Geography Shapes Greek Civilzation

The Sea:

Since traveling across the rugged moutians were so difficult, the greeks turned to the seas. The greeks used the sea for food and a way to trade with other communities.

Geography Shapes Greek Civilzation

The Climate:

Its summers were hot and dry. Temperatures averaged about 75° F (24° C) in summer. The Mediterranean waters and a northwesterly breeze, known as the Etesian, kept temperatures at a comfortable level.

Etesian map of wind:

Geography Shapes Greek Civilzation

The Land:

The mainland of Greece is a peninsula, the greeks lived on rock, monuntainous lands surrounded by water. Just some valleys provide flat land for the farmers.

Civilization Develops

Mycenaean Civilization Develops:

The Minoans and the Mycenaeans were two of the early civilizations that developed in Greece. The Minoans lived on the Greek islands and built a huge palace on the island of Crete. The Mycenaeans lived mostly on mainland Greece and were the first to speak the greek language. 

Civilization Develops

Mycenaeans Make Contact with the Minoans:

Minoan society had declined.That decline allowed the Mycenaeans to take over Crete and become the major trades in the eastern Mediterrnean. They set of colones from which they shipped goods to markests and around the Mediterrnean and Black Sea.

Civilization Develops

The Trojan War:

The Trojan War, fought between Greeks and the defenders of the city of Troy in Anatolia.The Trojan War, in Greek tradition, started as a way for Zeus to reduce the ever-increasing population of humanity.

Greek City-States

Greek Political Structures:

The Politics of Greece takes place in a representative democratic republic, where the Prime Minister of Greece is the head of government, and of a multi-party system.

Greek City-States

Life in a City-State:

Life in Greece eventually became more settled. People no longer had to fear raiders swooping down on their cites and as a result they were able to think about things other than defence. The greeks began to set up cites-states around greece and the colonies became independent.



Greek City-States

Patterns of Trade:

The colonies sent metals such as copper and iron back to mainland Greece. In return, the Greek city-state sent wine, olive oil, and other products. Trade made the city-states much richer.

Greek Mythology & Literature

Gods and Mythology

Greeks saw the work of gods all around them. To keep the gods happy, the greeks built great temples to keep them happy and in return the people expected the gods to give them help with what ever they needed.

Greek Mythology & Literature

Epics of Homer:

The earliest Greek writings were two great epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, created by a poet named Homer. The Odyssey describes the challenges that the greek hero Odysseus faced on his way home from the war. The Ilaid tells the story of the last years of the trojan War. Homer's poems influenced later writers, they copied his writing style and ideas he wrote about his work.

Greek Mythology & Literature

Greek Literature Lives Today:

The works of ancient greek writers are still alive today. Greek literature ingluenced modern language, literature, and art.



Sparta and Athens

Athens: Democracy & Education

Cleisthenes didn't want aristocrats to run the government. By calling on the support of the people, Cleisthenes was able to overthrow the aristocracy once and for all. In his place, he established a completely new form of government. Only free male citizens of Athens were members of the assemblhy with the right to vote.

Sparta and Athens

Sparta: Government & Society

The word "Sparta" means self-restrained and simple.  The population of Sparta consisted of three main groups: the Spartans, or Spartiates, who were full citizens; the Helots, or slaves; and the Perioeci, who were neither slaves nor citizens. Sparta was a warrior society.

Sparta and Athens

Democracy: Then & Now

Then: Only free men are aloud to vote

Now:Men and Women who are citizens have the right to vote

Then:There was no separation of powers

Now:There is a separation of powers

Then:All citizens met as a group to debate and vote directly

Now:Citizens elect representatives to debate and vote for them

Like ancient Athens, the U.S. has a deocratic government in which the people hold power.

The Persian Wars

Battle of Marathon

Nine years after the Greek cities revelled, Darius invaded Greece. This was called the Persian Wars. The Athenian army had 11,000 soldiers, while the Persians had 15,000.

But the greeks won because they gad better wepons and clever leaders. According to legend, a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens to bring news of the great victory. After crying out "Rejoice! We conquer!" the exhausted rummer fell to the ground and died.

The Persian Wars

Battle of Thermopylae:

Ten years after the Battle of Marathon Darius's son Xerxes 1 tried to conquer Greece again. This time they were joined by the Persian navy. The greeks prepared to defend this time Sparta joined with Athens so they went to fight the Persian army. Meanwhile, the Athenians sent their powerful navy to attack the Persian navy.

The Persian Wars

Consequences of the Persian Wars:

Soon after the Battle of Salamis, and army of soldiers from all over Greece beat the Persians at Plataea. This battle ended the Persian Wars. Defeated, the Persians left Greece. For the Greeks, the difeat of the Persians was a triumphnthey saved thir homeland.

The Peloponnesian War:Athens vs. Sparta

Athenian Power:

After the Persian wars many city-states formed and alliance. They wanted to punish the Persians for attacking Greece. Without even fighting, the Athenians made the Delian League and Athenian Empire.

The Peloponnesian War:Athens vs. Sparta

Spartan Power:

Saran society was dominated by the military. The Spartans believed that military power was the way to provide securit and protection for their city.