1. Geography of Ancient Greece

2. The Size
Greece occupied about 45,000 square miles– about the size of Louisiana
Many islands
Spread culture through colonization

3. The Sea Greece is a Peninsula surrounded by water
Aegean Sea (to the East)
Ionian Sea (to the West)
Black Sea (to the North-West)
Mediterranean Sea (to the South)
Trade was imperative because Greece was not rich in natural resources.

4. The Land Mountains covered 75% of Greece
Mount Olympus (highest, home of Greek Gods)
Made for difficult travel, but good protection
Fertile Valleys covered 25% and made for the living areas known as city-states
Not enough fresh-water to feed a large population (only about 2 million people)

5. The Climate Moderate temperatures Only rains in winter
Led to outdoor living
Agora (marketplace)
Gymnasium
Political meetings
Theatre
Religious ceremonies
Participation in city-states was a DUTY & a VIRTUE

6. The Bronze Age Island Life Mainland Life Minoan Life Mycenaean Life
Trojan War

7. Minoan Society On Island of Crete (to the South)
Height of power from BC
Lived a prosperous life from trade
Evidence that women shared social equality

8. Minoan’s No use of Greek language or religion but influenced Greece
Made contact with advanced Egypt and mainland Greece
The cause for the end of Minoan Civilization is debated
Some historians claim a tsunami triggered by a volcanic eruption on a nearby island
Most however believe it was due to invasion by the Mycenaeans

9. Mycenaean Society Lived on Mainland of Greece
Flourished from B.C.
Migrated from India, Egypt, and other lands
Walled-cities for protection
Most were farmers living
outside of walls
Commercial network selling
pottery spread from Syria to
Italy

10. Mycenaean Warriors Prided themselves on heroic deeds in battle.
Evidence of battle through Homer’s poetry
Enormous wealth from war/
plunder & trade– even indoor plumbing

11. Trojan War Famous Mycenaean War Happened around 1200 B.C.
Trojan prince had taken
Helen, wife of a Greek king.
Trojan Horse

12. Dark Ages Dorians Homer Arete The Olympics Religion/ Mythology
A Mycenaean Death Mask

13. Dorian Migration
Mycenaean Society was destroyed by invaders around 1200 B.C.
From B.C., distant relatives known as the Dorians settled there.
They destroyed trade and lost all writing (causing the term “Dark Ages”)
Many Greeks left mainland and moved to Ionia

14. End of Dark Ages
Iron replaces bronze and for weapons and farming tools
Phoenician alphabet (24 letters) is adopted and makes learning to read and write easier
Homer’s work appears

15. Homer The most famous “bard” during the Dark Ages.
Children had to memorize his work as a way of learning history.
Explained that Greek society was based on agriculture and warrior-aristocracy controlled the wealth and the power.
Stories carried values that will be appreciated through the times, “that virtue is better policy than vice.”-- Odyssey

16. The Iliad Story of Trojan War
The Slaying of Hector

17. The Odyssey Story of a Odysseus, a hero’s journey home

18. Arete To Strive for excellence, show courage, and win fame and honor
It is won in a struggle or contest to protect family, friends, or your own honor/ reputation
Homer the Greeks a model of Arete through his epics

19. The Olympics
Competition took place in Olympia every four years, beginning in 776 B.C.
Lasted 5 days
Halted all wars
Winners crowned with a
wreath of olive leaves
Real prize was Arete

20. Mount Olympus

21. Gods and Goddesses

22. Gods and Goddesses Very human, with human emotions, but immortal
Gathered at Mount Olympus
MYTHS – stories about gods intended to explain mysteries of nature and human existence
Religion was closely linked to government and polis’ pride.