1. Ancient Greece
Chapter 5

3. I. Greek Culture and Geography
In ancient times Greece was not a united country
Polis – A city and all its surrounding countryside
Each polis acted as their own country

5. A. The Sea Shapes Greek life just as rivers shaped early civilizations
All Greeks lived within 85 miles of the sea
Water links all of Greece together
Greece has poor natural resources but was able to create a vast trade network

6. B. The Land 75% of Greece is covered by mountains
Made it impossible to unite the Greeks under a single government
Every city ruled itself independently from other cities

7. Modern Greek City

8. C. Mycenaean Civilization
1st civilization in Greece
Mycenae – Civilization developed around this leading city
Linear B – Mycenaean writing
Important because Western Civilization has roots in Greek civilization

10. D. Trojan War
1250 BC – Troy soldiers(Paris) kidnapped, the Mycenaean King’s wife, Helen of Troy
Greeks fought a ten year war with the city of Troy
Famous Trojan Horse
1872 – Historians discovered the site of ancient Troy

12. Trojan Horse

13. E. Epics of Homer
Dark Ages – 400 year period in which Greeks did not write from 1150 BC to 750 BC
Homer – Author whose books ended the Dark Ages

14. F. Homer’s Books Most famous books 1) The Iliad 2) The Odyssey
Greek hero Achilles, covers the final weeks of the Trojan War
2) The Odyssey
Greek hero Odysseus, tells the story of his return home from the Trojan War

17. G. Importance of Books 1) Greeks started writing again
2) Detailed a code of conduct for all Greeks
Fight hard
Obey commanders
Praise the gods
3) Books were read at public readings and became textbooks at Greek schools

18. H. Greek Myths Myths – Traditional stories about gods and goddesses
Used by Greeks to answer the mysteries of nature
Zeus – Ruler of the gods who lived on Mount Olympus

19. King of the Gods