Early Civilizations in Greece

Do Now:

•Read page 106-107 in your textbooks and answer the Reading Check question on the bottom of page 107.

The Impact of Geography• Geography played huge role in development of Greek civilizations

• Mountains• Separated small communities from one another

• Caused communities to form own ways of life

• Small size encouraged participation in political life

• Caused rivalry between communities

• Led to warfare

• Seas• Provided harbors for trading

• Became seafarers

• Explored other areas

• Established colonies, spread Greek civilization

Minoans

• 2700-1450 B.C.-Established on island of Crete• NOT GREEK, but influenced peoples of the Greek mainland

• Enormous palace complex at Knossos

• Royal seat of kings

• Included private living rooms for royal family

• Workshops for making decorated vases, ivory figurines, jewelry

• Bathrooms had elaborate drains

• Rooms decorated with brightly colored paintings sporting events and nature scenes

• Storerooms held gigantic jars oil, wine, and grain Minoans paid as taxes to king

Knossos

Minoans

• Sea empire based on trade• Ships went to Egypt and southern Greece

• Traded pottery, gold, and silver jewelry

• Collapsed suddenly 1450 B.C.• Some historians believe tidal wave triggered by powerful volcanic

eruption on island of Thera

• Most historians believe it was invasion by mainland Greeks known as Mycenaeans

Mycenae• First Greek state

• Flourished between 1600 and 1100 B.C.

• Government made up of powerful monarchies• Each lived in fortified palace centers

• Built on hills

• Surrounded by gigantic stone walls

• Formed loose alliance of independent states

• Civilians lived scattered outside walls

• Warrior people prided themselves on heroic deeds in battle• Invaded Crete and other Aegean islands

• 1100 B.C. Mycenaean civilization collapsed• States fought one another

• Major earthquakes caused widespread damage

• New waves of Greek-speaking invaders moved into Greece from North

Exit Ticket

• On your Exit Ticket slip, choose ONE of the following questions to answer:

1. List 2 things you learned about the Minoans

2. List 2 things you learned about the Mycenaeans

3. What is similar about the way that the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations fell?