The Geography of Greece

Impact of Geography Greece consists of a mountainous peninsula and numerous surrounding islands. The many mountains and the sea influenced Greek history. It caused the Greeks to be isolated from one another. This caused different Greek communities to develop their own ways of life. The small size of these independent communities encouraged people to participate in political affairs.

Rivalry between the communities emerged which led to warfare that devastated Greek society. Greece has many ports, inlets, and islands. It also has many natural barriers, which include: Ionian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea, plains, mountain ranges, and river valleys.

The Minoan Civilization B.C. The Minoan civilization was established on the large island of Crete. An archaeologist discovered an enormous palace complex on Crete at Knossos. The remains revealed a rich culture. The palace contained many brightly colored living rooms, working shops for making vases, ivory figurines, and jewelry, and bathrooms with drains, oil jars, wine jars and grain.

The Minoans were traders, and their ships took them to Egypt and southern Greece. The Minoan civilization suffered a catastrophe around 1450 B.C. Some historians believe that a tidal wave triggered by a volcanic eruption on the island of Thera caused its devastation. Others believe the civilization was destroyed by an invasion of mainland Greeks known as the Mycenaean’s.

First Greek State: Mycenae B.C. The Mycenaean civilization was made up of powerful monarchies. Each resided in an equipped palace center. These centers were built on hills and surrounded by gigantic stonewalls. The royal families lived within the walls of these complexes. The rest of the civilians lived in scattered locations outside the walls. The Mycenaean’s were warriors.

Their wall paintings show the typical occupations of a warrior aristocracy –hunting and fighting. They developed an extensive commercial network. Spreading out militarily, they conquered some of the Greek islands, perhaps even Crete. Their most famous military adventures come to us in the poetry of Homer. According to Homer, King Agamemnon and the Mycenaean’s sacked the city of Troy on the northwestern coast of Asia Minor. The Mycenaean states began to fight one another, and earthquakes damaged their civilization, making them weak. It collapsed by 1100 B.C., after new waves of invaders moved into Greece from the north.

The Greeks in the Dark Ages B.C. Both population and food production fell. Large numbers of Greeks left the mainland and sailed west to Ionia (Asia Minor). A revival of trade and economic activity. Iron replaced bronze during the Dark Age, improving weaponry and farming. Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet.

Homer One of the world’s greatest poets appeared near the end of the Dark Age. Homer’s two great epic poems were the Iliad and the Odyssey. An epic poem is a long poem that tells the deeds of a great hero. Homer’s poems taught values, such as courage and honor. The values in the poems were used to educate young men for generations to come. Father had their sons memorize all of Homer’s poetry to learn how to act well and be virtuous men. The Greek hero strove for excellence, or arête, which is won in a struggle or contest. Through fighting and protecting family and friends, the man preserves his and his family’s honor. He also wins an honorable reputation.