1. Greece Cultures of the Mountains and the Sea
Chapter 5 Section 1 page111

2. What did Greeks Value? - Pericles, an Athenian Statesman
“Our constitution is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people”
- Pericles, an Athenian Statesman
“For we are lovers of the beautiful, yet simple in our tastes”
-Thucydides, a historian

3. Geography Shapes Greek Life
Greece wasn’t a united country, instead a collection of separate lands where Greek speaking people lived
Like the Minoans who lived on the Greek island Crete

4. The land
Greece mainly a mountainous peninsula extending into Mediterranean Sea.
Also includes 1,400 islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas
Basically, a civilization on water
Never traveled more than 85 miles between coastlines

5. Geography
Rugged mountains covered ¾ of ancient Greece- only 20% of land suitable for farming- access to sea was important due to lack of natural resources
Because of mountains, couldn’t unite under a single government
Didn’t have roads- just dirt paths. To travel from Sparta to Olympia (site of Olympic games) took 7 days to travel just 60 miles!

6. Today, they have built homes and buildings on these steep rugged mountains

7. With so little fertile farmland or fresh water for irrigation, Greece wasn’t able to support a large population
Greeks based diet on basic staple crops like grains, grapes and olives
Desire for more living space and farmland were probably factors that motivated Greeks to seek new sites for colonies

9. Perfect climate
Had varied climate that averaged 48 degrees in winter and 80 degrees in summer
Weather allowed for an outdoor lifestyle
Men spent time outdoors or at public events discussing politics, news, or engaging in sports

10. Mycenaean Civilization Develops
Existed around 2000 B.C.
Name came from city they settled in, Mycenae (my-SEE-nee) on the mainland of Greece

11. Mycenaean's
Ruled by militaristic kings- these kings dominated Greece from B.C.
City surrounded by protective walls 20 feet thick- could withstand any attack
Lived in huge beautiful palaces

12. Mycenaean's
Lived an extravagant life, drank from gold and silver and cups
When royal Mycenaean’s died, they were buried with richest treasures
Warrior kings became wealthy by controlling local production and trade
Wealthy kings used weapons made of bronze while commoners used tools made of wood and stone

13. Influenced by the Minoan’s
Kings invaded Crete, and flourished on the island for 600 years
Preserved Minoan culture, especially using sea for travel
Adapted the Minoan writing system to the Greek language and decorated vases with Minoan designs
Legacy survived in form of legends, eventually forming core for Greek politics, religious practice, art and literature.

14. Trojan War
Legend: The Trojan War was a war waged, against the city of Troy in Asia Minor following the kidnapping of Helen of Sparta by a Trojan youth
The actual Trojan war was probably a Mycenaean raid occurring around 1200 B.C. against rival trading city Troy, and a fight to control the Aegean Sea
Many believed the legendary stories of the war was fictional
1870, and excavation of the site revealed 9 layers of city life in NW Turkey, suggesting the story of the Trojan war was based on real stories, events and people

16. Truth of Troy: Trojan War Story

17. The Dorians Shortly after Trojan war Mycenaean civilization collapsed
Economy and trade stopped existing
1200 B.C. sea raiders attacked and burned palace after palace
Another group moved to war-torn country side called the Dorians
Far less advanced than Mycenaean Greeks- no written record for a 400 year period
Hard to know about period of decline with no written record

19. Epics of Homer
With no writing, Greeks of this time learned about Trojan War through spoken word
Greatest storyteller was Homer, a blind man
Composed epics- narrative poems celebrating heroic deeds
Trojan War backdrop for Homer’s 2 epic poems, The Iliad and the Odyssey

21. The Iliad
The heroes of the Iliad were the fierce Greek Achilles, and courageous noble Hector of Troy.
The story is an example of arête, meaning virtue and excellence
A Greek could display this ideal on the battlefield, in combat, or athletic competitions
Read A Voice From the Past on page 114. What is Hector communicating to his wife?

22. The Odyssey
Story is about Odysseus and how he uses wit and trickery to defeat the Trojans
Much of the epic is set after the war, and is about his 10 year adventure home and the strange lands he visits along the way

23. Greeks Create Myths
Greeks developed a rich set of myths- traditional stories- about their gods
Tried to understand mysteries of human nature and human passions through myths
Attributed human qualities to their gods like love, hate and jealousy
The gods competed with each other constantly , but could live forever unlike humans

24. Greek Gods Zues- ruler of Gods lived on Mount Olympus with wife Hera
Hera jealous of Zeus’s relationships with other women
Athena, was Zeus’s favorite daughter, and goddess of wisdom
Hermes was the son of Zeus, and messenger of gods

26. Gods and Goddesses

27. A few other things the Greeks have given us….

28. Assignment On the back side of your notesheet:
Come up with 5 “ Gods of Worship” that would be important to society today.
What would their names be?
Be prepared to share with the class
Examples: “God of Sports”, money, etc..