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question of the day 1: How did geography shape Greek life?
In ancient times, Greece was not a united country. It was a collection of separate lands. Ancient Greece consisted mainly of a mountainous peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea. The sea shaped Greek civilization just as rivers shaped the ancient civilizations of Egypt. In one sense, the Greeks did not live on a land but AROUND a sea. Along with the sea, Rugged mountains covered about three-fourths of ancient Greece. Mountains divided the land into a number of different regions. They significantly influenced Greek life.
In ancient times, Greece was not a united country. It was a collection of separate lands. Ancient Greece consisted mainly of a mountainous peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea. The sea shaped Greek civilization just as rivers shaped the ancient civilizations of Egypt. In one sense, the Greeks did not live on a land but AROUND a sea. Along with the sea, Rugged mountains covered about three-fourths of ancient Greece. Mountains divided the land into a number of different regions. They significantly influenced Greek life.
EQ: How did Ancient Greece develop and impact the modern world?
Ancient Greece has developed and impacted the modern world in many ways. For instance, you could think of theatre. In ancient times, the Greeks didn't have I-phones or WIFI or tv's, so how did they entertain themselves? It's simple, they had actors. The actors would put on plays and sing songs. That's what fun really is. You could also take a look at medicine. Back then, they didn't have medicine to heal the sick, so the people who had no hope, would die. But when the Ancient Greeks took a stand and created the first medicine, that changed everything. Since then, medicine has only grown to do wonderful things, Ancient Greece has made a bigger impact than you think.
Ancient Greece has developed and impacted the modern world in many ways. For instance, you could think of theatre. In ancient times, the Greeks didn't have I-phones or WIFI or tv's, so how did they entertain themselves? It's simple, they had actors. The actors would put on plays and sing songs. That's what fun really is. You could also take a look at medicine. Back then, they didn't have medicine to heal the sick, so the people who had no hope, would die. But when the Ancient Greeks took a stand and created the first medicine, that changed everything. Since then, medicine has only grown to do wonderful things, Ancient Greece has made a bigger impact than you think.
Ancient Greece is amazing for example the Greek language has been spoken for more than 3,000 years! It’s the oldest spoken language in Europe.There were two classes of people in Greece; free people and slaves. Amazingly 40% up to 80% of the population in ancient Greece was made up of slaves! That’s a lot. Luckily we don’t have slaves now,! Only rich people went to war in armor and riding horses.Soldiers (hoplites) in ancient Greece wore up to 70 pounds (33 kilograms) of bronze armor; can you just imagine how heavy that would be to carry around. That’s like carrying a child on your back when you go to war. Greece has the longest coastline in Europe at 9,000 miles (nearly 14,500 kilometers). If you were travelling at 100 miles per hour (which is unlikely on coastal roads) it will take you about 900 hours to travel that far. Well, guess we won’t be taking that trip just yet.
How did geography shape Greek life?
first-THE LAND: Rugged mountains covered about three-fourths of ancient Greece. Mountains divided the land into a number of different regions. The mountain chains ran mainly from northwest to southeast along the Balkan peninsula. They significantly influenced Greek political life. Unlike the Egyptians or the Chinese, it was difficult to unite the ancient Greeks under a single government. Greece developed small, independent communities within each little valley and its surrounding mountains. Most Greeks gave their loyalty to these local communities.
second-THE CLIMATE: Climate was the third important environmental influence on Greek civilization. Greece has a varied climate with temperatures averaging 48 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. In ancient times, these moderate temperatures supported an outdoor life for many Greek citizens. Men spent much of their leisure time at outdoor public events. They met often to discuss public issues, exchange news, and take an active part in civic life
third-THE SEA: The sea shaped Greek civilization just as rivers shaped the ancient civilizations of Egypt, the Fertile Crescent, India, and China. In one sense, the Greeks did not live on a land but AROUND a sea. Greeks rarely traveled more than 85 miles to reach the coastline. The Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea, and the neighboring Black Sea were important transportation routes for the Greek people. These liquid highways linked most parts of Greece. As the Greeks became skilled sailors, sea travel also connected Greece with other societies. Sea travel and trade were also important because Greece itself was poor in natural resources. Greece lacked timber, precious metals, and usable farmland
fourth-BACKGROUND: In ancient times, Greece was not a united country. It was a collection of separate lands where Greek-speaking people lived. By 2000 BCE, the Minoans lived on the large Greek island of Crete. The Minoans created an elegant civilization that had great power in the Mediterranean world. At the same time, Indo-European peoples migrated from the plains along the Black Sea and Anatolia. The IndoEuropeans settled in mainland Greece. Seaborne commercial networks spread ideas as well as resources throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Ancient Greece consisted mainly of a mountainous peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea. It also included approximately 1,400 islands in the Aegean and Ionian seas. Lands on the western coast of Anatolia were also part of ancient Greece. The region’s physical geography directly shaped Greek traditions and customs. Homer was a blind storyteller.
first-THE LAND: Rugged mountains covered about three-fourths of ancient Greece. Mountains divided the land into a number of different regions. The mountain chains ran mainly from northwest to southeast along the Balkan peninsula. They significantly influenced Greek political life. Unlike the Egyptians or the Chinese, it was difficult to unite the ancient Greeks under a single government. Greece developed small, independent communities within each little valley and its surrounding mountains. Most Greeks gave their loyalty to these local communities.
second-THE CLIMATE: Climate was the third important environmental influence on Greek civilization. Greece has a varied climate with temperatures averaging 48 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. In ancient times, these moderate temperatures supported an outdoor life for many Greek citizens. Men spent much of their leisure time at outdoor public events. They met often to discuss public issues, exchange news, and take an active part in civic life
third-THE SEA: The sea shaped Greek civilization just as rivers shaped the ancient civilizations of Egypt, the Fertile Crescent, India, and China. In one sense, the Greeks did not live on a land but AROUND a sea. Greeks rarely traveled more than 85 miles to reach the coastline. The Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea, and the neighboring Black Sea were important transportation routes for the Greek people. These liquid highways linked most parts of Greece. As the Greeks became skilled sailors, sea travel also connected Greece with other societies. Sea travel and trade were also important because Greece itself was poor in natural resources. Greece lacked timber, precious metals, and usable farmland
fourth-BACKGROUND: In ancient times, Greece was not a united country. It was a collection of separate lands where Greek-speaking people lived. By 2000 BCE, the Minoans lived on the large Greek island of Crete. The Minoans created an elegant civilization that had great power in the Mediterranean world. At the same time, Indo-European peoples migrated from the plains along the Black Sea and Anatolia. The IndoEuropeans settled in mainland Greece. Seaborne commercial networks spread ideas as well as resources throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Ancient Greece consisted mainly of a mountainous peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea. It also included approximately 1,400 islands in the Aegean and Ionian seas. Lands on the western coast of Anatolia were also part of ancient Greece. The region’s physical geography directly shaped Greek traditions and customs. Homer was a blind storyteller.
HOW ARE MODERN POLITICAL SYSTEMS RELATED TO GREEK CITY-STATES? INCLUDE Polis, Acropolis, monarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, tyrant, Democracy, Helot, Phalanx, Persian Wars
The ancient Roman and Greek civilizations had well-organized political processes that greatly influenced the manner in which later governments were structured in Europe and the United States.The ancient Greeks were particularly concerned with such fundamental questions as who should rule and how? Should sovereignty (kyrion) lie in the rule of law (nomoi), the constitution (politea), officials, or the citizens?Not settling on a definitive answer to these questions, government in the ancient Greek world, therefore, took extraordinarily diverse forms and, across different city-states and over many centuries, political power could rest in the hands of a single individual: (monarchies and tyrants) or in a select few (the oligarchies) or in every male citizen: democracy - widely regarded as the Greeks' greatest contribution to civilization
The ancient Roman and Greek civilizations had well-organized political processes that greatly influenced the manner in which later governments were structured in Europe and the United States.The ancient Greeks were particularly concerned with such fundamental questions as who should rule and how? Should sovereignty (kyrion) lie in the rule of law (nomoi), the constitution (politea), officials, or the citizens?Not settling on a definitive answer to these questions, government in the ancient Greek world, therefore, took extraordinarily diverse forms and, across different city-states and over many centuries, political power could rest in the hands of a single individual: (monarchies and tyrants) or in a select few (the oligarchies) or in every male citizen: democracy - widely regarded as the Greeks' greatest contribution to civilization
HOW IS ANCIENT GREECE STILL APART OF OUR LIFES TODAY IN REFERENCE TO DEMOCRACY, ART, LITERATURE, AND PHILOSOPHY?
The great British -mathematician Alfred North Whitehead once commented that all philosophy is but a footnote to Plato . A similar point can be made regarding Greek literature as a whole.Over a period of more than ten centuries, the ancient Greeks created a literature of such brilliance that it has rarely been equaled and never surpassed. In poetry, tragedy, comedy, and history, Greek writers created masterpieces that have inspired, influenced, and challenged readers to the present day.To suggest that all Western literature is no more than a footnote to the writings of classical Greece is an exaggeration, but it is nevertheless true that the Greek world of thought was so far-ranging that there is scarcely an idea discussed today that was not debated by the ancient writers. The only body of literature of comparable influence is the Bible.The language in which the ancient authors wrote was Greek. Like English, Greek is an Indo-European language; but it is far older. Its history can be followed from the 14th century BC to the present. Its literature, therefore, covers a longer period of time than that of any other Indo-European languageScholars have determined that the Greek alphabet was derived from the Phoenician alphabet. During the period from the 8th to the 5th century BC, local differences caused the forms of letters to vary from one city-state to another within Greece. From the 4th century BC on, however, the alphabet became uniform throughout the Greek world.
WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT'S EMPIRE?
Was Alexander the Great really great?
A great conqueror, in 13 short years he amassed the largest empire in the entire ancient world — an empire that covered 3,000 miles. And he did this without the benefit of modern technology and weaponry. In his day, troop movements were primarily on foot, and communications were face to face. Not bad for a kid who became the King of Macedon at the age of 20.
Many of Alexander's accomplishments were made possible by his father, Philip of Macedon. Macedon, which existed roughly where the modern country of Macedonia lies today, was a kingdom located that lay geographically north of the Greek city-states
Was Alexander the Great really great?
A great conqueror, in 13 short years he amassed the largest empire in the entire ancient world — an empire that covered 3,000 miles. And he did this without the benefit of modern technology and weaponry. In his day, troop movements were primarily on foot, and communications were face to face. Not bad for a kid who became the King of Macedon at the age of 20.
Many of Alexander's accomplishments were made possible by his father, Philip of Macedon. Macedon, which existed roughly where the modern country of Macedonia lies today, was a kingdom located that lay geographically north of the Greek city-states
HOW IS OUR "AMERICAN CULTURE" LIKE "HELLENISTIC CULTURE" ?
The Hellenistic Age marks the transformation of Greek society from the localized and introverted city-states to an open, cosmopolitan, and at times exuberant culture that permeated the entire eastern Mediterranean, and Southwest Asia. While the Hellenistic world incorporated a number of different people, Greek thinking, mores, and way of life dominated the public affairs of the time. All aspects of culture took a Greek hue, with the Greek language being established as the official language of the Hellenistic world. The art and literature of the era were transformed accordingly. Instead of the previous preoccupation with the Ideal, Hellenistic art focused on the Real. Depictions of man in both art and literature revolved around exuberant, and often amusing themes that for the most part explored the daily life and the emotional world of humans, gods, and heroes alike.The autonomy of individual cities of the Classical era gave way to the will of the large kingdoms that were led by one ruler. As Alexander left no apparent heir, his generals controlled the empire. They fought common enemies and against each other as they attempted to establish their power, and eventually, three major kingdoms emerged through the strife that followed the death of Alexander in 323 BCE and persisted for the most part over the next three hundred years
The Hellenistic Age marks the transformation of Greek society from the localized and introverted city-states to an open, cosmopolitan, and at times exuberant culture that permeated the entire eastern Mediterranean, and Southwest Asia. While the Hellenistic world incorporated a number of different people, Greek thinking, mores, and way of life dominated the public affairs of the time. All aspects of culture took a Greek hue, with the Greek language being established as the official language of the Hellenistic world. The art and literature of the era were transformed accordingly. Instead of the previous preoccupation with the Ideal, Hellenistic art focused on the Real. Depictions of man in both art and literature revolved around exuberant, and often amusing themes that for the most part explored the daily life and the emotional world of humans, gods, and heroes alike.The autonomy of individual cities of the Classical era gave way to the will of the large kingdoms that were led by one ruler. As Alexander left no apparent heir, his generals controlled the empire. They fought common enemies and against each other as they attempted to establish their power, and eventually, three major kingdoms emerged through the strife that followed the death of Alexander in 323 BCE and persisted for the most part over the next three hundred years