Unit 5:The Growth of Unit 5:The Growth of Empires and GovernmentsEmpires and Governments

Chapter 5: Early Civilizations of Chapter 5: Early Civilizations of GreeceGreece

Section I: Early Civilizations of Section I: Early Civilizations of GreeceGreece

(Pages 100-104)(Pages 100-104)

This section is about:This section is about: How the geography of How the geography of

Greece affected the Greece affected the development of two development of two ancient civilizations of ancient civilizations of traders and palace traders and palace builders.builders.

The economic and The economic and cultural life of the cultural life of the Minoans and Minoans and Mycenaean's.Mycenaean's.

How historical events How historical events of these cultures have of these cultures have been preserved in been preserved in legends and epics.legends and epics.

Like everywhere else: Like everywhere else: geography matters in geography matters in GreeceGreece

The Pindus Mountains The Pindus Mountains isolated the Greek isolated the Greek people from one people from one another.another.

It’s on the Balkan It’s on the Balkan peninsulapeninsula

The southernmost The southernmost part: Peloponnesuspart: Peloponnesus

Has many islandsHas many islands

Greece is different from some Greece is different from some of our other places so farof our other places so far

Not very good farmlandNot very good farmland No great big riversNo great big rivers Unpredictable rainsUnpredictable rains The were able to grow The were able to grow

barley, grapes and olives barley, grapes and olives (they grow okay in rocky (they grow okay in rocky soil).soil).

They also raised pigs, They also raised pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens sheep, goats, and chickens (smaller animals).(smaller animals).

That kind of food was That kind of food was scarce.scarce.

But… they did have lots But… they did have lots of…of…

WaterWater Most people lived near the sea.Most people lived near the sea. Good harbors for trading.Good harbors for trading. Good sailors, fishermen, and Good sailors, fishermen, and

traders.traders. Main exports: olive oil, wine, Main exports: olive oil, wine,

wool, and marble.wool, and marble.

People who lived inland were People who lived inland were separated from each other separated from each other (mountains), so different (mountains), so different communities ended being quite communities ended being quite different from each other.different from each other.

The Greeks have always believed The Greeks have always believed they had the most beautiful land they had the most beautiful land on Earth.on Earth.

Their location helped them Their location helped them develop the foundations for develop the foundations for western civilizationwestern civilization..

(the way Europe and the America’s (the way Europe and the America’s lived)lived)

The first great Aegean The first great Aegean civilization was: civilization was: the Minoans the Minoans

Named after Minos Named after Minos (the legendary king of (the legendary king of Greece)Greece)

He had a monarchy He had a monarchy (government with a (government with a single ruler).single ruler).

They had fine crafts, They had fine crafts, built great palaces, and built great palaces, and played sports.played sports.

Their most important Their most important palace was at Knossospalace was at Knossos

The Palace of The Palace of KnossosKnossos The largest palace on The largest palace on

Crete.Crete. The royal family, it’s The royal family, it’s

advisors, craft-workers, advisors, craft-workers, and servants all lived and servants all lived there.there.

It had store rooms, It had store rooms, workshops, large workshops, large bathrooms, complex bathrooms, complex plumbing.plumbing.

Art was an important part Art was an important part of their lives with of their lives with decorative vases, ivory decorative vases, ivory figurines, jewelry, and figurines, jewelry, and colorful frescoes on the colorful frescoes on the walls (of bulls, dolphins, walls (of bulls, dolphins, people, sporting events, people, sporting events, and nature scenes)and nature scenes)

The Minoans were peaceful sea The Minoans were peaceful sea traderstraders

It seems they lived in It seems they lived in peace for a long time.peace for a long time.

They traded with the They traded with the Greek islands, the Greek islands, the Greek mainland, and Greek mainland, and even the Egyptians.even the Egyptians.

But- they weren’t Greek But- they weren’t Greek – they were Aegean– they were Aegean

No-one really knows No-one really knows why they disappeared why they disappeared (maybe a volcanic (maybe a volcanic eruption – the island of eruption – the island of Thera)Thera)

Just after the time of the Minoans, the Just after the time of the Minoans, the Mycenaean'sMycenaean's began a culture in began a culture in

Greece.Greece. Lived on the Lived on the

mainland of Greece.mainland of Greece. The first Greek The first Greek

people to leave a people to leave a written record.written record.

Ruled by kings from Ruled by kings from big palaces.big palaces.

Traded with the Traded with the Minoans some – so Minoans some – so they had a they had a “cultural “cultural exchange” exchange” with with them.them.

The Mycenaean's lived…The Mycenaean's lived… In great palaces.In great palaces. But, there’s were But, there’s were

surrounded by thick surrounded by thick walls.walls.

The lived about the The lived about the same way as the same way as the MinoansMinoans

Mycenaean’s also Mycenaean’s also had colonies around had colonies around the Mediterranean, the Mediterranean, and traded with and traded with many other many other cultures.cultures.

By 1100 BC, Mycenaean’s were By 1100 BC, Mycenaean’s were gonegone

Palaces were Palaces were destroyed/abandoned.destroyed/abandoned.

Why gone? Civil Why gone? Civil Wars? Natural Wars? Natural Disasters? Invaders? Disasters? Invaders? We’re not sure.We’re not sure.

People started settling People started settling in smaller villages.in smaller villages.

Some started moving Some started moving other places – like other places – like Sicily and ItalySicily and Italy

One of the biggest things the Mycenaean’s are known for is:One of the biggest things the Mycenaean’s are known for is: The Trojan WarThe Trojan War

The Mycenaean’s and other Greeks attacked Troy (a rich The Mycenaean’s and other Greeks attacked Troy (a rich trading city).trading city).

The War started when a Trojan prince named Paris kidnapped The War started when a Trojan prince named Paris kidnapped Helen (the wife of the brother of the Mycenaean king). Helen (the wife of the brother of the Mycenaean king).

To try and rescue her, the Greeks battled the Trojans, seized To try and rescue her, the Greeks battled the Trojans, seized Troy, and burned it to the ground.Troy, and burned it to the ground.

Is this story a myth or true?Is this story a myth or true?

Some of the best stories from this Some of the best stories from this time come from time come from the the IliadIliad and the and the

OdysseyOdyssey These were two These were two

long poems – long poems – probably by Homer.probably by Homer.

The Iliad describes The Iliad describes the last days of the the last days of the Trojan War.Trojan War.

The Odyssey tells a The Odyssey tells a story of the long story of the long trip home – by trip home – by Odysseus (a hero of Odysseus (a hero of the Trojan War).the Trojan War).

Of course, religion was Of course, religion was important to the people of important to the people of

GreeceGreece They believed there They believed there

were Gods around in were Gods around in everyday life.everyday life.

They had human They had human feelings and human feelings and human form.form.

They believed they They believed they needed to please needed to please their gods, so they their gods, so they built great temples built great temples to honor them.to honor them.

The Parthenon (on the Acropolis)

Parthenon Design

Who are these people?

Some of the main Greek Some of the main Greek Gods:Gods:

(The 12 (The 12 Olympians)Olympians)

1.1. ZeusZeus2.2. AthenaAthena3.3. HeraHera4.4. HadesHades5.5. Poseidon Poseidon 6.6. Dionysus Dionysus 7.7. AresAres8.8. Aphrodite Aphrodite 9.9. ApolloApollo10.10. ArtemisArtemis11.11. DemeterDemeter12.12. HermesHermes13.13. HestiaHestia14.14. HephaestusHephaestus

The goddess of love, beauty and desire. The goddess of love, beauty and desire. The goddess of wisdom, warfare, battle The goddess of wisdom, warfare, battle

strategy, heroic endeavor, handicrafts strategy, heroic endeavor, handicrafts and reason.and reason.

King of the Underworld and god of the King of the Underworld and god of the dead and the hidden wealth of the dead and the hidden wealth of the Earth.Earth.

Queen of marriage, women, childbirth, Queen of marriage, women, childbirth, heirs, kings and empires.heirs, kings and empires.

The god of the sea, rivers, floods, The god of the sea, rivers, floods, droughts, earthquakes, and the creator droughts, earthquakes, and the creator of horses.of horses.

The king of the gods, the ruler of Mount The king of the gods, the ruler of Mount Olympus and the god of the sky, Olympus and the god of the sky, weather, thunder, lightning, law, order, weather, thunder, lightning, law, order, and fate. and fate. Greek Gods and Goddesses

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