1. GEOGRAPHY of GREECE

2. The first major classical civilization was ancient Greece
After the river valley era, a number of classical civilizations developed in the Mediterranean and in Asia
The first major classical civilization was ancient Greece
Classic cultures created high levels of achievement in art, science, & technology that impacted future ages

3. What Continent is Greece a part of?
Sunny Greece is 1,500 miles from England.
It’s capital city is Athens
What Continent is Greece a part of?

4. Ancient Greece: Picture Prediction
You will be shown 4 pictures of Greece.
Study each picture and then write down what predictions you can make about life in Greece.
Think about: geography, culture, economic activities, etc…

5. Mt. Olympus- 2,917 Feet

6. You may have noticed… Greece is mostly mountainous. Greece is
. Greece has no
major rivers.
Greece is
surrounded
on three sides
by seas.
Greece is
mostly
mountainous.
Greece includes
more than
1500 islands
(Crete being
the largest)

7. What type of Geographic feature is Greece?

9. Greece is located on the Balkan peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea.
A piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides, but connected to mainland
Greece is located on the Balkan peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea.
It is comparable to the size of Louisiana.

11. Seas Surrounding Greece
Aegean Sea is to the East of Greece.
Ionian Sea to the West of Greece (in between Greece and Italy)
Mediterranean Sea to the South of Greece.
Due to Greece being a peninsula, It has long coastlines and many bays which were good for trading.

12. Moderate Climate Avg. temperature: 48˚ winter 80˚ summer
Many important activities took place outside because of the ideal temperatures.
Examples: political meetings, discussions about public issues, exchange news, etc…

13. Most people lived along the coast
for 2 major reasons: 2.
Greece was able to
use the Seas
to sell their crops to
other lands
located across
the water.
Rich Soil &
Mild Climate
helped with farming
and raising
animals. 1.

14. Hills were used to Raise animals
Small amounts of
wheat
and barley were
grown.
The main
crops
were grapes
and olives.
Olive oil
was traded
for other
Products.
Greece had
dry
climate.
FARMING
Hills were used to
Raise animals

15. The Seas Around Greece
The Seas were used for:
Transportation
Communication
Trade
Due to this
Greeks became skilled shipbuilders and sailors.
As the Greeks traveled, they found sources of food and other products they needed to survive.
Ships sailed to Asia Minor, to Egypt, and to the islands
of the Mediterranean and Aegean seas.

16. CULTURAL DIFFUSION What happens when you trade with a different
They controlled trade
with all islands in the
Aegean Sea & cities on
Ionian Sea,
Syria and Egypt.
What happens
when you trade
with a different
country?
CULTURAL
DIFFUSION

17. What is Cultural Diffusion?
The spreading of ideas, knowledge and technology across cultures.

18. Greece’s Inland was Divided by Mountains
Rugged
mountains
cover
75%
of the land
This Made unification difficult –
Regions developed into small, independent communities called city-states.
Each City-State
had it’s own government.
The mountains divided the people of Greece.

20. Greeks believed that the gods and goddesses
Mt. Olympus- 2,917 Feet –
Greeks believed that the gods and goddesses
lived on Mount Olympus.
In Ancient Greece daily life focused on keeping their many gods and goddesses happy.

21. GREECE Disadvantages: Advantages: What are the advantages and
of living in
mountainous
Land?
Advantages:
1. Encouraged
the development
of independent
cities.
2. Barrier for
Invaders.
Disadvantages:
1. physically
isolated
2. communication
difficult
3. travel was rare

22. 2….2 min videos… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnoNc6HVQnk

23. and cultural diffusion affect the development
How did the
geographic features
and cultural diffusion
affect the development
of the Greek civilizations?

24. What major economic activity
Trade helped to
spread Greek ideas.
Greeks got the
alphabet and
coins from
other civilizations.
What major economic activity
developed in Greece
as a result of its
geographic features?
Trade

25. Geography Shapes Greek Life
BACKGROUND: In ancient times, Greece was not a united country. It was a collection of separate lands where Greek-speaking people lived. By 2000 BCE, the Minoans lived on the large Greek island of Crete. The Minoans created an elegant civilization that had great power in the Mediterranean world. At the same time, Indo-European peoples migrated from the plains along the Black Sea and Anatolia. The Indo-Europeans settled in mainland Greece. Seaborne commercial networks spread ideas as well as resources throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Ancient Greece consisted mainly of a mountainous peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea. It also included approximately 1,400 islands in the Aegean and Ionian seas. Lands on the western coast of Anatolia were also part of ancient Greece. The region’s physical geography directly shaped Greek traditions and customs.

26. THE SEA:
The sea shaped Greek civilization just as rivers shaped the ancient civilizations of Egypt and the Fertile Crescent. In one sense, the Greeks did not live on a land, but AROUND a sea. Greeks rarely traveled more than 85 miles to reach the coastline. The Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea, and the neighboring Black Sea were important transportation routes for the Greek people. These liquid highways linked most parts of Greece. As the Greeks became skilled sailors, sea travel also connected Greece with other societies. Sea travel and trade were also important because Greece itself was poor in natural resources. Greece lacked timber, precious metals, and usable farmland.

27. THE LAND:
Rugged mountains covered about three-fourths of ancient Greece. Mountains divided the land into a number of different regions. The mountain chains ran mainly from northwest to southeast along the Balkan peninsula. They significantly influenced Greek political life. Unlike the Egyptians or the Chinese, it was difficult to unite the ancient Greeks under a single government. Greece developed small, independent communities within each little valley and its surrounding mountains. Most Greeks gave their loyalty to these local communities.
In ancient times, the uneven terrain also made land transportation difficult. Early Greek roads were little more than dirt paths. For example, the city-state of Sparta was only about 60 miles from Olympia, the site of the Olympic Games. Yet it took Spartans almost seven days to travel that distance.

28. LAND CONT:
Much of the land itself was stony and only a small part of it—approximately 20 percent—was arable, or suitable for farming. Tiny but fertile valleys covered about one-fourth of Greece. The small streams that watered these valleys were not suitable for large-scale irrigation projects.
With so little fertile farmland or fresh water for irrigation, Greece was never able to support a large population. It is estimated that no more than a few million people lived in ancient Greece at any given time. Even this small population couldn’t expect the land to support a life of luxury. As a result, the Greeks based their diet on basic staple crops such as grains, grapes, and olives. A desire for more living space, grassland for raising livestock, and adequate farmland may have been factors that motivated the Greeks to seek new sites for colonies.

29. THE CLIMATE:
Climate was the third important environmental influence on Greek civilization. Greece has a varied climate with temperatures averaging 48 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. In ancient times, these moderate temperatures supported an outdoor life for many Greek citizens. Men spent much of their leisure time at outdoor public events. They met often to discuss public issues, exchange news, and take an active part in civic life.

30. RANDOM FUN FACT… DID YOU KNOW? The Lincoln Memorial was designed after
the temples of ancient Greece.
…who knew?

31. Effects Geographic Features
Lets Review before you complete an activity on your own…
Geographic
Features
Effects
Able to exchange ideas with other cultures (cultural diffusion)
Fishing: (source of food)
Trading: wine, olive oil and wool
Jobs: traders, sailors, & ship builders.
Sea
Mountains made transportation and communication very challenging (small, independent city-states developed)
Limited population growth, isolation.
Poor food production (little farmland)
Grew grains, grapes, olives
Land
Greek life was centered around the outdoors
open-air Temples and gymnasiums.
Moderate climate

32. Fertile Soil along Coast
Fact 1 :
The mainland of Greece was cut up by short mountain ranges and had no major rivers.
Impact:   
Fact 2:
The Greek mainland and islands were close to the sea, and the Greeks had many good harbors. The long coastline brought every part of the mainland close to the sea.
Fact 3:
Greece Geography was diverse allowing for various economic activities.
Fertile Soil along Coast
Rocky Plains
Rugged Mountains
Flat Plains
Your Turn…
complete this
chart at the bottom
of your notes.
(3 Impacts per Fact)

33. Fact 1:
The mainland of Greece was cut up by short mountain ranges and had no major rivers.
Impact:
Difficult for the people to develop a sense of unity.
Interaction & Communication limited because blocked by mountains.
No rivers to provide transportation or trade.
Many small city-states developed.

34. Fact 2:
The Greek mainland and islands were close to the sea, and the Greeks had many good harbors. The long coastline brought every part of the mainland close to the sea.
Impact:
Trade and cultural exchange easier.
Greeks became skilled fishermen, sailors, and traders.
Unity increased due to interaction, communication and trade. (cultural diffusion)
Trade increased bring more goods and money to Greece.

35. Fertile Soil along Coast
Fact 3:
Greece Geography was diverse allowing for various economic activities.
Fertile Soil along Coast
Rocky Plains
Rugged Mountains
Flat Plains
Impact:
Greeks grew grapes and olives that were indigenous to the area.
herded sheep on the steep mountainsides
became fishermen, sailors, ship builders
Traded wine, olive oil and wool for other products needed to survive.
Pottery was created to transport the wine and olive oil and became an integral part of Greek culture

36. That’s all folks!!

37. WITH THE CORRECT ANSWER.
1. What continent is Greece located on?
a. Asia b. Europe c. Africa d. Australia
2. The mainland of Greece best represents what physical landform?
a An island
b A mountain
c A peninsula
A coastal plain
3. Which of the following bodies of water are not surrounding Greece?
a. Aegean Sea b. Ionian Sea c. Red Sea d. Mediterranean Sea
4. What type of land in Greece was best for farming?
a. Mountains
b. Valleys
c. Coastal plains
d. The mainland
Copy each STATEMENT
WITH THE CORRECT ANSWER.

38. Don’t forget your name 1st and last 
EXIT SLIP:
Don’t forget your name 1st and last 
Why was it difficult to farm in ancient Greece?
Why did the Greeks depend heavily on trade?
List two geographic features and their effects on the Greeks.
Why did the ancient Greeks never develop a unified system of government?