14 Questions
What was the main environmental factor that limited the population of ancient Greece?
Limited fertile farmland
Why was Greece never able to support a large population?
Limited fertile farmland and fresh water for irrigation
What influenced the outdoor lifestyle of many Greek citizens in ancient times?
Moderate temperatures
What factors may have motivated the Greeks to seek new sites for colonies?
Desire for more living space, grassland for raising livestock, and adequate farmland.
According to legend, why did the Greek army besiege and destroy Troy?
Kidnapping of Helen, the beautiful wife of a Greek king
Where is Troy located in present-day?
Turkey
Who told the story of the Trojan War in his epic poem, the Iliad?
Homer
Which civilization did the Mycenaeans adapt the writing system from?
Minoan
What event contributed to the collapse of Mycenaean civilization?
Sea raiders attacking and burning many Mycenaean cities
During the Dorian Age, what important aspect of Greek society was temporarily lost?
The art of writing
What is the primary reason that little is known about the period of Greek history between 1150 and 750 BC?
Lack of written records
What impact did the Dorians have on the Greek economy and trade?
The economy collapsed and trade eventually came to a standstill after their arrival.
During the Dorian Age, what important skill did the Greeks appear to have lost temporarily?
The art of writing
What are the main challenges faced by historians in understanding the period of Greek history between 1150 and 750 BC?
No written record exists from this period, so little is known about it.
Study Notes
Geography of Ancient Greece
- Ancient Greece consisted of a mountainous peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea and around 2,000 islands in the Aegean and Ionian seas.
- The region's physical geography directly shaped Greek traditions and customs.
- The sea shaped Greek civilization, just as rivers shaped the ancient civilizations of Egypt, the Fertile Crescent, India, and China.
- Greeks rarely had to travel more than 85 miles to reach the coastline.
Importance of the Sea
- The Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea, and the neighboring Black Sea were important transportation routes for the Greek people.
- These seaways linked most parts of Greece.
- Sea travel connected Greece with other societies, and trade was also important due to Greece's lack of natural resources.
Mountains and their Impact
- Rugged mountains covered about three-fourths of ancient Greece.
- The mountain chains ran mainly from northwest to southeast along the Balkan Peninsula.
- Mountains divided the land into a number of different regions, significantly influencing Greek political life.
The Mycenaeans
- A large wave of Indo-Europeans migrated from the Eurasian steppes to Europe, India, and Southwest Asia, with some settling on the Greek mainland around 2000 BC.
- The Mycenaeans were later known for their leading city, Mycenae, located in southern Greece on a steep, rocky ridge.
- The fortified city of Mycenae could withstand almost any attack, and strong rulers controlled the surrounding villages and farms from about 1600 to 1100 BC.
Contact with the Minoans
- The Mycenaeans came into contact with the Minoan civilization through trade or war, and saw the value of expanded seaborne trade.
- Mycenaean traders soon sailed throughout the eastern Mediterranean, leading to an exchange of ideas and technology.
- The Minoans also influenced the Mycenaeans by adapting the Minoan writing system to the Greek language and decorating vases with Minoan designs.
Explore the geographical features of Ancient Greece and how they influenced Greek traditions and customs. Understand how the mountainous peninsula and the surrounding seas shaped the civilization of this ancient region.
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