Ancient Civilizations 1

Geography of Greece

Greece is a peninsula in southeastern Europe. About 2,500 years ago, the people of Greece developed a civilization that influences the way we live today. The ancient Greeks attempted to explain the world through the laws of nature. They developed democracy, in which people govern themselves rather than being ruled by a king. They made important discoveries in science. The Greeks also valued beauty and imagination. They wrote many stories and plays that continue to be performed today.

The people of ancient Greece could not farm most of their mountainous, rocky land, so they turned to the sea. They became excellent sailors who traveled to distant lands. The Greeks learned the alphabet from the Phoenicians, a sea faring people from modern day Syria and Lebanon.

The following were early civilizations of the Mediterranean that came before the rise of Greek civilization.

• Minoan Civilization
• Mycenaean Civilization
• Phoenician Civilization

Activity/Classwork

Lesson PowerPoint: Geography & Early Mediterranean Civilizations

Activity:Homework Packet #6