Ancient Greece By: Alexis Wright

Geography The geography of ancient Greece was divided into three regions : the coast, the lowlands, and the mountains. Typically, temperatures did not go below 40 degrees Fahrenheit with the exception of the high mountains. The climate was hot and dry ; rain was limited in the winter months. The climate was hot and dry ; rain was limited in the winter months. Greece was rocky and barren, which made it bad for agriculture. Greece was rocky and barren, which made it bad for agriculture.

Geography With a shortage of land for farming, the Greeks relied on trading with other places around the Mediterranean for food, building supplies, and other goods. With a shortage of land for farming, the Greeks relied on trading with other places around the Mediterranean for food, building supplies, and other goods. Central Greece has more mountains than Northern Greece. Central Greece has more mountains than Northern Greece. The rocky and uneven soil on the peninsula of Greece allowed for less than 20% of the land to be farmed. The rocky and uneven soil on the peninsula of Greece allowed for less than 20% of the land to be farmed.

Geography Most Greeks lived along the coast, where the soil was mostly good for farming. Most Greeks lived along the coast, where the soil was mostly good for farming. The ocean was a gigantic source of land because the Greeks used it for fishing. The ocean was a gigantic source of land because the Greeks used it for fishing. The mountainous terrain made land travel difficult. With no rivers that could be used for boats (because they would dry up in the summer and overflow in the winter), transportation on the sea was very important for the Greeks. The mountainous terrain made land travel difficult. With no rivers that could be used for boats (because they would dry up in the summer and overflow in the winter), transportation on the sea was very important for the Greeks.

Geography

Government Greece was not yet one country so there was no central form of government in Ancient Greece. Each city-state had it’s own form of government. There were four forms of government; Monarchy, Oligarchy, Tyranny, and Democracy. All of these governments were ruled by men. Greece was not yet one country so there was no central form of government in Ancient Greece. Each city-state had it’s own form of government. There were four forms of government; Monarchy, Oligarchy, Tyranny, and Democracy. All of these governments were ruled by men.

Government Monarchy is rule by a king. Corinth was a monarchy. The king had many advisors. Together, Corinth’s government solved many problems. Monarchy is rule by a king. Corinth was a monarchy. The king had many advisors. Together, Corinth’s government solved many problems. Tyranny was rule by a dictator. A dictator is one person who made all the rules and enforced them with threats. Tyranny was rule by a dictator. A dictator is one person who made all the rules and enforced them with threats.

Government Oligarchy is rule by a small group of people. Sparta was an oligarchy. It was ruled by two kings, five ephods, a council of twenty-eight elders, and a group of citizens. Oligarchy is rule by a small group of people. Sparta was an oligarchy. It was ruled by two kings, five ephods, a council of twenty-eight elders, and a group of citizens. Democracy was rule by a citizens, which included voting in an assembly. Democracy was spilt into two different categories; Direct Democracy and Representative Democracy.

Government Direct Democracy was a government in which people voted to make their own rules and laws. For example Athens was a Direct Democracy. Direct Democracy was a government in which people voted to make their own rules and laws. For example Athens was a Direct Democracy. Representative Democracy was a government in which people voted for representatives. The representatives make the rules and laws that govern themselves and the people. Representative Democracy was a government in which people voted for representatives. The representatives make the rules and laws that govern themselves and the people.

Religion The Greeks were polytheistic in their religious beliefs. Polytheistic means they believed in and worshiped many gods. In Greek mythology (religion), the gods represented different forms of nature. Their religion had no formal structure with the exception of various festivals held to honor the gods. Festivals were a very important part of worshipping the gods. They usually included a procession and a sacrifice. The Greeks were polytheistic in their religious beliefs. Polytheistic means they believed in and worshiped many gods. In Greek mythology (religion), the gods represented different forms of nature. Their religion had no formal structure with the exception of various festivals held to honor the gods. Festivals were a very important part of worshipping the gods. They usually included a procession and a sacrifice.

Religion The ancient Greeks built many great temples to their gods. They built temples in about every town for one god or goddess. These temples were not like modern places of worship for ordinary people to pray in. They were homes for statues of gods. The ancient Greeks built many great temples to their gods. They built temples in about every town for one god or goddess. These temples were not like modern places of worship for ordinary people to pray in. They were homes for statues of gods. The God Zeus

Religion The priest cared for the temples and statues of the gods. Priests were important people in the community. They were believed to have the power to talk to the gods and so were respected and trusted. There were only to ways to become a priest. One was your mother or father was a priest; or, two you were made priest by a dying priest. A priest’s main job was to look after the temple. The priest cared for the temples and statues of the gods. Priests were important people in the community. They were believed to have the power to talk to the gods and so were respected and trusted. There were only to ways to become a priest. One was your mother or father was a priest; or, two you were made priest by a dying priest. A priest’s main job was to look after the temple.

Religion The Greeks believed that the twelve most important gods and goddess lived at the top of Mount Olympus. They were a family and, just like a human family, they argued and looked after one another. Mount Olympus, in northern Greece, is the highest mountain in the country. It was believed to be the home of the gods, because it was often so cloudy and no one could see its summit. The Greeks believed that the twelve most important gods and goddess lived at the top of Mount Olympus. They were a family and, just like a human family, they argued and looked after one another. Mount Olympus, in northern Greece, is the highest mountain in the country. It was believed to be the home of the gods, because it was often so cloudy and no one could see its summit.

Food The Greek diet was very healthy. Food in ancient Greece contained, grains, wheat, barely, fruits, vegetables, breads, and cakes. The ancient Greeks grew olives, grapes, figs, and wheat. They also kept goats, for milk and cheese. They ate a lot of bread, beans, and olives. The Greek diet was very healthy. Food in ancient Greece contained, grains, wheat, barely, fruits, vegetables, breads, and cakes. The ancient Greeks grew olives, grapes, figs, and wheat. They also kept goats, for milk and cheese. They ate a lot of bread, beans, and olives.

Food The soil by the sea was not as rich as on the plains, so the Greeks used irrigation and crop rotation to keep the soil relatively fertile. The soil by the sea was not as rich as on the plains, so the Greeks used irrigation and crop rotation to keep the soil relatively fertile. In some larger Greek city states, meat could be purchased in cook shops. However, meat was rarely eaten, as the Greeks felt that just killing and eating a domesticated animal (goats) was wrong. The Greeks would often sacrifice the meat to the gods first and then might eat some of the meat. In some larger Greek city states, meat could be purchased in cook shops. However, meat was rarely eaten, as the Greeks felt that just killing and eating a domesticated animal (goats) was wrong. The Greeks would often sacrifice the meat to the gods first and then might eat some of the meat.

Food Breakfast was eaten just after sunrise and contained bread dipped in wine. Breakfast was eaten just after sunrise and contained bread dipped in wine. Lunch was also bread dipped in wine, with figs, olives, cheese, or dried fish. Lunch was also bread dipped in wine, with figs, olives, cheese, or dried fish. Supper started around sunset and consisted of veggies, fruits, fish, and possibly honey cake. Sugar was unknown to Greeks, so they used honey as sweetner.

Food In the summer months, there were plenty of fresh fruits and veggies to eat. In the winter they ate dried fruit and food they had stored like apples. In the summer months, there were plenty of fresh fruits and veggies to eat. In the winter they ate dried fruit and food they had stored like apples. Fish was the main source of protein in the Greek diet. It was easy for the Greeks to get fish because they were near water.

Food Wine was the main drink in ancient Greece. It was watered down; to drink it straight was very unsophisticated. Milk was rarely drunk, because it too, was unsophisticated. Milk was used for cheese. Water was also a possible choice as a drink. Wine was the main drink in ancient Greece. It was watered down; to drink it straight was very unsophisticated. Milk was rarely drunk, because it too, was unsophisticated. Milk was used for cheese. Water was also a possible choice as a drink.

Food The Greeks did not have any eating utensils, so they ate with their hands. Bread was often used to scoop out thick soups. Bread was also used as a napkin, it was thrown on the floor for dogs or slaves to pick up. The Greeks did not have any eating utensils, so they ate with their hands. Bread was often used to scoop out thick soups. Bread was also used as a napkin, it was thrown on the floor for dogs or slaves to pick up.

Men, Women, And Children Men had the biggest role for the most part in public life in ancient Greece. They ran politics and public events, while women were often encouraged to stay home. Men had the biggest role for the most part in public life in ancient Greece. They ran politics and public events, while women were often encouraged to stay home.

Men When men entertained, their wives were not invited to the dinner. When men entertained, their wives were not invited to the dinner. The Olympic games were for men only, while in another part of Olympia, the women had a very small event in Hera’s honor. The Olympic games were for men only, while in another part of Olympia, the women had a very small event in Hera’s honor.

Women Women in most ancient Greek city-states had very few rights. Women in most ancient Greek city-states had very few rights. They were under the control and protection of their father, husband, or a male relative for their whole lives. They were under the control and protection of their father, husband, or a male relative for their whole lives. Women had no role in politics. Women had no role in politics. Women that were wealthy did little or no work. They stayed indoors running their house holds. The only important job they could have was being a priest. In Athens, pale skin showed that a women was wealthy enough to stay indoors.

Women Also in Athens, only very poor women were found outside without a male escorting her. Sheltering women was not as common in other Greek city-states.

Women For example in Sparta, women had much more freedom and a larger role in society, but were still not as powerful as men. For example in Sparta, women had much more freedom and a larger role in society, but were still not as powerful as men. Spartan women didn’t have any restrictions, so they had more freedom and responsibilities. They were able to go out in public alone, participate in events and inherit land. In the fourth century, over two fifths of the land in Sparta was owned by women.

Children Babies born in ancient Greece often had a hard time surviving. Many died in the first few days after they were born so, babies didn’t receive names until the 10 th day of life. Babies born in ancient Greece often had a hard time surviving. Many died in the first few days after they were born so, babies didn’t receive names until the 10 th day of life. If a baby was deformed, it might be abandoned on a mountain. Sometimes abandoned babies were rescued and brought up as slaves by another family. If a baby was deformed, it might be abandoned on a mountain. Sometimes abandoned babies were rescued and brought up as slaves by another family.

Children In some Greek cities, children were wrapped up in cloths until they were about two years old to insure straight, strong, and healthy limbs. In some Greek cities, children were wrapped up in cloths until they were about two years old to insure straight, strong, and healthy limbs. Other Greek city-states such as Sparta, did not do this to children. Children spent most of their time with their mother in the women’s part of the house. Other Greek city-states such as Sparta, did not do this to children. Children spent most of their time with their mother in the women’s part of the house.

Children Girls would receive their whole education and house training in their homes with their mothers. Girls would receive their whole education and house training in their homes with their mothers. Girls reached puberty at age twelve or thirteen. At this time they were considered adults and could be married. Girls reached puberty at age twelve or thirteen. At this time they were considered adults and could be married. Girls took their childhood toys and stuffed animals and left them at the temple of Artemis. This demonstrated that their childhood was over and they were becoming adults.

Children After marrying, the women were expected to have a baby. Not being able to have children was considered a curse from the gods. After marrying, the women were expected to have a baby. Not being able to have children was considered a curse from the gods.

Children Boys might learn their father’s trade or go to schools around the age of seven. Boys might learn their father’s trade or go to schools around the age of seven. In Sparta, seven year old boys were taken to barracks by the city and raised there. They were trained in the military and not allowed to leave until they were thirty. In Sparta, seven year old boys were taken to barracks by the city and raised there. They were trained in the military and not allowed to leave until they were thirty.

Children In other city states, at the age of eighteen, boys were required to join the army. In other city states, at the age of eighteen, boys were required to join the army. Many city states required males to participate in politics at the age of thirty. Many city states required males to participate in politics at the age of thirty.