Greece Geography & Government

What physical features had major impacts on Greece?

Mountains, seas, islands

How did mountains impact Greece?

isolated, difficult travel, protection, limited farm land

How did seas impact Greece?

food source, became good shipbuilders, relied on trade

Minoans

early "Greek" settlers, NOT GREEK because they didn't speak Greek, built on Crete Island, traded wood, olive oil, pottery,

Mycenaeans

First real Greeks because they spoke Greek, Developed on Greece's mainland, didn't think "trade" had to be peaceful, possibly started the legendary Trojan war when they attacked th city of Troy

Polis

Greek word for city-state, people were loyal to polis more than country of Greece, had an agora, temple, acropolis

Classical

A time period where great things are accomplished in art, architecture, invention, government, human accomplishments, Greece's classical age starts as city-states (Polis) develop

Acropolis

Physical feature, high hill, each polis built a temple on it, government things usually happened there.

Agora

Greek word for market place. This is where they traded. Relied on trade throughout the Mediterranean region because they had little farmland.

Grapes (wine) & Olives (olive oil) & pottery (clay from mountains) & metals

Main items Greece had to trade with (export)

Monarchy

Government where a king rules sometimes with advisers who were aristocrats. Used in Greece in their early development until around 800sBC.

Oligarchy

Government where the wealthy aristocrats ruled. Rule by small percentage of the population, laws protected the rich, common people had no power and sometimes sold themselves into slavery to pay debts, used in Greece 800s-600s BC.

Aristocrats

Greek government leaders in an oligarchy, wealthy landowners, created laws protecting the rich and harming the poor

Draco

Greek aristocrat, ruled with extreme harshness, 600sBC, common people rebelled against him

Solon

Greek aristocrat, 500sBC, gave rights to non-aristocrats, less harsh, under Solon all free men became citizens with limited rights

Citizen

participate in government, rule together, can vote, speak to persuade laws, Solon began to give citizens some rights

Tyrant

Greek military leader who became government leader by using force, took government over illegally, ruled alone but often supported by common people, created laws to help poor so they were willing to fight with him to take over, 500s BC

Peisistratus

Greek Tyrant, mid 500sBC, brought peace and prosperity to Athens, improved Athens, common people liked him

Direct Democracy

Greek government, 500sBC, citizens rule together, Greek men, included Assembly and Council of 500 and 10 generals, no elected positions, equal power of all citizens, no leader

Cleisthenese

Greek, "Father of Democracy," 500BC

Pericles

Greek government leader, 460-429BC, Democracy in Athens worked its best when he was there

Assembly

Athenian Direct Democracy, male citizens, vote and debate laws, direct foreign policy, revise laws, approve or condemn public officials

Council of 500

A group of 500 Athenian citizens randomly selected for one year to propose laws in Athens, ran finances, oversaw maintenance of Athenian fleet (navy boats)

10 Generals

Run war and daily issues of diplomacy (connected to the assembly)

Representative democracy (republic)

Used in the U.S. because we are too big for a direct democracy, elected leaders, different people have more power than others