Mountains cover much of Greece, so contact with other villages was difficult. People created their own governments and ways of life. People settled in the flat areas along the coast and in river valleys. Because travel was so difficult inland, Greeks turned to the seas on all sides. They became skilled shipbuilders and sailors. Main Idea 1: Geography helped shape early Greek civilizations. The sea became a source of food as well as a way of trading with other communities. They also exchanged ideas with other cultures.

Main Idea 2: Trading cultures developed in the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations. Minoans They spent much of their time at sea, trading in the Mediterranean. Ships carried goods such as wood, olive oil, and pottery all around the eastern Mediterranean. They became the victims of a huge volcano that erupted north of Crete. They were not considered to be Greek, since they didn’t speak Greek. Mycenaeans They were the first people to be considered Greek. They lived inland and built fortresses. They were more violent in their trade. They took over Crete and became the major traders in the eastern Mediterranean. They developed colonies in northern Greece and Italy, from which they shipped goods around the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

Main Idea 3: The Greeks created city-states for protection and security. During the Dark Ages, the Greeks started joining together in small groups for protection. These groups set up independent city-states. The Greek word for city-state is polis. The creation of city-states marks the beginning of Greece’s classical age, an age marked by great achievements.

Life in a City-State A city-state was usually built around a strong fortress on top of a high hill called an acropolis. The town around the acropolis was surrounded by walls for protection. People no longer had to fear raiders. Life in the city focused on the marketplace, or agora. The city-state became the foundation for Greek civilization and gave the Greeks an identity.

Main Idea 1: Aristocrats and tyrants ruled early Athens. Athens was the city where democracy was born, but it started out as an oligarchy, a government in which only a few people hold power. A group of rich landowners called aristocrats held power. As a result of rebels trying to overthrow the aristocrats, harsh laws were created by a man named Draco. A man named Solon created a set of laws allowing all free men to be citizens, people who had the right to participate in government. Peisistratus overthrew the oligarchy, however, and became the ruler of Athens. He was called a tyrant, a leader who held power through the use of force. Tyrants were usually good, not harsh, leaders in ancient Greece.

Main Idea 2: Athens created the world’s first democracy. A leader named Cleisthenes, a member of one of the most powerful families in Athens, overthrew the aristocracy and established the world’s first democracy. For this reason, he is considered the father of democracy.

The End of Democracy in Athens Athens was conquered by the Macedonians and fell under their influence. The king ruled like a dictator. No one could make decisions without his approval. The assembly still met to make laws, but it had to be careful not to upset the king. Eventually, a new king took over and ended Athenian democracy altogether.

All citizens in Athens could participate directly in the government, which was called a direct democracy. Each vote counted, and the majority ruled. The United States is too large for direct democracy to work for the whole country. Instead, we have a representative democracy. Main Idea 3: Ancient democracy was different than modern democracy. In a representative democracy, also called a republic, citizens elect officials to represent them in the government. These officials then make the laws.

Main Idea 1: The Greeks created myths to explain the world. Instead of scientific explanations, the Greeks used mythology to explain things. Mythology is a body of stories about gods and heroes that try to explain how the world works. They believed gods caused things like volcanic eruptions and the changing seasons. To keep the gods happy, they built great temples. The Greeks expected help when they needed it in return.

Heroes in Mythology Many Greek myths told about the adventures of great heroes. Some heroes were real, while others were not. Some of the major heroes were Theseus, Jason, and Hercules. –Theseus traveled to Crete and killed the minotaur, a half-human, half-bull monster. –Jason sailed across the seas in search of great treasure. –Hercules was the most famous. He fought many monsters and performed nearly impossible tasks.

Main Idea 2: Ancient Greek literature provides some of the world’s greatest poems and stories. Among the earliest Greek writings are two epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer. The Iliad tells the story of the last years of the Trojan War. The Odyssey describes the challenges that Odysseus faced on his way home from the war. These poems were central to the education system and influenced later writing as well.

Main Idea 3: Greek literature lives on and influences our world even today. The most obvious way we see the influence of the Greeks is in our language. Many English words and expressions come from mythology, such as “odyssey” and “titanic.” Greek myths have inspired artists and writers for centuries. Moviemakers have borrowed some of these stories. Mythological references are also common among names of sports teams.

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