Geography  Greece is a peninsula made of many smaller peninsulas  Also includes several islands, such as Crete  Most of the land is filled with mountains  Small areas near the coast are good for farming, so this is where small village communities developed  It was difficult to travel by sea and over the mountains, so people were isolated from one another  The seas were used as a means for food, travel & trade  Many people were shipbuilders or sailors

Minoans  An early Greek civilization that developed on the island of Crete  Excellent ship builders  Decline: to their north was a giant volcano that erupted which sent a large wave that flooded much of the island; the clouds of ash from the volcano covered the island ruining crops and burying cities

Mycanaens  Lived on the mainland of Greece  First people to speak the Greek language  Known for building fortresses all over the mainland  Took over sea trade when the Minoan civilization declined; they did not always trade peacefully  DECLINE: natural disasters like earthquakes leveled cities, endured warfare with invaders from Europe

City-States  For protection and stability people chose to come together & set up independent city- states  A Greek city-state is called a polis  City-states were built around a strong fortress on top of a high hill, or acropolis

The town around the acropolis was surrounded by walls for protection Not everyone lived inside the walls (ie: farmers) Women, children & elderly would go inside the walls during a time of war Men would gather to form an army Inside the walls: Agora, marketplace – used for trade and business It was such a large, open space it was also used as a gathering place for religious and political meetings

Identity: People identified themselves with their city-state, not as “Greek” Their city-state gave them protection, a place to do business, and their opinion mattered

Government  Birthplace of democracy – a type of government where people rule themselves  Democracy is Greek for “rule of the people”  Prior to democracy the city-states were run by the aristocracy, or rich people  Aristocrats ran a government known as oligarchy, where only a few people have power

A man named Cleisthenes overthrew the aristocrats & became the “father of democracy” Citizens (free males) were able to participate in assemblies that created laws They met on large hillsides so every person could attend; every person was allowed to speak if he chose to do so – they would give speeches and debates on a variety of political issues After all speakers were done they would hold a vote by a show of hands; they did not usually use a secret ballot

Democracy continued to change itself Created small councils to help decide which topics would be discussed at assemblies Citizens were allowed to serve on juries – made out of odd numbers, so there couldn’t be a tie *Juries could consist of people!*