Classical Greece

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Classical Greece

• Chapter 5 Section 1 page 123-126

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The importance of Geography to Greeks

• Three ways

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1. Importance of the Sea

• Greeks lived on a peninsula
• Three sides surrounded by water
• Rarely more than 85 miles from the coast
• Sea Travel and trade were important because the
  Greeks had few natural resources
• No timber, metal, or farmland

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2. Importance of the Land

• Rugged mountains divided the lands
• This led to small independent governments
• Little usable farmland and water sources
• Could not support large populations

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3. Importance of the Climate

• 48 to 80 Degrees Fahrenheit
• Created an outdoor lifestyle

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The Mycenaeans

• 2000 BC in the Greek Mainland

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About the Mycenaeans

• Southern Greece
• Built a 20 foot thick wall around their city
  Mycenae
• Dominated Greece for 500 years

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The Trojan War

• 1200 BC the Myceneans fight a 10 year war with
  Troy.
• Trojan prince kidnapped Helen at Greek princess
• One of the last battle campaign of Myceneans

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The Dorian Age

• 1200 BC after the Mycenaean

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Epic Poetry Develops

• Greeks lost the art of writing
• History switched to spoken word
• Homer
• Blind man known as the greatest storyteller
• Writes the Iliad and Odyssey

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Greek Mythology

• Stories about the Greek gods
• Purpose
• to explain nature and the actions of humans
• Zeus was the ruler god. He lived on Mount
  Olympus.
• Gods had human qualities