THE ANCIENT GREEKS
LESSON 1: RISE OF GREEK CIVILIZATION
Mountains and Seas
Greece is a peninsula, which means it is almost surrounded by water on three sides. Because it's surrounded by the sea and has many islands, ancient Greeks were very connected to the water. They traded with people living on different islands and along the coastline, and fishing was a common occupation. The land in Greece is very mountainous, so in the flat areas between these mountains, farmers grew crops and raised sheep and goats. The geography greatly influenced how Greek culture developed, shaping their economy and interactions with each other.
An Island Civilization
One of the most important early civilizations in Greece was on the island of Crete. In about 1900, a British archaeologist named Arthur Evans uncovered remarkable artifacts from this civilization. The place he found is called Knossos.
- He discovered an amazing palace with lots of rooms.
- There were rooms for storing food and workshops for making beautiful jewelry and vases.
- The Minoans, an ancient people, built this palace.
Trade was vital for the Minoans, who exchanged pottery and vases for valuable items like ivory and metals from Egypt and Syria. However, around 1450 B.C., the Minoan civilization mysteriously ended, and historians are still unsure why.
A Mainland Civilization
Another significant civilization was the Mycenaean civilization, which existed from about 2000 B.C. to 1100 B.C. Until the late 1800s, not much was known about the Mycenaeans. That’s when a German archaeologist named Heinrich Schliemann found the remains of a palace in Mycenae, located on the Greek mainland.
- Each king lived in a palace built on a hill, with nobles living outside the walls on large farms called estates.
- Enslaved people and workers lived in villages connected to these estates.
- Palaces were centers for both government and workshops, where people made clothes, jars for wine and olive oil, metal swords, and leather shields.
By the mid-1400s B.C., the Mycenaeans had grown strong and developed a powerful military. They fought in the Trojan War, conquered the Minoans, and controlled the entire Aegean Sea area. However, later conflicts between the Mycenaean kings, along with earthquakes, led to the collapse of their civilization by 1100 B.C.
The Dark Ages
After the Mycenaeans, a group called the Dorians invaded the Greek mainland. Historians refer to the following 300 years as a Dark Age because trade slowed down significantly, and people produced fewer goods. Farmers could only grow enough food for their families, leading many to flee and take Greek culture with them.
By 750 B.C., the difficult times began to improve. Small, independent communities formed throughout the Greek mainland, where the people identified themselves as Greeks.
As Greek farmers began to produce more food than they needed, trade picked up again, leading to a need for writing. The Greeks adapted an alphabet from the Phoenicians, which made reading and writing much easier. Soon, bards started to write down stories that had previously been passed down orally.
Colonies and Trade
After the Dark Age, the population in Greece grew. By 700 B.C., there was not enough food for everyone, prompting Greek communities to establish colonies. A colony is a settlement in a new territory that has strong connections to its homeland.
Greek people began to send colonists to the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. These colonies would send goods like grains, metals, timber, and enslaved people back to the mother cities in Greece. In exchange, the cities would send wine, olive oil, and pottery.
During the 700s B.C., the Greeks began to mint coins from metals to facilitate trade. Coins were small and easy to carry, making trading more convenient and increasing wealth in the Greek colonies.
The Greek City-State
The polis, or city-state, became the basic political unit in early Greece. Each polis had a fort called an acropolis built on a hilltop. The area outside the acropolis was called the agora, which served as a marketplace and a gathering place where citizens could debate issues, create laws, and elect officials.
Each polis was governed by its citizens. The Greeks were among the first to develop the idea of citizenship. In early Greece, only free males who were born in the polis and owned land could be citizens. This gave them the right to vote, hold public office, and defend themselves in court. However, women and children did not have political rights.
Citizens were expected to defend their city-state, and those soldiers were known as hoplites. They fought on foot with a round shield, a short sword, and a spear. Hoplites would march in a tight formation called a phalanx during battles.
The polis gave Greek citizens a sense of belonging, but strong loyalty to individual city-states sometimes divided Greece, making it easier for outside forces to invade.
READING CHECKS & QUESTIONS
1. How did seas influence the way many ancient Greeks lived?
The seas provided trade routes and resources, allowing ancient Greeks to engage in fishing, trade among islands, and trade with other civilizations. They developed maritime skills and relied on the sea for economic and social interactions.
2. Circle the word that means “the system in a country that includes making, buying, and selling goods.”
Economy
3. What did the discovery at Knossos reveal about the Minoans?
The discovery showed that the Minoans had a complex society with advanced architecture, workshops for crafting goods, and an emphasis on trade.
4. Why were the Mycenaean palaces important places?
The Mycenaean palaces were important because they served as centers for both government and economic activities. They housed the king, administration, and workshops for various crafts.
5. Name two things the Mycenaeans learned from the Minoans.
- Advanced trade practices
- Artistic techniques for creating pottery and jewelry
6. What Mycenaeans Adopted from Minoans:
- Island Civilization: Pottery techniques
- Mainland Civilization: Trade systems
What do excavations reveal?
Excavations reveal the existence of complex societies with rich cultures, advanced architecture, and economies based on trade and craftsmanship.
7. How did the Dorian invasion help spread Greek culture?
The Dorian invasion caused many people to flee and settle in new areas, taking their Greek culture with them and spreading it further beyond the Greek mainland.
8. How did the colonies affect trade and industry in the Greek world?
Colonies expanded trade networks, allowing for the exchange of goods and resources, increasing wealth and industry in both the colonies and parent cities back in Greece.
9. Why were coins invented?
Coins were invented to make trading easier and more convenient, as they provided a standard measure of value that could be used for many types of goods.
10. What were the rights and responsibilities of Greek citizens?
Greek citizens had the right to vote, hold public office, and defend themselves in court. Their responsibilities included serving in government and defending their city-state.
11. List and describe the city-states in Greece.
Examples of Greek city-states include:
- Athens: Known for its cultural and intellectual achievements, including democracy.
- Sparta: A militaristic society known for its strong army and disciplined lifestyle.
- Corinth: A wealthy city-state that became a major trade center.
Draw and label a diagram of a typical city-state.
+-----------------------+
| |
| Acropolis |
| (Hilltop Fort) |
| |
+-----------------------+
| |
| Agora |
| (Marketplace, Meeting)|
| |
+-----------------------+
| |
| Residential |
| Areas & |
| Farmlands |
| |
+-----------------------+
In this diagram, you can see the major parts of a city-state in ancient Greece: the acropolis where the fort was located, the agora as the central public area, and the residential areas where citizens lived and farmed.