The Greek peninsula's geography shaped the lives of the Greeks by surrounding Greece with water on three sides and creating many natural harbors, though the mountains made travel difficult. As sea people, the Greeks established colonies around the Mediterranean coastlines of Turkey, Italy, Africa, and France to take advantage of the resources available from the sea and fertile Greek soil. The peninsula and many colonies provided the Greeks with seafood, fish, vegetables, fresh water, and fertile land to thrive.

1. Greek Geography
Social Studies for 9th E.G.B. | Teacher: Mauricio Torres

2. A Peninsula
 Greece is a peninsula, which means that it is
surrounded on three sides by water. Greece has a lot
of smaller peninsulas sticking out from it, which means
Greece enjoys many natural harbors.

3. Landscape
 Greece is also covered
with mountains. They
are not huge mountains
but if you are trying to
go from place to place
in Greece, you'll find
the mountains a bit of
an obstacle.

4. Sea People
 Three thousand years
ago, it was very difficult
to get from place to
place in ancient Greece
by walking. But it was
easy to get from place to
place in Greece by boat.
 In the ancient world that grew up
around the Mediterranean Sea,
the Greeks became known as
great sailors. They sailed about
the Mediterranean, setting up
colonies and outposts where they
could.

5. Colonies
 They tried to set up a colony or two in Egypt, but the
Egyptians chased them away. They had more luck
establishing new towns on the coast of Turkey, on the
coast of Italy, on the coast of Africa, and on the coast
of France.
 Colony: a group of people who leave their native
country to form in a new land a settlement subject to,
or connected with, the parent nation.

6. Greek Colonies

7. Greece
 Meanwhile, back in
mainland Greece, cities
were thriving. The soil
was mostly fertile. The
Greeks had a wealth of
seafood, fresh fish, a
wealth of vegetables, and
fresh drinking water. The
Greeks were very happy
with their land.

8. Ask Yourselves
 Summarize:
 How did the Greek Peninsula´s geography shape the lives of
the Greeks?
 Analyze:
 What kind of resources did the Greeks have at their
disposal?
 What do the Greek colonies have in common with each
other?
 Infer:
 What kind of obstacle did the mountains of Greece pose for
their people?

9. Bibliography
 MrDonn.org. (n.d.). Ancient Greece For Kids.
Retrieved 07 18, 2012, from MrDonn.org:
http://greece.mrdonn.org/
 Dictionary.com. (n.d.). Colony. Retrieved 07
22, 2012, from Dictionary:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/colony
 Clip Art by Phillip Martin
 Images taken from Google.com