land (lecture 2): greek history

Describe Greece geography and its significance

• sea unites (Greece is center of trade)

• trade is done in bulk (ships can carry bulk amounts)

What is Greece and the Aegean Land characterized by? Significance of this?

thick rapid change of elevation, climate, zones, coastscapes; greeks were highly adaptive

• rugged mountains, varied climates, and extensive coastlines → geography limited resources & encouraged adaptability, independence = shaping Greek society and culture

Monsters of Greece (3) and what they represent

1. vagina with teeth monster → men's fear of women

2. cattle of the sun (cannot be touched) → importance of self-control/obedience

3. minotaur ????

styx

sacred river

Name the three levels of land (least to greatest)

1. meso-mediterranean

2. supra-mediterranean

3. oro-mediterranean

Meso-Mediterranean

• sea level (0-400m)

• best for olives, grapes, figs, pomegranates.

• supports irrigated fruit/vegetable crops

• Kolymbari Olive Tree

Supra-Mediterranean

• 400-1100m

• grazing, forestry, rich land for cultivation

• Good for cereals, orchards, vines, mixed farming.

Oro-mediterranean

• 1100-1450m

• used for grazing

• mountains, not rich soil

Kolymbari Olive Tree

• located in the meso-mediterranean level

• oldest thing on the level

Mediteranean Triad

grape, grain, olive

Significance of the different levels?

what each level provided is/was so different → greeks were forced to adapt to survive

• because of this, they knew how to herd, farm, and trade

precipitation in Greece: How did geography impact it?

determined by mountains running through Greece

• right of mts: dry, irrigation needed

• left of mts: wet, natural wetness

How did people fertilize due to the dry soil?

people used their own manure (collected it in ceramics and dumped it outside, hence why there are circles of pottery shards in circles)

Due to the harsh natural conditions, what adaptive measures did the greeks take? Explain each one (4)

1. crop diversification (so soil isn’t stripped of nutrients)

2. used calendar of farm activities (to know when to do certain actions)

3. land holding fragmentation (held land spread out so if there was crop failure, you wouldn’t go hungry)

4. adjusting methods of farming (listening to what the earth needs)