Where is Greece Its capital city is Athens

Where is Greece? • It’s capital city is Athens. • It is famous for its beautiful beaches and sea! • Greece is on the Balkan Peninsula.

Ancient Greece • In Ancient Greece, the different city-states were at war with each other.

Early Greece

The Climate • The Greek summer is hot and dry. Greek winter is moderate and often rainy

Ancient Greece - terrain • The Pindus Mountains run down the center of the Balkan Peninsula

Ancient Greece - terrain • No part of Greece is more than about forty miles from the coast (a couple of days walking). • There are lots of islands surrounding Greece.

Terrain & Trading • The Greece’s islands are mostly mountain peaks. • 1/5 of all Greece is suitable for growing crops. • This led Greeks to become traders and sailors. • Greece had an abundance of timber, but little grain • Built two types of ships; war & trading ships • Piracy was common • Powered by sail • Sailed from Athens to Black Sea

Crops • Main crops were grapes & olives. • Learned how to cultivate the olives to make olive oil • Wheat, lentils, barley, figs, were also grown • Small vegetable gardens

Importing & Exporting of Greece Imports • Grain (Balkan Sea) • Silk (China) by way of Egypt • Hides, wool, copper, gold, glass • Spices, ivory, frankincense (India) Exports • Olive oil (Egypt & other counties) • Honey • Pottery • Timber

Volcanoes • Another important aspect of the Greek environment is that it is very unstable. • Greece is in the middle of a very volcanic zone, between the European and African tectonic plates. • There were several active volcanoes, earthquakes were common.