Isolated Communities
What natural features made it difficult for ancient Greeks to travel and communicate with each other?
Steep mountains and seas
What were the main crops grown by ancient Greek farmers?
Grapes and olives
What are colonies?
A settlement under the control of a usually distant country
What goods did Greek settlements primarily trade?
Olive oil and pottery.
What is the term for land that is surrounded on three sides by water?
Peninsula
What mode of transportation was primarily used by ancient Greeks for land travel?
Walking or carts pulled by oxen or mules
Why was farming difficult in ancient Greece?
The land was rocky and water was scarce.
Why did many Greek communities start colonies?
To find new farmland as populations increased.
Why was trade important for many Greek communities?
To obtain goods they needed that they could not produce themselves.
Name the seas that surround mainland Greece.
Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea, and Ionian Sea.
Why did the ancient Greeks often travel in groups?
To carry supplies and goods as travel was challenging
What types of animals did Greek farmers raise, and why?
Sheep and goats, because they could graze on rocky slopes.
What role did oracles play in starting a new colony?
Colonists consulted oracles to seek approval from the gods for their journey.
How were most goods transported by Greek merchants?
On wooden ships with large rectangular sails.
How did the geography of Greece influence the way people settled?
The rugged mountains and seas led to isolated communities.
How did geography contribute to the isolation of Greek communities?
Mountains and seas separated communities, making communication and travel difficult.
What was the best-known sweetener in ancient Greece?
Honey
Name one of the first colonies established by the ancient Greeks.
Ionia in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey).
What were the risks for merchant ships?
Navigational difficulties, storms, and dangerous coastlines.
What challenges did the lack of major rivers present to Greek farmers?
Limited access to water for irrigation and farming.
What was a significant challenge for sailors navigating the seas around Greece?
Sudden storms, rocky shorelines, and the difficulty of navigation without compasses or charts.
How did Greek farmers adapt their farming methods to the mountainous terrain?
They built wide earth steps into the hills to create more flat land for planting.
How did Greek colonists maintain their rights after starting a new colony?
They continued to enjoy the rights they held in their home country of Greece.
How long could a one-way trip from the mainland to trade destinations take?
Up to two months.
Describe how the geography of Greece helped spread its culture.
Colonization and sea trade helped spread Greek culture to faraway places.