MOUNTAINS AND SEAS

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I. The Land of Greece

A. Present-day Greece is located in south-eastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula. A peninsula is a stretch of land that is almost completely surrounded by water.

Balkan Peninsula

The Land of Greece B. Greece’s southernmost tip reaches

into the Mediterranean Sea. To the west lie the Ionian Sea and the Italian Peninsula while to the east is the Aegean Sea.

C. The Balkan Peninsula curves south and east toward a part of Asia called Asia Minor or “Little Asia.” Today, Asia Minor is part of the country of Turkey.

The Land of Greece D. The Ionian and Aegean Seas almost

separate the southern part of Greece from the rest of the mainland. Only a small strip of land called an isthmus connects them. The southern part of Greece is called the Peloponnesus.

Greece and Surrounding Area

Peloponnesus Region

The Land of Greece E. Mountains cover nearly three-

fourths of mainland Greece. The heavily forested Pindus Mountains run north and south through the center of Greece. Between the mountains lie narrow valleys and small plains. Because the region is so mountainous, much of the soil is thin and rocky.

Pindus Mountains

Soil in Crete

The Land of Greece F. The jagged coastline of Greece is cut

by many inlets and is surrounded by as many as 2,000 islands. These islands are also part of present-day Greece. The largest of the islands is Crete, located southeast of the Peloponnesus, in the Mediterranean. The early people of Greece also settled on these small islands, as well as along the coasts of northern Africa, Asia Minor, and what are now parts of Spain and Italy.

Map of Greece

Inlets

Crete

Greek Coastline

Greek Coastline 2

Greek Coastline 3

II. Life Among Mountains A. The ancient Greeks settled in the

narrow valleys among the mountains. As a result, the mountains separated settlements, and each community developed on its own. For many centuries, the mountains kept the people of Greece from uniting under one government.

Greece’s Mountains

Greek Mountains

Mount Olympus

Life Among Mountains B. The rugged mountains made inland

travel and trade difficult. To travel by land from one community to another, people had to hike through the mountains on dirt paths. The rivers of Greece were of no use for travel because they often dried up.

Life Among Mountains C. The mountainous land also affected

agriculture. Only about 20 percent of the land is good for agriculture. Greece’s soil, for the most part, is poor and rocky, and its climate is dry. There is little flat land available for farming or raising large animals, such as cattle and horses.

Life Among Mountains D. The ancient Greeks found ways to

adapt to their rocky environment. They raised animals, such as sheep, goats, and pigs, which are fairly small and do not need large areas for grazing. From sheep and goats, the Greeks obtained wool, hides, and cheese. They ate very little meat, but when they did, they preferred pork.

Greek Soil

Goats, Sheep, and Pigs

Life Among Mountains E. The early farmers made the most of

the region’s dry climate and poor soil by planting crops well-suited to the area, such as barley, wheat, olives, and grapes. They ground the barley and the wheat into flour for baking breads and cakes, which they sweetened with honey.

Barley and Wheat

Greek Olives and Grapes

Life Among Mountains G. They ate olives and crushed them to

make olive oil for: 1. Cooking2. Lamp Fuel3. Bathing4. Perfumes

  H. They also ate grapes and pressed

them together to make wine.

III. Life by the Seas A. The seas surrounding Greece

provided an abundance of fish and an easier way to travel than hiking across mountains. For these reasons, the ancient Greeks started most of their settlements near the coast.

Life by the Seas

Life by the Seas B. The Greeks developed into a

seafaring culture of:  1. Fishers 2. Sailors 3. Traders

Life by the Seas C. Greece has many fine natural

harbors, or sheltered places with deep water close to shore. The ancient Greeks sailed close to the shoreline, from one harbor to another.

Greek Harbor

Life by the Seas D. Through sea travel, people in coastal

settlements had contact with one another. Over time, some people migrated from one coastal village to another, and others moved from the mainland to the surrounding islands.

E. In the process, the early Greeks exchanged ideas and religious beliefs.

Life by the Seas F. The early fishers knew well the sea’s

fearful power. Sailing was dangerous, especially in the winter, when the winds were strong and the waters rough.

Life by the Seas G. According to the ancient Greeks, the

god Poseidon ruled the seas and watched over sailors and their boats. The ancient Greeks believed that Poseidon expressed his moods through the sea. A terrible storm rocking the sea was a sign that Poseidon was angry.

Poseidon

Poseidon Side Note According to Greek mythology, the god

Poseidon ruled the seas; his brother Zeus, the skies; and his brother Hades, the underworld. Poseidon could also cause earthquakes with his trident. He was famous for his terrible temper, and in many stories he seeks revenge.

Temple of Poseidon

Life by the Seas H. Despite the dangers of the sea, the

Greeks depended on it for food and transportation. Sea travel also connected the Greeks with other cultures around the Mediterranean, resulting in an exchange of ideas and goods across great distances.

IV. Exchange and Trade A. The success of early Greek farmers

made exchange and trade possible.   B. Their discovery that olives, grapes,

and grain could be grown in the dry climate and rocky soil of Greece was a powerful one.

Exchange and Trade C. Not only could they produce a steady food

supply, they could provide a surplus. The abundance of food supported a growing population in Greek lands.

  D. In time, farmers improved their tools and

techniques.   E. Not everyone was busy working in the fields

or helping herd goats, sheep, and pigs. Some people began to specialize in new jobs.

Exchange and Trade F. Craftworkers fashioned  

1. Tools2. Containers3. Clothing4. Decorative Objects

Exchange and Trade G. They crafted these from natural

resources such as  

1. Wood2. Clay3. Bone4. Wool5. Stone6. Metal

Exchange and Trade H. Weavers, metalworkers, and

potters did not grow their own food. Instead, they exchanged their goods with farmers for food.

I. Olives and grapes could also be made into valuable products as olive oil and wine. Both products required new storage jars. Potters devoted much of their time to making storage jars from clay.

Exchange and Trade J. To get the goods and resources they lacked or

desired, the ancient Greeks began to trade with other groups of people in the Mediterranean. For example, Greek farmers could grow barley and wheat, but they had less success in growing wheat, which made tastier bread. Over time, this led the ancient Greeks to import wheat from other places.

K. In exchange, the early Greeks exported their own goods. These goods included wine, olive oil , pottery, and wood.

Exchange and Trade L. Trade resulted in an exchange of ideas, too.

The sharing of ideas between cultures was an important means of technological and cultural change. For instance, using a process they learned from civilizations in southwestern Asia, the people of early Greece mixed copper and tin to make bronze.

  M. They then made weapons, tools, and

bowls from their new metal.

Wrap Up What do you think are the main ideas of

this fact-finder? What are some facts you can state to back this up?

Activity Complete pages 75 and 76 of your

Homework and Practice Book.