Yr 7 PPT on geography of ancient greece

1. Geography of Ancient Greece

2. “The Greeks did not
live on land but
around a sea.”

3. The Sea
• In one sense, the Greeks did not live on land, but around a sea.
• Aegean, Ionian and Black Sea were important for trading.
• Trade important because they lacked natural resources.

4. The Land
• Rugged mountains covered ¾ of Ancient Greece.
• Greeks developed into small, independent communities based in
valleys instead of one single government.
• Only a small portion of the land was suitable for farming.
• Could only support a small population.

5. Four major areas
• Mountain
• Hills – suitable for some
Mediterranean crops (olives, sage)
• Coastal plain (suitable for fields)
• Coast

6. The Climate
• Moderate temperatures, which
supported an outdoor life for many
Greeks.
• Men spent much of their leisure
time at outdoor public events.
• Would discuss public issues,
exchange news, and take an active
part in civic life (government)

7. Threats
• Greece is at a nexus of tectonic
activity:
• African plate is moving northwards
• the European plate is moving
southwards
• the Asian plate is moving westwards
• Active volcanoes, earthquakes and
tidal waves are a significant threat