WHAT WERE THE MAIN FEATURES OF
THE GEOGRAPHY OF ANCIENT GREECE?
GEOGRAPHY OF GREECE – DAY 2
Essential Question: How did the geography of
Greece affect the way of life for Ancient Greeks?
Read p. 271 and 272 in History Alive text
(Chap 25, Section 1-2)
Take out Ancient Greece map (and
colored pencils) and work quietly
GEOGRAPHY SHAPES ANCIENT GREEK LIFE
Peninsula
• Body of land with
water on three sides
• The double
peninsula of
Greece lies in the
Mediterranean Sea
Isthmus
• a narrow strip of
land that links two
large land masses
• An isthmus links
Peloponnesus (lower
peninsula) to the
upper peninsula of
Greece
Mountains
• Cover 70-80% of
Greece
• Divides land into
'Regions'
• No inland
waterways
• No rivers =
No easy
transportation
GEOGRAPHY SHAPES ANCIENT GREEK LIFE
Islands
Agriculture
Climate
• There are
thousands of
islands in Greece
• "Highways" of
water
• This gave sailors
places to stop
'along the way'
•
• only 20-30%
ARABLE land
• Farming - Olives,
Grapes
• Herders - sheep,
goats
• Summer - 80
degrees
• Winter - 50
degrees
• Climate encouraged
outdoor activities like
athletic competitions
GOOD AFTERNOON!
• DO NOW: Sharpen pencil; take out packet and TCI
Book
– Review 25.2
– Read 25.3
PARTNER WORK:
1) Use Maps (in materials folder) to discuss and record
answers to Partner Questions on p. 4 in packet
2) THEN: Using TCI! Text as a reference, respond to
questions on p. 5 of packet.
 (you may discuss answers QUIETLY with your
partner)
GOOD MORNING!
ANSWERS TO 25.2
1) The ancient Greeks mostly settled on the coast or near the
seas.
2) Ancient Greek communities were isolated from each other by
mountains, which made travel and communication difficult
3) Possible Answers:
1) Travel by land was hard because roads were not paved
o Sharp rocks shattered wooden wheels; mountainous landscape
2) People had to bring their own food and other supplies with
them.
3) Sudden storms might send ships off course or sink them.
GREEK FARMERS –
HOW DID THEY MAKE IT WORK?
CHALLENGES:
• Land = mostly
mountainous
• Land = Rocky
• Too steep and rocky for
most farm animals
• Water = Scarce
• Rainy Season = Winter
• No Rivers!
HOW THEY MET THESE
CHALLENGES:
• Farmers built wide earth
“steps” into the hills to create
more flat land for farming.
• Farmers grew crops like
grapes and olives, which
needed less land.
• Farmers planted hillside
orchards of fruit and nut
trees.
• Farmers raised sheep and
goats, which can graze on the
sides of mountains.