Today, groups of people live and work together in communities throughout the

world.

• But if we could travel far back in time we would see a very different way of life. Many thousands of years ago, people moved from place to place to find food.

• They stayed in small family groups, finding or building simple shelters so they could move easily. There were no cities, towns, or even villages. During this time, there were no civilizations.

CIVILIZATION

• A civilization is a group of people living in an area who have improved their way of life over time.

• The people who make up a civilization are members of a society

• When people learn and work together as a society, a civilization grows.

CIVILIZATION CONTINUED

• As a civilization develops over time, it becomes more advanced, and provides a better life for its people.

• There are many things we need, in order to have a civilization

• The 8 basic features of a civilization are:

8 Basic Features of Civilization

1. CITIES 1,000+ People at 1 site

2. COMPLEX RELIGIONS Priests, Shamans, Belief Systems

3. SOCIAL CLASSES Kings, Warriors, Farmers, Slaves

4. ART & ARCHITECTURE Sculptures, Gardens, Paintings

5. CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS Full Time Administrators

6. JOB SPECIALIZATION Scribes, Artisans, Stone Cutters

7. WRITING Records on Tablets, Papyrus

8. PUBLIC WORKS Irrigation, Temples, Walls

PARTHENON AT NIGHT-ATHENS, GREECE

Chapter Introduction

Section 1:Early Civilizations in Greece

Section 2:The Greek City-States

Section 3:Classical Greece

Section 4:The Culture of Classical Greece

Section 5:Alexander and the Hellenistic Era

Visual Summary

How did the Greeks shape our culture?When you go to a theater, laugh at a comedy, or cry at a tragedy, you are using words and ideas from ancient Greece. Theaters, like the one in Taormina, Italy, shown here, were carved out of hillsides and had such good acoustics that audiences of up to 14,000 could hear the actors and chorus. In this chapter you will learn how the Greeks continue to influence our culture today.

• What impact did the Mediterranean climate have on Greek buildings?

• How do our stadiums and theaters resemble Greek theaters?

Early Civilizations in Greece

In what ways did proximity to the sea influence the development of early Greek civilizations?

The BIG Idea

Physical Geography The earliest Greek civilizations that appeared in the second millennium B.C. were influenced by their physical environment.

Geography of Greece

• Greece is a small country in Europe.

• Greece is near the Mediterranean Sea.

• The main part of Greece in on a peninsula.

• A peninsula is a body of land surrounded by water on three sides.

• The rest of Greece is made up of islands.

• It is likely that the small size of independent communities encouraged more of the population to participate in politics.

• Greece is made up of a peninsula and numerous islands surrounded by the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Ionian Seas.

• Access to the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Seas enabled the Greeks to make contact with the outside world.

The Impact of Geography (cont.)

• By 2800 B.C., the Minoan civilization existed on the island of Crete.

• This Bronze Age society influenced Greek civilization.

• The first Greek state was developed by the Mycenaean Greeks, an Indo-European people who lived on the mainland of Greece.

Minoans and Mycenaeans (cont.)

Bronze Age GreeceBronze Age Greece

Greek Geography

• The early civilization was not far from the Ancient civilizations of the Middle East relatively speaking.

• The Minoans– Major settlement on the island of Crete.– Archaeologist Arthur Evans discovered a

palace with more than 800 rooms.– Unearthed Knossos palace of Minos.

Minoan Civilization

• Existed between 2000-1400 B.C.• Could of traded with the Middle East.• Walls of the palace decorated with

frescoes-paintings made on wet plaster walls.

• Artifacts carved from ivory, stone, gold, silver, and bronze.

• More egalitarian society-worshipped an earth goddess and the bull.

Minoan Civilization

• Theorized Minoans were not Indo-European like other Greeks.

• Linear A, (writing) has not been deciphered.• Somewhat isolated, advanced culture during the

Bronze Age.• Took advantage of the sea for fishing and trade.• The kings did not fortify the cities-no rivals?

Palace of Minos at Knossos  (K-NOSS-oss)

• Knossos-most powerful monarch for Minoans • Palaces controlled all agricultural goods and products by

storing in large storerooms • Palaces became the centers of exchange for Minoan

economy • Palaces had dozens of interconnecting rectangular

rooms on two or more story'swhich were grouped around a large open courtyard (administrative and religious)

Minoan Culture

• •  Art work (drawings, murals or frescoes) at Knossos shows dangerous sports such as leaping over the backs of charging bulls as well as dancing, athletics, and festivals

Knossos: Minoan Civilization

Knossos: Minoan Civilization

Myth of the Minotaur

• Minoan Myth of King Minos at Knossos • Theseus defeats the Minotaur (half man

half bull) and escapes from the maze like structure called the labyrinth, saving the youth of Athens

Minoan CivilizationMinoan Civilization

What happened to the Minoans?

• Around 1500 B.C. a volcanic explosion on a nearby island created a tsunami that destroyed the Minoans.

• Caused destruction to the entire region.• Minoans would never be a force in Greek

history again.• Is there a modern day example of this?

Early Migrations into Greece

• Beginning about 2000 B.C. on the Greek mainland Indo-European groups invaded.

• Organized into clans and tribes.• Learned the culture of the peoples already

inhabiting Greece.• Called the Mycenaean's (1600-1200 B.C.)• Conquered what was left of Crete.

EARLY GREECE

1. ADVANCED LIKE THE OTHER EARLY CIVILIZATIONS

2. GEOGRAPHY IS THE PRIME FACTOR

3. ASSIGNMENT:

1-7 pg. 111 and pg. 117—turn in work into the basket by the end of the hour