Geography of Greece

By Mark Spiconardi

Geography of Greece

• Based on these maps, what are two things we know about Greece’s geography?– Surrounded by the sea– Mostly mountainous

Mountainous Terrain

• Mountains cover 75% of Greece

• Difficult to unite of all Greece– Hard to communicate – Travel was difficult

• Small independent and culturally diverse city-states form– Polis Greek city-state (Athens, Sparta,

Corinth)

Mountainous Terrain

• Only 20% of the land is arable– Arable Land that is suitable for farming

• Not enough food to support a large population• Crops included grain, grapes, and olives

– How would Greece have to support its growing populations?

• Answer: Expand & Colonize other territories

The Sea

• Greece is a both a peninsula and an archipelago – Archipelago series of islands

• Surrounded by the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas– Almost all settlements within 85 miles of the coast

• Relied on sea for transportation & food• Irregular coastline makes Greece ideal for

trading posts

History & Origins of the Greeks• The Minoans

– Earliest Greek culture (2800 BCE)– Location: Crete – Thalossocracy “Sea power”

• Dominated the region through trade– Never governed mainland Greece

» But culture heavily influences development of Greece

History & Origins of the Greeks

• Snake Goddess• Sign of fertility (particularly in

Egypt)• Chief deity

– Matriarchal?

• Knossus – Frescoes

• Bull Jumping

– Labyrinth Myth• Place was designed like a

labyrinth• Evidence of human sacrifice

The Minoans

History & Origins of the Greeks

• Mycenaeans– Location: Mycenae (Southern Greece)

• City was protected by a citadel w/20-foot thick wall

– Government• From Mycenae, a warrior-king controlled the surrounding

villages including Athens

The Citadel of Mycenae

History & Origins of the Greeks

• Mycenaens– Contact with the

Minoans (c. 1500 BCE)

• Developed seafaring trade

• Adapted Minoan writing to Greek language

• Laid foundations for Greek religion, art, and literature

• Trojan War– Evidence suggest a

real war between Greece & the independent Anatolian city of Troy took place

• Exact nature of war is unknown

History & Origins of the Greeks• The Dorians

– The Dorian Invasion (1100 – 950 BCE)

• Location: North of Mt. Olympus (modern Macedonia

• They pillaged their way down to Peloponnesus and took over Mycenae

– Government• Organized in tribes• Ruled by kings and

aristocratic councils

History & Origins of the Greeks

• The Dark Ages– Dorians were not as

advanced as the Mycenaeans

– Written records disappear until 750 BCE

• Little is known about Greek history from 1150 - 750 BCE, hence the Dark Ages

• “Black” Athens?– Historian Martin Bernal

argues that the influence of Egypt on Greek culture has been underestimated

• In turn, the role of Africa in the development of Western culture has been ignored