Classical Civilizations

1
Classical Civilizations

• Ancient Greece

2
Geography of Ancient Greece

• Greece is a mountainous peninsula where only ¼ of
  the land is farmable.
• Mountains made communication hard and most Greek
  city-states remained independent.
• War often resulted when that independence was
  threatened.

3
Civilizations of Ancient Greece

• Minoans (2000-1400 BC)
• -lived on island of Crete
• -great traders -capital at Knossus
• -painted frescoes -worshipped bull and mother
  goddess
• -invaded by mainland Greeks

4
Minoan Frescoes website
5
Civilizations of Ancient Greece

• Mycenaeans or Achaeans ( )
• -from northern peninsula, but eventually
  controlled all the way to Southern Greece
• -controlled Knossus by 1400
• -rich from war/trade
• -built on Minoan civilization with writing, and
  pottery/jewelry design

6
Civilizations of Ancient Greece

• Dorians (1100-750 BC)
• -conquered Achaeans with iron weapons
• -plundered cities
• -forgot artistic skills/writing
• -many Greeks fled to Asia Minor
• -known as the Dark Age

7
Trojan War (1250 BC)

• Achaeans attacked Troy (city that controlled
  trade routes between Aegean Sea and Black Sea).
• Achaeans eventually won.
• Homer wrote Illiad and Odyssey about the war.

8
Trojan War Map