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Geography and Cultures of Ancient Greece: Minoans, Mycenaeans, and City-States

Explore the fascinating geography and early cultures of Ancient Greece, focusing on the Minoans and Mycenaeans. Discover how Greece's rugged mountains and scattered islands influenced agriculture, trade, and the development of isolated city-states. Learn about the Minoans, skilled traders and shipbuilders of Crete, and the Mycenaeans, the first Greeks who spoke the Greek language and built fortresses. Understand the political structures, including oligarchy and direct democracy, that shaped daily life in these ancient communities.

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Geography and Cultures of Ancient Greece: Minoans, Mycenaeans, and City-States

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  1. Greece – Classical Age Chapter 6-1 Geography of Ancient Greece Video: Minoans and Mycenaeans – 25m TN SPI – 6.5.11

  2. Directions • For today’s lesson, you will need a sheet of notebook paper folded as a 4-square. • Colored Pencils

  3. Geography and Agriculture Trading Cultures Government City-States

  4. Geography of Ancient Greece • Greece is a country made up of: • Small scattered islands • Rugged mountains • Many peninsulas • Few valleys and coastal plains for farming • Isolated communities

  5. Agriculture • Because of geography, farming was often difficult. • Good farmland was located by the coast and in the valleys. • Farms were usually small and only produced enough food to feed one family with a little extra to sell at the market. • Major crops: wheat, barley, olives, grapes • Farm animals: pigs, poultry, sheep, goats

  6. Geographic Borders • Greece is bordered by: • Aegean Sea -East • Ionian Sea - West • Mediterranean Sea - South • Macedonia – North • Mt. Olympus – 9,570’ • Since travel inland across rugged mountains was so difficult, the early Greeks became skilled shipbuilders and sailors. • The sea was for travel, trading, and a source of food.

  7. MACEDONIA TROY IONIAN SEA AEGEAN SEA OLYMPIA ATHENS SPARTA CRETE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

  8. Trading Cultures • Two of the earliest cultures that settled in Greece were: • the Minoans – seafaring traders (non Greek) • the Mycenaeans – considered the first Greeks

  9. The Minoans • The Minoans lived on the island of Crete located south of Greece in the Mediterranean Sea. • Although they lived in what is now Greece, they are not considered to be Greek because they didn’t speak the Greek language. • They were among the best shipbuilders and traders in the Mediterranean. • They traded pottery and olive oil for copper, gold, silver, and jewels. • A volcano erupted in the c1600 BC ending the Minoan civilization.

  10. The Mycenaeans • The Mycenaeans were the first to speak the Greek language and are considered by historians to be the first Greeks. • They were builders of fortresses all over the Greek mainland and often attacked other kingdoms. • Historians believe the Mycenaeans attacked the city of Troy, possibly starting the legendary Trojan War. • The Mycenaean civilization was defeated by invaders from Europe in c1200 BC. • This period in Greek history is referred to as the Dark Age of Greece.

  11. MYCENAEANS MINOANS

  12. Greek City-States • Geography prevented small communities from coming together. For this reason small city-states (a city and the surrounding area) formed which had their own: • Traditions • Governments • Laws • Leaders • Hundreds of Greek city-states formed. Athens, Sparta, Olympia, and Troy were most well known.

  13. Life in City-States • Life in the city often focused on the marketplace, or agora. • Many shops bordered the agora. • Farmers brought their crops to the market to trade for goods made by artisans. • The agora was a large open space that also served as a meeting place for political and religious meetings.

  14. Government - Who Ruled? • Oligarchy – rule by a small group (Sparta) • Early Greeks were governed by aristocrats, or a small group of rich landowners. • As trade increased, a middle class began to grow who resented the aristocracy. • The middle class demanded a role in government.

  15. Government - Who Ruled? • Direct Democracy – citizens govern themselves (no elected representatives) • Athens formed a democracy . • Must be a male citizen 18 years of age. • Both parents must be Athenian to be considered a citizen. • Women were not allowed to debate laws.

  16. Democracy Then and Now Direct Democracy Republic - Indirect Democracy Citizens elect representatives to debate and vote on issues for them. There is a separation of powers. Citizens elect people to create laws, others to enforce laws, and others to be judges. Men and women who are citizens have the right to vote. • All citizens met as a group to debate and vote on every issue. • There was no separation of powers. Citizens created laws, enforced laws, and acted as judges. • Only free male citizens could vote. Women and slaves could not vote.

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