The Geography of Ancient Greece

1. Chapter 7
Ancient Greece
Section 1
The Geography of Greece

2.  Mainland Greece is a
peninsula that sticks out
into the Mediterranean
Sea.
 A second peninsula
called the Peloponnesus
forms the lower part of
Greece.
 An isthmus connects
the two peninsulas.
(Narrow strip of land.)

3.  Greece is very
rugged with many
mountains.
 Hard to unite
under a single
government.
 Transportation
was difficult
because of lack of
rivers and rough
landscape.

4. Greece Climate
•Mild, Rainy Winters
•Hot, Dry Summers
•A year round, warm climate
encouraged outdoor life.

5. Open Air Theaters were common in Ancient Greece

6. Agriculture in Ancient Greece
 Rough landscape
made farming difficult
in Ancient Greece.
 Farming took place
in valleys between
mountains.
 Ancient Greeks
founded colonies in
other areas to get
more farm land.

7. Resources
•A lack of farmland
•Very few precious metals
•Plenty of stone for building
•Lots of coastline and many good sites for
harbors

8. Seafaring People
 The seas around Greece were
“highways of water”
 The Greeks became skilled sailors
and shipbuilders
 The sea provided fish. The Greeks
dried the fish so it could be traded.

9. Trade
•Greeks did not produce much grain due
to lack of farmland
•Produced surplus olive oil, wine, wool,
and fine pottery
•Bought grain, timber, animal hides,
slaves, nuts, figs, cheese, and flax

10. Early Greeks
•Mycenaean Civilization – 2000 to 1200 B.C.
•Fortress built on hills surrounded by wall
•They were traders
•Their culture featured writing, gold jewelry,
bronze weapons, and pottery
•Collapsed around 1200 B.C. probably
because of invaders

11. Mycenae Today

13. Phoenicians & Greek Culture
•Phoenicians were an important Greek trading partner.
•Developed alphabet to keep trading records
•Greeks changed some letters and created an alphabet
similar to what we have today.
•Ancient Greeks learned about coins from other
trading partners.
•Ancient Greeks developed new forms of literature and
government.

14. Greek Alphabet