• The geography of Greece
shaped its civilization:
– Numerous islands
– Mainland peninsula
– Multiple Seas
• Early people adapted to survive.
• Became one of the greatest
civilizations in the ancient world.
• Mountainous land and
islands offered few areas
for farming.
• Travel was difficult
so small, isolated,
farming villages
developed.
• Greeks turned to the seas for travel and food:
– Ionian
– Aegean
– Mediterranean
• Shipbuilding soon began and allowed trade with other civilizations.
• Greek history begins
with the Minoans on
the island of Crete.
• Crete was covered
with trees.
• Large-scale architecture
and shipbuilding began.
• Discovered how to grow
grapes and olives.
• Soon grew rich trading
wine and olive oil.
• Dominated Aegean Sea but
disappeared for unknown reason.
• Control of Aegean passed to the Mycenaeans.
• Mycenaeans settled in mainland Greece around 2000 B.C.
• Were visited by Minoan traders before their disappearance.
• Copied Minoan culture and learned how to make:
– Boats
– Bronze
– Wine
– Olive oil
• Greeks lived before
advanced science.
• Created myths and legends
to explain their world.
• Stories of mythology
influence our language,
literature, and world today.
• Mythology: collection of stories about
gods and heroes that try to explain how
the world works.
• Greek mythology focused
on twelve Olympian Gods.
• Believed that gods
controlled world events.
• Many Greeks visited oracles
for advice from gods.
• Had feasts, festivals,
sacrifices, and built
temples to honor Gods.
• Greeks did everything;
science, sports, arts,
& wars, to please Gods.
• Stories were used to explain:
– Human emotions
– Formation of world
– Changing of seasons
– Historical happenings
• Were also told for entertainment:
– Medusa
– Hercules
• Once Minoans were destroyed,
the Mycenaeans took over region.
• Were violent, greedy,
and attacked many areas.
• Mycenaeans attacked the
city of Troy because of
trade taxes.
Helen
Paris
Menelaus
Hector
Paris
Agamemnon
Achilles
Ulysses
Homer
• All areas of Greece were
involved with 10 year war.
• Mycenaeans eventually
won, and destroyed city.
• After the war, Greece
began to fall apart.
• During war; no trade and little farming.
• Greece was then invaded by European warriors. (Dorians)
• Earthquakes destroyed many cities.
• Greece entered into a “Dark Age”
– Widespread violence
– Little to no trade
– Loss of education
• For protection and stability city-states began.
• City-states, or polis, protected the people, but became very independent.
• Greek life revolved around each polis for:
– Economics
– Culture
– Leadership
• Many new city-states and colonies emerged and trade grew.
• Greece, once again, became rich and powerful.
• Two city-states rose to dominate all of Greece:
– Sparta
– Athens
