Geography & the Settlement of Greece: Lesson 25, Part 2

Geography & the Settlement of Greece: Lesson 25, Part 2 Sections 4-5

6th Gr Social Studies Mrs. Luptak

Starting Colonies - S4

As the populations of Greek communities increased, the existing farmland no longer produced enough food to feed all of the people. One solution was to start colonies, or settlements in distant places. Many Greek communities sent people across the sea, in search of new places to farm so that they could ship food back home. People who set up colonies are called colonists.

The ancient Greeks made many preparations before starting a journey to a new land. Often, they began by consulting an oracle to ask the Greek gods whether their efforts would be successful. An oracle was a holy person who the Greeks believed could communicate with the gods. Next, the colonists gathered food and supplies. They took a flame from their town's sacred fire so they could start a sacred fire in their new home.

Greek colonists faced many hardships. They had to take a long sea voyage and then find a good location for their colony. They looked for areas with natural harbors and good farmland. They tried to avoid places where the local people might oppose the new colonies. Finally, they had to build their new community and make it successful.

The Greeks established colonies over a period of more than 300 years, from 1000 to 650 B.C.E. The first group of settlers started a colony called Ionia, in Asia Minor, in what is present-day Turkey. Later groups started colonies in Spain, France, Italy, and Africa, and along the coast of the Black Sea.

These colonies helped spread Greek culture. Some flourished through farming and trade. Colonists continued to enjoy whatever rights they once held in their home country of Greece, including the right to participate in Greek athletic games.

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Multiple Choice

What problem did ancient Greek communities try to solve by starting colonies?

• too many ships.

• too much timber.

• shortage of people.

• shortage of farmland.

Multiple Choice

A good location to start an ancient Greek colony would have had

• tall mountains.

• a high city wall.

• a natural harbor.

• strong local tribes.

Multiple Choice

How did colonies affect ancient Greek culture?

• They spread the culture over a wide open area.

• They led the Greeks to adopt Asian culture.

• They caused village cultures to develop in different ways.

• They forced settlers to lose their culture and rights as Greeks.

Multiple Choice

Why did ancient Greek communities trade?

• to stop having to farm

• to get goods they needed

• to enjoy adventures at sea

• to give families work to do

Trading for Needed Goods -S5

Many Greek settlements on the mainland relied on trade with each other to get needed goods. Some had enough farmland to meet their own needs, so they were less dependent on trade.

The Greeks traded among the city-states, with Greek colonies, and in the wider Mediterranean region. Olive oil and pottery from the mainland were exchanged for such goods as grain, timber, and metal.

Most goods were carried on ships owned by merchants. These ships were built of wood, with large rectangular cloth sails. Merchants had ships built, not for speed, but for space to hold goods. Because these ships traveled only about three to five miles per hour, journeys were long. A one-way trip from the mainland could take two months

Navigating these ships was difficult. The Greeks had no compasses or charts. They had only the stars to guide them. The stars could tell sailors a ship's location, but not what hazards lay nearby. No lighthouses warned sailors of dangerous coastlines. Despite these dangers, adventurous sailors carried more and more goods, and trade flourished along the Mediterranean coast.

Multiple Choice

Which choice of titles would best fit as column headings for the chart below? ( olive oil & pottery is on the column on the left side; grain & metal is on the column to the right side)

• Wants and Needs

• Farms and Villages

• Goods and Services

• Exports and Imports

Multiple Choice

What did Greek sailors use to help them steer their ships?

• stars

• charts

• radios

• compasses

Multiple Choice

The ancient Greeks worshiped the sea god Poseidon. What does this tell about the Greeks?

• They believed in only one god.

• They lived in separated villages.

• They relied on the sea for travel and trade.

• They stayed away from the sea as much as they could.

Summary

In this chapter, you learned about the ways in which geography influenced settlement and way of life in ancient Greece.

Isolated Communities and the Difficulties of Travel Greece's steep mountains and surrounding seas forced Greeks to settle in isolated communities. Travel by land was hard, and sea voyages were hazardous.

Farming in Ancient Greece Most ancient Greeks farmed, but good land and water were scarce. They grew grapes and olives, and raised sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens.

Starting Colonies Many ancient Greeks sailed across the sea to found colonies that helped spread Greek culture. Colonists settled in lands that include parts of present day Turkey, Spain, France, Italy, and northern Africa.

Trading for Needed Goods To meet their needs, the ancient Greeks traded with other city-states, their colonies, and with other peoples in the Mediterranean region. They exchanged olive oil and pottery for such goods as grain, timber, and metal.