Geography of Greece

Mountainous Terrain Mountains cover 75% of Greece Difficult to unite of all Greece Hard to communicate Travel was difficult Small independent and culturally diverse city-states form Polis Greek city-state (Athens, Sparta, Corinth)

Mountainous Terrain Only 20% of the land is arable Arable Land that is suitable for farming Not enough food to support a large population Crops included grain, grapes, and olives How would Greece have to support its growing populations? Answer: Expand & Colonize other territories

The Sea Greece is a both a peninsula and an archipelago Archipelago series of islands Surrounded by the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas Almost all settlements within 85 miles of the coast Relied on sea for transportation & food Irregular coastline makes Greece ideal for trading posts

History & Origins of the Greeks The Minoans Earliest Greek culture (2800 BCE) Location: Crete Thalassocracy  “Sea power” Dominated the region through trade Never governed mainland Greece But culture heavily influences development of Greece

History & Origins of the Greeks The Minoans Snake Goddess Sign of fertility (particularly in Egypt) Chief deity Matriarchal? Knossus Frescoes Bull Jumping Labyrinth Myth Place was designed like a labyrinth Evidence of human sacrifice Commercial & political center of Minoan civilization

History & Origins of the Greeks Mycenaeans Location: Mycenae (Southern Greece) City was protected by a citadel w/20-foot thick wall Government From Mycenae, a warrior-king controlled the surrounding villages including Athens

The Citadel of Mycenae

History & Origins of the Greeks Mycenaens Contact with the Minoans (c. 1500 BCE) Developed seafaring trade Adapted Minoan writing to Greek language Laid foundations for Greek religion, art, and literature

History & Origins of the Greeks Phoenicians (1200 - 539 B.C.E.) “Carriers of Civilization” Developed an alphabet Greeks would add vowels later Greece was Phoenicia’s number one trading partner Greeks wanted Tyrian purple; a color made from sea snails for the elite’s clothing

History & Origins of the Greeks The Dorians The Dorian Invasion (1100 – 950 BCE) Location: North of Mt. Olympus (modern Macedonia They pillaged their way down to Peloponnesus and took over Mycenae Government Organized in tribes Ruled by kings and aristocratic councils

History & Origins of the Greeks The Dark Ages Dorians were not as advanced as the Mycenaeans Written records disappear until 750 BCE Little is known about Greek history from 1150 - 750 BCE, hence the Dark Ages

Black Athena? Black Athena? Historian Martin Bernal argues that the influence of Egypt on Greek culture has been underestimated In turn, the role of Africa in the development of Western culture has been ignored What evidence is there from this lesson that lends credence to Bernal’s controversial theory?