Mrs Robinson World History i Mater Academy Ancient

Mrs. Robinson World History i. Mater Academy Ancient Greece

Atlas- RA 11

Ancient Greek View of the World

• The Mediterranean Sea moderates Greece's climate, cooling the air in summer and providing warmth in the winter months. • Summers are generally hot and dry. Winters are moderate and rainy in coastal regions and cold and snowy in mountainous areas.

Greek Geography • Many mountain ranges… -this made communication difficult and led to the development of independent city-states. • Numerous islands and the coastlines stimulated a seagoing trade. • Limited natural resources… and rocky soil encouraged the Greeks to establish colonies abroad.

• Many different independent city-states. • The city-states formed south of the mountains or in the valleys between them. • Because they were isolated, the un-unified Greek city states each had their own distinct culture. • This isolation also prevented unification of the Greek city-states.

e et s so os Kn y Tr o Aegean Sea Cr ae en yc M Black Sea

MINOANS • The Minoan Civilization (2700 -1450 BCE) was rich culture based on the island of Crete. - Largest island in the Aegean. - Knossos, their largest city, was home to King Minos. • Traded with other Greeks, Egyptians and even Mesopotamians. • Suffered a catastrophe (natural or invasion) which lead to their destruction.

Minoan Artifacts

MYCENAE • Mycenaean Civilization (1600 -1100 BCE) was made up of an alliance of powerful kings. • Were warrior people who prided themselves on heroism in battle. • Collected taxes and kept records. • Historians believed civilization collapsed because of war and invasion.

Tholos • Tombs for members of the royal family. - Were built into hillsides and looked like a beehive. • They were full of riches for the dead.

Mycenaean Artifacts

• Iron replaced bronze. - Allowed for better tools and weapons. • New farm tools helped to revive agriculture. - Revival of Trade. • Adoption of Phoenician alphabet. - Simplified the language, made it easier to learn & spread.

HOMER • Was a famous Greek Poet. • It is said that he was a blind storyteller who wandered from town to town. • Two great poems are attributed to Homer. -”The Iliad”, which takes place during the Trojan War… - And “The Odyssey” tells of the tale of one man’s individual journey. - Known as epic poems.