsibilities included: serve in government and fight for polis as soldiers Most greek city sates only free land-owing men born in polis could be citizens Believed responsibility theirs cause it was made of their land Women and children could qualify for citizenship but not have those rights

Citizen Soldiers Greek wars fought by wealthy nobles riding horses and driving chariots By 700 B.C. citizens called Hoplites made up city-state armies. Fought on foot Each soldier was armed with a round shield, a short sword, and a spear Marched forward in the phalanx- a unified formation where they marched forward shoulder to shoulder, and raised shields above them to protect them from the enemy’s arrows. Polis gave citizens a sense of belonging Put needs of the state above their own. But they were not unified as a whole country and therefore it weakened them.