Early Early Aegean Aegean CivilizationCivilization

Where to Live?Where to Live? Indus River Valley, Indus River Valley,

PakistanPakistanIsland of Ithaca, Island of Ithaca, GreeceGreece

How did Geography help shape How did Geography help shape the ancient Greek civilization?the ancient Greek civilization?

•Greece is Greece is surrounded bysurrounded by::

•Ionian SeaIonian Sea•Aegean SeaAegean Sea•Mediterranean Mediterranean

Sea Sea

Influence of Influence of GeographyGeography

•Mountains cover Mountains cover 75% of Greece 75% of Greece

•Divided land into Divided land into many regions many regions

•PredictionPrediction: How did geography : How did geography impact political structures?impact political structures?

Influence of Influence of GeographyGeography

MycenaeMycenaean an

CivilizatiCivilizationon

Mycenaean Mycenaean CivilizationCivilization

•Mycenae was settled in 2000 BCMycenae was settled in 2000 BC•A warrior-king ruled Mycenae, A warrior-king ruled Mycenae,

as well as the surrounding as well as the surrounding villagesvillages

•MILITARISTICMILITARISTIC•Dominated from 1600 to 1100 Dominated from 1600 to 1100

BCBC

•In 1500 BC the In 1500 BC the Mycenaeans came Mycenaeans came in contact with in contact with Minoan Minoan civilizationcivilization

•The Minoans had a The Minoans had a very LARGE impact very LARGE impact on Mycenaean civilizationon Mycenaean civilization

Mycenaean Mycenaean CivilizationCivilization

Mycenaean Mycenaean CivilizationCivilization

•From the Minoans the From the Minoans the Mycenaeans adoptedMycenaeans adopted::

•Seaborne trade, Seaborne trade, Minoan system Minoan system of writing, of writing, Minoan art, etc.Minoan art, etc.

Minoan Bull Leaping…Minoan Bull Leaping…

Modern day Spanish Modern day Spanish Recortador continues the Recortador continues the bull leaping tradition that bull leaping tradition that goes back to the goes back to the legendary King Minos legendary King Minos from Crete ‘s Minoan from Crete ‘s Minoan civilization. A Recortador civilization. A Recortador jumping over a wild cow jumping over a wild cow during a show in during a show in Pamplona, Spain Pamplona, Spain on July on July 8, 2006 8, 2006

A New Culture?A New Culture?•The contact between the The contact between the

Mycenaeans & the Minoans Mycenaeans & the Minoans formed the core of Greek formed the core of Greek culture (i.e. religious practices, culture (i.e. religious practices, art, politics, literature…)art, politics, literature…)

•The foundation of Western The foundation of Western Civilization…Civilization…

Dorian InvasionsDorian Invasions•After the Trojan War After the Trojan War

Mycenaean Mycenaean civilization eventually civilization eventually collapsedcollapsed

•In 1200 BC the Dorian In 1200 BC the Dorian people moved into people moved into MycenaeMycenae

•The Dorians were The Dorians were MUCH LESS MUCH LESS advanced advanced than the than the MycenaeansMycenaeans

•Resulted in the temporary Resulted in the temporary decline of Greek culturedecline of Greek culture

Dorian Dorian InvasionsInvasions

Doh!

The City-The City-StateState

Rise of the City-Rise of the City-StateState

•PolisPolis::•Fundamental political unit of Fundamental political unit of

ancient Greeceancient Greece•Made up of a city & its Made up of a city & its

surrounding land; generally surrounding land; generally home to less than 10,000 home to less than 10,000

•AcropolisAcropolis::•A fortified A fortified

hilltop where hilltop where Greek citizens Greek citizens gathered to discuss gathered to discuss societal & political issuessocietal & political issues

Rise of the City-Rise of the City-StateState

•NO common NO common political political structure structure in ancient Greecein ancient Greece

•Individual city–states Individual city–states experimented with different experimented with different forms of governmentforms of government

Political Political StructuresStructures

MonarchyMonarchy•Who rules?Who rules? •A KING; hereditary ruleA KING; hereditary rule•Some rulers claim divine rightSome rulers claim divine right•Practiced in Mycenae (2000 Practiced in Mycenae (2000

BC)BC)•Modern DayModern Day: Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia

AristocracyAristocracy•Who rules?Who rules?•The NOBILITY; hereditary rule The NOBILITY; hereditary rule

based on social rank & wealthbased on social rank & wealth•Practiced in Athens prior to Practiced in Athens prior to

594 BC594 BC•Modern DayModern Day: Great Britain : Great Britain

(House of Lords)(House of Lords)

OligarchyOligarchy•Who rules?Who rules?•A small group of citizens; rule A small group of citizens; rule

based on wealth or abilitybased on wealth or ability•Controls the militaryControls the military•Practiced in Sparta by 500 BCPracticed in Sparta by 500 BC•Modern DayModern Day: Pakistan: Pakistan

Direct Direct DemocracyDemocracy

•Who rules?Who rules?•The citizens; rule based on The citizens; rule based on

citizenshipcitizenship•Majority rule decides voteMajority rule decides vote•Practiced in Athens by 500 BCPracticed in Athens by 500 BC•Modern DayModern Day: Are there any???: Are there any???