The Geography of Greece

The Flag of Greece

Greece From Space

The Island of Santorini

Greek Orthodox Church

The Beautiful Sea

Mykonos

Rhodes

Geography of Greece Greece is located in Europe on the Balkan peninsula. Peninsula- A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered on three sides by water, but is still attached to the mainland

Steep Rocky Coastline

Greece has many hills and mountains 80% of Greece is hills and mountains 80% of Greece is infertile. 20% fertile (land good for farming)

The mountains created a natural barrier. The mountains made it difficult for Greece to unite as one nation. The mountains caused the formation of many independent city states. The Greeks word for City-State is Polis.

Mediterranean Climate The climate of Greece is known a Mediterranean climate. Hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

Greece did not have a major life giving river similar to the Nile, Tigris and Euphrates. How do you think the Greeks survived?

A fresco from 1500 BC: A man with fishes. Without a major river, the Greeks focused on the seas. The Greeks had excellent seafaring skills. They were able to navigate (steer a course through water, land, air) the seas. The Egyptians called them the sea people. The Greeks used the sea for fishing and trade.

No part of Greece is more than 85 miles from the sea.

The Greeks became great traders Import (bring goods in) many necessary items that they could not produce. Wheat, produce. Export (sell to other lands) items they had a surplus of; olives, olive oil, grapes, wine, pottery.

The Greeks Vineyard

Olive Tree

Archipelago Archipelago-a group of many islands. Over 6000 islands. Of these islands only 227 are inhabited.

The Aliákmon River, measuring 184 miles, is the longest river in Greece. The rivers are not navigable and would usually dry up in the summer. Where did the Greek’s find water?

The Greeks got their water from wells, springs and rain water collections.

The Acropolis of Athens

Why would the ancient Greek’s build a city on top of a hill? (high city, The "Sacred Rock") A strategic Hill used for defense. The Parthenon was built for the Goddess Athena and is located on the Athens Acropolis.

1. Parthenon 2. Old Temple of Athena 3. Erechtheion 4. Statue of Athena Promachos 5. Propylaea 6. Temple of Athena Nike 7. Eleusinion 8. Sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia or Brauroneion 9. Chalkotheke 10. Pandroseion 11. Arrephorion 12. Altar of Athena 13. Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus 14. Sanctuary of Pandio 15. Odeon of Herodes Atticus 16. Stoa of Eumenes 17. Sanctuary of Asclepius or Asclepieion 18. Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus 19. Odeon of Pericles 20. Temenos of Dionysus Eleuthereus 21. Aglaureion

Central to every Greek city and town was the agora, a marketplace and meeting place. Men and slaves usually did the shopping, with slaves and donkeys carrying the purchases. Farmers came with their produce. Merchants set up their sun shaded tables and sold such items as meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, cheeses, eggs, honey, wine, olive oil and animals. Fresh meat and fish were displayed on marble slabs that kept the food cool. Slaves were placed on display and bought and sold.

Merchants also bought and sold exotic foreign items in the agora. Ivory and gems came from Egypt, elephants from India, silk from China, wool from countries surrounding Greece, purple dye from the eastern countries, grain from areas around the Black Sea. Craftsmen had stalls, shops or workshops in or near the agora. Here they sold their goods or took orders. Women and slaves could use a public fountain in the agora to collect their daily supply of water in pots. Busy and bustling, the agora was a vital area for a community.

Comparing the Geography of Egypt and Greece

Topography Egypt Mostly flat Greece Mountainous 80% Topography – the different features in a landscape

Coastline Egypt Main coast, Mediterranean Sea Red Sea Greece Surrounded by seas, many inlets, bays and peninsulas. Coastline- The shape, outline, or boundary of a coast

Natural Barriers Egypt Cataracts Sahara Desert The Delta Greece Mountains Steep Cliffs Natural barrier- is in geography, where it refers to a naturally occurring obstacle to movement.

Fertile/Arable Land Egypt Arable land only along the Nile Only 3% of Egypt’s land is fertile Greece Many fertile valleys 20% fertile Fertile- Able to grow seeds. Arable land- Land that can be used to grow crops

Fertile/Arable Land Cont.. Egypt Grew Grains Cereal Agriculture Vegetables Greece Olives, Grapes, Goats for cheese/milk Fertile- Able to grow seeds. Arable land- Land that can be used to grow crops

Climate Egypt Very Hot and Dry Desert conditions Greece Warm Dry Summers Cool Wet Winters Mediterranean Climate Climate- Weather conditions