Chapter 9.1 Geography of Ancient Greece

1. Where was Ancient Greece located?

Ancient Greece was located in southeastern Europe along the Mediterranean Sea. 

2. What seas surrounded Ancient Greece?

Ancient Greece was surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the Ionian Sea, and the Aegean Sea. 

3. How did mountains affect travel and communication in Greece?

Mountains made travel and communication difficult in Greece. As a result, the Greek people mostly traveled by water. They also formed independent city-states based on geographic region. 

4. What is a city-state?

A city-state is an independent state that governs itself and the lands that surround it. 

5. Why did Greek city-states develop independently?

Greek city-states developed independently due to the mountainous terrain and geography of Greece. It made more sense to govern a smaller region than a larger region that was spread out and separated by mountains.

6. What crops and animals were common in Ancient Greece?

Wine grapes, olives, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, and horses were common in Ancient Greece. 

7. Why did Greeks establish colonies in other regions?

The Greeks established colonies in other regions so that they could grow crops and raise livestock that were better suited there. 

8. What was Mycenae known for?

Mycenae was one of the earliest settlements in southern Greece. It suffered from a shortage of rich farmland, which made them depend on the sea and trade with other kingdoms. 

9. How did the Mycenaeans interact with the Minoans?

The Mycenaeans and Minoans were in a constant power struggle. They influenced each other for politics  and culture

10. Name two Greek city-states that became powerful after Mycenae.

Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Thebes all became powerful after Mycenae.

11. How did Corinth use its location to become wealthy?

Corinth’s location gave them access to sea routes which made travel and trade easier. 

12. Why was Thebes less dependent on trade compared to Corinth?

Thebes was less dependent on trade because it was more inland, away from the seas. However, it had several major springs which gave the city enough water for irrigation and agriculture so that it could grow its own crops.

13. Which empire was a major rival of Greece in the east?

The Persian Empire was a major rival of Greece.

14. Who founded the Persian Empire?

Cyrus the Great founded the Persian Empire in approximately 548 BCE.

15. How did Darius I organize the Persian Empire?

Darius I expanded the Persian Empire. He divided the empire into 23 satrapies (provinces) and appointed a satrap (governor) to rule each one.

16. Why did Persia want to conquer Greece?

Persia wanted to conquer Greece so that it could gain control of the Black Sea’s profitable trade routes. 

17. What happened at the Battle of Marathon?

The Persian army had trouble getting supplies to their troops across the Aegean Sea, and many of their ships were destroyed in a storm. The Greek city-states were able to beat the Persian army at the Battle of Marathon due to their natural protection from the sea.

18. How did geography help the Greeks defeat Persia at Salamis?

The Greeks won the Battle of Salamis by luring the Persian fleet of ships into a narrow channel between the mainland near Athens and the island of Salamis. The Persian ships could not maneuver well in the narrow channel and made them vulnerable to the Greeks.  

19. What was the result of the Persian Wars?

After the Persians lost the Battle of Salamis and the Battle of Plataea, the Persian army withdrew and the Persian Wars ended. This left Greece independent from the Persian Empire. 

20. How did Greek geography influence its economy and military strategy?

Greece’s proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Aegean Sea helped its trade and economy flourish. Its geography also gave its military an advantage from the natural protection of the sea.