Ancient Greece Geography of Greece Greece is a

Ancient Greece

Geography of Greece �Greece is a mountainous peninsula about the size of Louisiana. �The mountains and the sea were the most important geographical influences on Greece.

Geography Cont. �Greece has many ports, inlets, and islands. �The Greeks became seafarers. �They sailed into the Aegean, the Black and the Mediterranean Seas, making contact with the outside world and spreading colonies and trade throughout the Mediterranean area.

The Minoan Civilization �By 2800 B. C. E. , a Bronze Age civilization called the Minoan civilization was established on Crete. �The Minoan civilization flourished between 2000 and 1450 B. C. E.

The Polis �Is a Greek city-state �The first Greek polis was Mycenae �The term Mycenaean comes from Mycenae, a fortified site in Greece �The Mycenaean civilization thrived between 1600 and 1100 B. C. E. , reaching its height between 1400 and 1200 B. C. E.

Life in Mycenae �Mycenae was made up of an alliance of powerful monarchies. �Monarchy- a government ruled by a king or queen �Mycenaeans had a warrior culture. �Their murals show the typical occupations of a warrior aristocracy--hunting and fighting.

THE POLIS �By 750 B. C. E. , the polis, meaning Greek city-state, became the central focus of Greek life. �Our own word politics comes from the Greek word polis. �The polis was a town, city, or village serving as a center where people met for political, economic, social, and religious activity.

ACROPOLIS �The main gathering place was usually on a hill, topped with a fortified area called the acropolis. �This was a refuge and sometimes a place for religious or other public buildings. �Below was the agora, an open area for assembly and for a market.

Athens �Is Considered Greece’s greatest city �Was the birthplace of democracy �Democracy- government controlled by its citizens, either directly or indirectly �Athens’ population exceeded 300, 000 by the 5 th century B. C. E.