Social Studies - Ancient Greece Geography

List 4 facts about the geography of Greece.

1. Greece has no major rivers. 2. Greece is surrounded on three sides by seas. 3. Greece is mostly mountainous. 4. Greece includes hundreds of islands.

Identify three challenges that merchant ships faced.

1. Since the Greeks did not have charts or compasses, navigating was difficult. 2. Sailors were not able to tell where any dangerous coastlines were in the dark. 3. Travelling was very slow.

What were the solutions for the problem that there was not a lot of flat land available for farming?

1. Some farmers built earth steps to create more farmland. 2. They grew more of crops that did not need much land, such as grapes and olives. Fruit orchards and nut trees did not need much land either.

List three reasons why travel was challenging in ancient Greece.

1. The roads were unpaved and sharp rocks often shattered the wooden wheels. Wagons also got stuck in the mud. 2. Since the travelers, slaves, and animals had to carry their own items, travel was very slow. There was also the risk of being attacked by bandits. 3. When travelling by boats, they could be robbed by pirates or untrustworthy sailors. They might also sink or be hit by a large and sudden storm.

Where did the ancient Greeks mostly settle?

They mostly settled near the seas such as the Aegean Sea.

What was the solution for the problem that there was not enough grazing land for cattle?

They raised sheep and goats instead of cattle because they could graze on the sides on the sides of mountains.

Why were ancient Greek communities isolated from each other?

Ancient Greek communities were isolated from each other because of high mountains. Since the mountains were hard to travel through, there was not much communication between colonies.

What was the primary reason why the ancient Greeks started colonies?

As the population of Greece increased, there was not enough farmland to feed everyone. They sent colonists to create a colony of their own somewhere else.

Describe the actions that the ancient Greeks were likely to take when starting a new colony?

First, they had to collect food and water for their journey. Then they would take a bit of the sacred fire. They had to survive a long sea voyage, and find areas with good farmland and natural barriers. They also looked for places that did have any locals that were strong enough to drive them away. Finally, they had to create their community and make sure it survived.

How do you thing the physical geography of Greece influenced where people settled and how they lived?

I think that more people would have settled closer to the Mediterranean Sea so that they could get seafood because they did not have much farmland. It was also easier to trade and transport than if you were to settle more inland.

Why did some Greek settlements trade?

Some ancient Greek settlements did not have enough farmland to grow everything they needed, so by trading, they were able to get the foods and other items that they may have needed through the peninsula.

What goods from the Greek mainland were traded? What goods did the Greeks get in exchange?

The Greek mainland traded olive oil, pottery, and wine, for grains, timber, and metal.

When and where did the Greeks establish colonies?

They established colonies from around 1000 to 650 B.C.E. The colones were located in Asia Minor, Spain, France, Italy, Africa, and along the coast of the Black Sea.

Why did some Greek settlements fight each other?

They fought each other because of the shortage of farmland.

What is one problem farmers faces that related to water?

Water was scarce.