Geography of Ancient Greece

6th Grade UBD - Unit 6 - Geography of Ancient Greece

Preview

Islands and Mountains- Ancient Greece had a

very different geography than other river valley

civilizations, such as Mesopotamia, India, China,

and Egypt.

The Persian Empire- The Persian Empire was one

of the largest empires in the ancient world. It

covered parts of three continents: Europe, Africa,

and Asia.

The Persian Wars- The Persian Wars were fought

between the Persian Empire and the Greek city-

states.

Ancient GreeceReading Handout- Ancient Greece

The Geography and History of GreeceVideo- The Geography and History of Greece

Reach Into Your Background

The accomplishments of

ancient Europe still have

an impact on our world.

What U.S.

accomplishments do you

know about? Think of

some great things

Americans have done.

Explain why people

remember these

achievements today.

( 5 minutes)

Partner Activity

Work with a neighbor and compare your answer with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)

Key Ideas- Islands and Mountains

Ancient Greece was located in southeast Europe along

the Mediterranean Sea.

Ancient Greece was a series of mountainous islands and

peninsulas. These geographic features affected the way

of life in Greece. They affected what crops people grew

and how people traveled.

Greek city-states developed after the Mycenaean period

with each city controlling the land around it. Greek

geography made it difficult for city-states to expand

their territory.

Compare and Contrast

Ancient Egypt Ancient Greece

1. How is the geography of these two regions similar and different?2. How do you think Greek civilization was affected by its geography?

Islands and Mountains

The Greek civilization was

one of the great powers

of the ancient world.

While many ancient

civilizations began in river

valleys, the Greeks

settled on a group of

islands and peninsulas in

southeastern Europe.

Key Term

Island- An

area of land

that is

completely

surrounded

by water.

Key Term

Peninsula-

 A piece of

land that is

surrounded

by water on

three sides. 

Islands and Mountains

Greece’s steep mountains

also affected the crops and

animals in the region.

Farmers raised goats and

sheep because they could

graze on the sides of the

mountains.

They used goats and sheep

for milk, cheese, and wool.

Islands and Mountains

The land of the

Greeks was

surrounded by the

Mediterranean,

Ionian, and

Aegean Seas,

which made the

Greeks adept at

sea travel. 

Islands and Mountains

The surrounding water,

plus the mountainous

terrain of many of the

Greek islands, helped

to create a sense of

independence for the

various Greek

populations. 

The Science of SeafaringVideo- The Science of Seafaring

The Greeks and Their LandReading Handout- The Greeks and Their Land

Islands and Mountains

These people formed

numerous city-states

for the purpose of self-

government.

Some of the city-states

—including Mycenae,

Athens, Sparta,

Corinth, and Thebes—

developed distinct

customs and policies.

Key Term

City-State-

An

independent

kingdom or

state made

up of a city

and the

surrounding

lands it

controls.

The Economy of Ancient Greece

The people of ancient Greece

used their geographic

surroundings to their benefit.

Sea travel and trade brought

prosperity to many city-

states, particularly those in

control of important routes

and waterways.

The Economy of Ancient Greece

Some city-states also invaded

and colonized surrounding

lands in order to obtain more

land and resources.

Although much of their land

was rocky, the Greeks found

ways to introduce methods of

irrigation to support

agriculture.

The Economy of Ancient Greece

Many of the Greek

islands and peninsulas

abounded in olives and

grapes, and farmers

were able to raise

goats and sheep along

the steep hillsides.

Unique City-States

Greece’s geography made travel

and communication difficult.

As a result, it was hard to have

one central government.

Because of this, the city-states

grew separately.

The city-states were often quite

different from one another

because of their locations.

Unique City-States

The Greek city-states grew in

separation from one another.

However, they did have some

common culture and goals.

When they were threatened,

the Greek city-states

sometimes worked together

to protect themselves.

Unique City-States

These threats often came

from another great power

—Persia.

Persia wanted to have

more power in the region.

This struggle for control

meant that Persia often

fought with Greek city-

states and colonies.

Summary

Greece’s many mountains and seas contributed to how

Greek civilization grew.

Greeks used the seas to develop a rich trade with other

areas.

The islands and mountains led to the development of

city-states rather than a united civilization.

These city-states would change how future civilizations

formed governments and studied the world around

them.

Key Ideas- The Persian Empire

Cyrus of Persia united Iran under his rule. He conquered

neighboring areas, establishing the Persian Empire.

His successors conquered more lands until the Persian Empire

stretched from Egypt to India.

During their conquests, the Persians conquered several Greek

colonies.

King Darius organized the empire so that the Persians could

control the vast and diverse land they had conquered. He created

a single currency. He built roads to link his empire together.

Key Term

Persia- The

old name for

current-day

Iran. It serves

as a bridge

between the

East and the

West.

The Persian Empire

The Persian Empire formed to

the east of Greek civilization.

Persia was a place in what is

now the country of Iran.

This new empire became an

enemy of the Greek city-

states.

It wanted Greek land and

power.

The Persian Empire

Although the Greek

city-states generally

operated

independently of

one another, they

sometimes joined

together in the face

of threats. 

The Persian Empire

Some of the most

severe threats came

from the Persian

Empire, a powerful

empire that ultimately

expanded through

parts of Europe,

Africa, and Asia. 

Key Term

Cyrus the

Great- United

most of what

is today Iran

under his

control and

established

himself as the

ruler of Persia.

Cyrus the GreatReading Handout- Cyrus the Great

The Persian Empire

The Persian Empire

formed in

approximately 548 BCE,

when Cyrus the Great

united much of what is

today the nation of Iran.

In the coming years, he

conquered many

surrounding lands and

incorporated them into

the Persian Empire.

The Persian Empire

Darius I, continued the

expansion and instituted

a strong system of

government control over

the conquered lands.

The Persian Empire’s

increasing power led to

conflicts with some of

the Greek city-states.

Key Ideas- The Persian Wars

The Persian Wars united the Greek city-

states together against a common Persian

enemy.

The mountains and islands of Greece made

it difficult for the Persians to conquer all of

the Greek city-states.

The Greek victory against the Persians

ensured that Greece would remain separate

from the Persian Empire.

Key Term

Persian

Wars- A wars

between the

Persian empire

and Greek

city-states;

Greek

victories

allowed Greek

civilization to

define identity.

The Persian Wars

When some Greek

city-states began

to rebel against

Persian

domination, a

group of other

Greek city-states

united to assist in

the uprisings. 

Key Term

Allies- A state

formally

cooperating

with another

for a military

or other

purpose,

typically by

treaty.

The Persian Wars

The resulting conflicts

between the Greek city-

states and the Persian

Empire are collectively

known as the Persian Wars.

After the rebellion ended,

Darius plotted to conquer

all of Greece, but his plan

was halted at Marathon.

The Persian Wars

In 480 BCE,

Darius’s son,

Xerxes, who was

the new Persian

king, launched an

invasion by land

and sea. 

Thermopylae

Greek forces created a

brilliant strategy, using

their country’s rocky

terrain to slow the

advance of the huge

Persian army at

Thermopylae.

After a fierce battle,

however, the Greeks were

defeated.

The End of the Wars

It was not until a great

sea battle at Salamis

that the Greeks, using

their famed sailing

skills, gained the

upper hand and

eventually drove off

the Persian invaders.

The End of the Wars

The temple of

Athena Nike was

built as a

memorial in

recognition of

Greek victories

during

the Persian Wars.

Independent Activity

What has been the

“muddiest” point so

far in this lesson? That

is, what topic remains

the least clear to you?

(4 minutes)

Partner Activity

Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)