Classical Greece

Impact of Geography on Development/Growth

Greece is located in southeastern Europe
Located along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea
Geography of Greece helped to shape government and culture
Geographical formations including mountains, seas, and islands formed natural barriers between the Greek city-states
Influenced Greeks to settle along the coast
Climate: hot summers and mild winters

Aegean Sea
- Greek city-states formed along the Aegean coastline and on the many islands in the Aegean Sea
- Used for transportation and food
Islands
- The Aegean Sea has over 1000 islands
- Greeks settled on many islands including Crete, Rhodes, Chios, and Delos
Mountains
- Around 80% of the Greek mainland is mountainous.
- Made it difficult to make long journeys by land
- Formed natural barriers between the major city-states
- Tallest mountain in Greece is Mount Olympus (in Ancient Greek mythology, the gods lived at the top of Mount Olympus)

Regions of Greece
- The mountains and seas of Ancient Greece formed several natural regions:
- Peloponnese - large peninsula located at the southern tip of the Greek mainland; includes Sparta, Corinth, and Argos
- Central Greece - north of the Peloponnese; includes Attica and Athens.
- Northern Greece - broken up into three major regions including Thessaly, Epirus, and Macedonia; includes Mount Olympus
- Islands - Cyclades Islands, the Dodecanese, and the Northern Aegean Islands

Titans: first or elder gods (12 of them, including the parents of Zeus, Cronus and Rhea), overthrown by their children, led by Zeus
The Olympians (12 gods on Mt. Olympus):

Zeus - Leader of the Olympians and god of the sky and lightning
Hera - Queen of the gods and married to Zeus, goddess of marriage and family
Poseidon - God of the ocean, earthquakes, and horses, symbol is the trident
Dionysus - Lord of wine and celebrations, god of the theatre and art, symbol is the grapevine
Apollo - Greek god of archery, music, light, and prophecy. His symbols include the sun, the bow and arrow, and the lyre
Artemis - Goddess of the hunt, archery, and animals. Her symbols include the moon, the bow and arrow, and the deer
Hermes - God of commerce and thieves., messenger of the gods
Athena - Greek goddess of wisdom, defense, and war, symbols are the owl and the olive branch
Ares - God of war, symbols are the spear and shield
Aphrodite - Goddess of love and beauty, symbols include the dove, swan, and rose
Hephaestus - God of fire, blacksmith and craftsman for the gods
Demeter - Goddess of agriculture and the seasons

The Greek city-state of Athens first introduced the world to the idea of a true democracy
Citizens were allowed to vote for their leaders and on new laws
This idea is prevalent in our world today and has spread around the world
Most of the world's governments today have some sort of democracy where the people get to vote and participate in the government

The Parthenon in Athens

Philosophy

Some of history's greatest philosophers were Ancient Greeks including Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates
Philosophy students still study the writings and teachings of Greek philosophers
Much of western philosophy is based on Ancient Greek philosophy

Theater

Architecture

Greek architecture has been imitated throughout history
Romans copied many of the Greek ideas into their buildings
Renaissance architects tried to imitate the Greek style of architecture
Today, many government buildings are built in the Greek classical style -- the U.S. Capitol Building and the U.S. Supreme Court Building

Science and Technology

Excelled in the field of mathematics and we still use many of their theories and ideas today (Pythagorean theorem, mathematical proofs)
Advanced technology in medicine (the Hippocratic Oath), astronomy (planetary models), urban planning, and plumbing

Sports

Art

Greek art heavily influenced western art
Known for their realistic sculpture (sculptors were concerned with proportion, poise, and the idealized perfection of the human body)
The Renaissance later revived the Greek style