Key Geographical Characteristics of Ancient Greece

• Greece: Peninsula in eastern Mediterranean
  • Mountainous terrain: Hindered farming, helped defense
  • Reliance on sea trade/fishing due to limited farmable land
  • Major seas: Aegean, Mediterranean, Ionian
• South Greece: Numerous tiny islands, including Crete
• Mountains led to isolated city-states

Greek City-States (Polis)

• Most common government form (except Minoan)
• Structure: City and surrounding area
  • Independent cultures with similarities
  • Central temple/palace on fortified hill, Agora for politics
• Citizens: Free men participating in politics and defense

Greek Civilizations

Minoan Civilization

• Located in Crete, prospered via sea trade
• Governed by king Minos, featured lavish palaces
• Discoveries: Sir Arthur Evans found Palace of Knossos
• Art: Influenced by Egypt, frescoes
• Religion: Mother goddess, Bull worship
• Collapse: Invaded by Mycenaeans

Mycenaean Civilization

• First distinctly Greek civilization
• Palatial states with fortified palaces
• Economy: Bronze tools/weapons, trade
• Known for Trojan War
• Decline: Natural disasters, infighting, Dorian invasion

Spartan Civilization

• Origin: Dorian invaders, warfare-focused society
• Government: Two kings, council of elders, assembly
• Education: Rigorous training from childhood
• Society valued discipline, courage, and endurance
• Slaves conducted non-military tasks
• Militarism hindered economic and cultural progress

Athenian Civilization

• Origin: Mycenaean city-state, peninsula of Attica
• Survived Dorian invasion, grew powerful
• Government evolution: Key reforms toward democracy
  • Key leaders: Draco, Solon, Pisistratus, Cleisthenes
• Education: Boys learned various subjects; girls focused on household skills

Greco-Persian Wars

1st War

• Conflict due to Greek support in Ionian revolts

Marathon

• Athenian victory despite being outnumbered

Thermopylae

• Greek stand at narrow pass, eventual loss

Salamis

• Naval victory for Greeks, turning point

Rise of Athens

• Post-war dominance with powerful navy
• Formation of Delian League
• Prosperity in economics, politics, and culture
• Golden Age: Art, philosophy, democracy flourished

Peloponnesian Wars

• Conflict between Athens and Sparta
• Stalemate until Persian naval support for Sparta
• Ended with Spartan victory, Athens’ decline

Greek Civilization Contributions

Religion

• Polytheistic, influenced culture and art
• Festivals: Olympic Games

Art & Architecture

• Greek art in paintings, sculptures, pottery
• Architecture: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian pillars
• Key figures: Phidias, Myron, Praxiteles

Theatre and Drama

• Tragedies and comedies
• Influential playwrights: Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Sophocles, Euripides

History and Language

• Herodotus: Father of history
• Thucydides: Documented Peloponnesian War
• Greek alphabet development

Math, Medicine, and Science

• Key figures: Thales, Pythagoras, Hippocrates

Philosophy

• Socrates, Plato, Sophists, Aristotle
• Developed methods in teaching, politics, and science

Roman Geographic Conditions

• Italy: Peninsula with fertile land
• Mountains: Alps, Apennines

Roman Republic

Founding

• Founded by Latins, influenced by Etruscans and Greeks

Government

• Republic with Senate, Patricians and Plebeians
• Legal reforms: Laws of the Twelve Tables

Army

• Organized into legions, disciplined

Expansion Wars

Italian Peninsula

• Conquest and integration of Italian states

Punic Wars

1st Punic War

• Rome vs. Carthage over Sicily

2nd Punic War

• Hannibal's campaign in Italy, eventual defeat

3rd Punic War

• Rome's final victory over Carthage

Roman Empire

Julius Caesar

• Rise to power, reforms, assassination

Augustus and Pax Romana

• Establishment of stability and prosperity
• Continued expansion and reform

After Augustus

• Notable emperors: Caligula, Nero, 5 Good Emperors

3rd Century Crisis

• Period of instability, civil war, invasions

Diocletian and Constantine

• Reforms, split of empire, Constantine's rise

Fall of Western Roman Empire

• Internal strife, external invasions
• Odoacer's capture of Rome
• Eastern Roman Empire continues as Byzantine

Roman Contributions

• Engineering, architecture, language, and law
• Important figures: Cicero, Caesar, Plutarch, Livy, Tacitus, Virgil