Ancient Greece Overview Quiz

Ancient Greece: Overview

• Ancient Greek civilization flourished roughly from 1200 BCE to 31 BCE.
• Spanning modern-day Greece and parts of western Turkey, encompassing islands in various seas.
• Geography heavily influenced Greek society, with mountains, seas, and islands fostering independent city-states and encouraging seafaring.

Geography and Climate

• 80% of mainland Greece is mountainous, hindering farming and land travel.
• Coastal location led to maritime skills and trade.
• Mount Olympus was a sacred mountain, believed to be the home of the Greek gods.
• Pindus Mountains ran along the mainland, isolating communities.
• Climate featured hot summers and mild winters, influencing clothing choices (lightweight garments).
• Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet, creating a 24-letter system that facilitated learning and literary development.

Minoan Civilization

• Minoan civilization (not Greek) existed on Crete.
• Named after King Minos.
• Influence extended to the mainland.
• Minoans traded with Egypt and southern Greece.
• Crete's exports included crafted pottery, precious metals.
• Knossos was the Minoan capital.
• Knossos collapsed around 1450 BCE (cause unknown).
• Evidence of Linear B (oldest Greek writing) was discovered.

Mycenaean Civilization

• Mycenae was a significant Greek civilization (1600-1100 BCE).
• Part of the Indo-European family.
• Powerful monarchies ruled, residing in fortified palaces.
• Mycenaeans were warrior people, known for heroic deeds.
• War and hunting are common themes in murals.
• Mycenaeans had a complex network of trade and military actions.
• The Mycenaeans are connected to the story of the Trojan War.
• Civilization eventually collapsed due to warfare, earthquakes, and invasions (late 13th century BCE).

Greek Dark Ages

• Period of decline (1100-750 BCE).
• Population decline and reduced food production.
• Few written records remain.
• Migration from the mainland may have occurred.
• Gradually, agriculture revived, and the groundwork for renewed Greek culture formed.

Aegean Seas and Settlements

• The Aegean Sea was crucial for early Greek trade and migration.
• Hellenes (Greek people) and their land (Hellas).
• Majority of major settlements were along the Aegean coastline or on islands. The Greek city-states relied on the Sea for transportation of goods, fish, and trade.
• Greek colonies were established throughout the Mediterranean and Black Sea (Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, North Africa) spreading Greek culture.
• Notable regions: Peloponnese, Central Greece, Northern Greece

Major City-States

• Ancient Greece is less of an empire and more of a collection of powerful city-states (Athens, Sparta, Thebes).
• Each city-state had specific rulers, laws, and customs, but there was shared language and culture.
• Over 1000 city states were formed in Greece over time.