The Origins of Greek Civilisation: Environment, Economy, and Culture

The Origins of Greek Civilisation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZKg3KdtYo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RchSJSJAbc0

The Natural Environment of Ancient Greece

The Greek-speaking world was originally called Hellas. It was spread across a wide area:

• In the south of the Balkan Peninsula.
• On islands in the eastern Mediterranean.
• On the coast of Asia Minor (now Turkey).

Physical relief explains why Ancient Greece was not a single, unified country:

• Mountains divided mainland Greece into small valleys.
• Islands were separated from each other by the sea.
• Each valley or island was like a small country.

Hellas Map

Balkan mountain range Mount Olympus 0 BALKAN PENINSULA D ASIA MINOR Aegean Sea Mycenae lonian Sea 0 Boundaries of Greek territory Mountainous areas Early civilisations Crete Knossos Mediterranean Sea

Work with the Map

1. Compare the map to a modern map of the Mediterranean region. Which modern countries formed part of Hellas?
2. Which seas surrounded Greek territory?

Iceland Finland Sweden Russia Noway Estonia Latvia Des Lithuania Ireland Kazakhstan United Kingdom Belarus Nethers Phands Poland Belgium- Germany Luxembourg Czech Republic Slovakia Austria France Switzer- Ichich land Hungary Romania Georgia Azerbaijan Croatia Armenia Monaco Sas Marina Bosnia and Herzego- vina Serbia Andorra Bulgaria Portugal Spain Vatican City Turkey nia Greece Syria Lebs non Cyprus Morocco Algena Tunisia Marta Israel Saudi Arabia Jordan Morte negro Mace. dónia Ukraina dovi

Economy and Culture in Ancient Greece

Most land was dry and rocky, and was not very productive. Therefore, the Mediterranean Sea became the main source of livelihood and an important route for communication and trade.

Each Greek territory had its own government and laws. However, the Greeks shared the same culture. They all spoke Greek, and believed in the same gods.

The Birth of Greek Civilisation

In the Metal Ages, two civilisations developed in Ancient Greece: Crete and Mycenae. They make up the origins of Greek civilisation.

1. Minoan Crete.
2. Mycenae.
3. The Dark Age.

The Cretan or Minoan Civilisation

• In the 3rd millennium BC, the island of Crete acquired a prominent role in the Aegean Sea. This was because its location allowed it to dominate trade between East and West. Crete reached its peak around 1700 BC.
• Crete was ruled by kings. One of the most influential kings was the legendary Minos. This is why this civilisation is also known as Minoan. Cretan kings built palaces, such as the one at Knossos.

The palace in Knossos, Crete. The palace was restored in the 1920s, but the original buildings were probably similar.

Cretan Women

It is possible that Mycenaean women had more freedom than women in other cultures at the time. They frequently appear in all kinds of ceremonies.

Mycenaean Civilisation

• The Mycenaean civilisation emerged around 1600 BC-1400 BC, when the Achaeans, who came from the north, settled in the Balkans and built walled cities such as Mycenae and Tiryns.
• Mycenaean society consisted mostly of warriors, who were ruled by a king. At first, the economy was based on agriculture and livestock. However, gradually the Mycenaeans took control of trade in the Mediterranean Sea, replacing the Cretans.

Mycenae.

The War of Troy

According to legend, the kings of Mycenae fought a war against the city of Troy in Asia Minor. Many centuries later, Homer created The Iliad, a long narrative poem about one episode in the war.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, archaeologists carried out excavations to discover the original site of Troy.

The archaeological site of Troy.

The Lion Gate

Mycenaean Warriors

The warriors are carrying helmets, body armour, shields, spears and shin guards.

The Dark Age

Around 1200 BC, the Mycenaean civilisation fell into decline and a period of crisis began. After the disappearance of the Mycenaean civilisation, there was a period for which there are no written records. This period is known as the Dark Age.

During this period the population was grouped into settlements made up of family groups and their slaves.

Periods of Ancient Greek History

After the Dark Age, ancient Greek history went through three stages:

• The Archaic period: 9th-6th centuries BC
• The Classical period: 5th century BC - mid-4th century BC.
• The Hellenistic period: mid-4th century BC -1st century BC.

Timeline of Ancient Greek History

2100 BC Minoan civilisation 1200 BC War of Troy 776 BC First Olympics 461 BC. Pericles, leader of Athens 404 BC End of Peloponnesian War 323 BC Alexander the Great died MINOAN CRETE MYCENAE DARK AGE ARCHAIC GREECE CLASSICAL HELLENISTIC GREECE > > > > 1400 BC 1150 BC 800 BC 490 BC 334 BC 30 BC 3000 BC 479 BC End of the Persian Wars

Activities

1. What influence did the natural environment have on Greek history?
2. Why do you think Ancient Greece did not become a single country?