Unit 2: The Geography of Greece

Why is Greece considered a peninsula?

• It is land surrounded by water on 3 sides
• The lack of large rivers
• The steep mountain slopes
• The large number of islands

How did the mountains affect communication between Greek city-states?

• Communities were isolated
• They led people to write letters
• Road building was promoted
• They led farmers to stop speaking

The ancient Greeks did not like to travel on land because they

• found it too difficult to get through the mountains.
• did not want to offend the earth god.
• used the land for farming instead of roads.
• were afraid of people from other villages.

Why did Greek communities sometimes fight each other?

• They needed more land for farming
• They could not start colonies.
• They had too many soldiers.
• They were crowded together.

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

• not enough farmland
• not enough people
• too many ships
• too much timber

How did ancient Greek colonies affect other places?

• They spread the Greek culture over a wide 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.

Why did ancient Greek communities trade?

• to get goods they needed such as grain and timber
• to give families work to do
• to enjoy adventures at sea
• to stop having to farm

Ancient Greeks ....*Raised Sheep rather than cattle. * Grew olive trees rather than wheat. *Lived in isolated communities rather than in a united country. What factor accounts for the qualities of Greek life listed above?

• Greece is mostly mountainous.
• Greece had few trading partners.
• Greece had a small population.
• Greece is mostly made up of islands.

What was a result of ancient Greeks not having enough farmland to feed themselves?

• They traded to get what they needed & established colonies.
• Their government was weak.
• They gave up their religion.
• They lived peacefully with other Greeks.

A high hill where a fortress was usually built.

• acropolis
• polis
• agora
• mare nostrum