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Greece's geography, characterized by its mountainous terrain and extensive coastlines, significantly shaped its early civilization. The rugged landscape led to the establishment of isolated communities that developed distinct cultures and governments, viewing themselves as citizens of their local city-state rather than a unified Greek identity. The Greeks became skilled sailors, relying on the Mediterranean, Ionian, and Aegean seas for trade and cultural exchange, facilitated by the Minoans and Mycenaeans. This regional diversity laid the foundation for the classical age and the rise of powerful city-states, shaping Western civilization.
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Geography Shapes Greek Civilization • Greece is a peninsula= body of land surrounded by water on 3 sides • Made up of mainland Greece, islands, & peninsula • Most of Greece is mountainous w/ few flat land for farming
A. Mountains & Settlements • Mountainous landscape ppl settling in few flat areas in valleys • Towns/villages separated by mountains & seas • Mountains=traveled diff. so communities became isolated • Ppl created their own gov’t & cultures • Saw themselves as residents of a city rather than Greek
B. Seas & Ships • Since travel in rugged terrain was diff. they turned to the seas • Mediterranean sea (S), Ioanian(W), Aegean (E) • Sea = source of food & travel • Became skilled sailors & ship builders • Traded products & IDEAS with other cultures Q= What is the term used for the exchanging of ideas between cultures?
II Trading Cultures Develop • 2 earliest cultures= Minoans & Mycenaean’s
A. The Minoans • Lived on island of Crete • Traded oil, pottery, & wood with other regions • Volcano exploded north of Crete & flooded island • Explosion may have led to the end of Minoan civ. • Not considered Greek because they didn’t speak Greek language
B. The Mycenaean's • 1stppl to speak Greek 1stppl to be considered Greek • Built fortresses on mainland • Mycenae= largest fortress & namesake • Took over Crete after Minoan civ. Declined • Major traders in Mediterranean • Were not peaceful traders. • Possible they attacked Troy • Declined when European invaders attacked • As Mycenaean culture declined, Greece slipped into a Dark Age= A period of warfare & disorder
III Greeks Create City-States • Greeks began to join together in small groups for protection & stability • Groups began to develop into separate polis’= city-state • Beginning of city-states marks beginning of Greece’s Classical Age= period of great achievements
A. Life in a City State • Polis built around fortress atop an Acropolis • Acropolis= high hill • Ppl gathered inside walls during wartime • Walls= protection • City life revolved around an Agora • Agora= marketplace • Agora served as meeting place for pol 7 rel. assemblies • Polis protected ppl & gave them identity • Spartan, Athenian • Ppl expected to participate in polis affairs (vote)
B. City-States & Colonization Istanbul, Turkey • As Greek life became settled ppls attention shifted from defense to other things • City-states established colonies • Colonies= territory under control of another state (polis) • Colonies expanded and created colonies of their own in turn making them a polis • Istanbul Turkey, Naples Italy, Marseille France Napoli, Italy
