6th Grade UBD - Unit 6 - Geography of Ancient Greece

Islands and Mountains- Ancient Greece had a very different
geography than other river valley civilizations, such as
Mesopotamia, India, China, and Egypt.

The Persian Empire- The Persian Empire was one of the largest
empires in the ancient world. It covered parts of three
continents: Europe, Africa, and Asia.

The Persian Wars- The Persian Wars were fought between the
Persian Empire and the Greek city-states.
Reading Handout- Ancient Greece
Video- The Geography and History of Greece

The accomplishments of
ancient Europe still have an
impact on our world. What U.S.
accomplishments do you know
about? Think of some great
things Americans have done.
Explain why people remember
these achievements today.
( 5 minutes)

Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
answer with theirs.
What things are
the same and what
things are
different? (3
minutes)

Ancient Greece was located in southeast Europe along the
Mediterranean Sea.

Ancient Greece was a series of mountainous islands and peninsulas.
These geographic features affected the way of life in Greece. They
affected what crops people grew and how people traveled.

Greek city-states developed after the Mycenaean period with each
city controlling the land around it. Greek geography made it difficult
for city-states to expand their territory.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Greece
1. How is the geography of these two regions similar and different?
2. How do you think Greek civilization was affected by its geography?

The Greek civilization was
one of the great powers of
the ancient world.

While many ancient
civilizations began in river
valleys, the Greeks settled on
a group of islands and
peninsulas in southeastern
Europe.
Key Term
Island- An area
of land that is
completely
surrounded by
water.
Key Term
Peninsula- A
piece of land
that is
surrounded by
water on three
sides.

Greece’s steep mountains
also affected the crops and
animals in the region.

Farmers raised goats and
sheep because they could
graze on the sides of the
mountains.

They used goats and sheep
for milk, cheese, and wool.

The land of the Greeks
was surrounded by the
Mediterranean, Ionian,
and Aegean Seas,
which made the
Greeks adept at sea
travel.

The surrounding water,
plus the mountainous
terrain of many of the
Greek islands, helped to
create a sense of
independence for the
various Greek
populations.
Video- The Science of Seafaring
Reading Handout- The Greeks and Their Land

These people formed
numerous city-states for the
purpose of self-
government.

Some of the city-states—
including Mycenae, Athens,
Sparta, Corinth, and
Thebes—developed distinct
customs and policies.
Key Term
City-State- An
independent
kingdom or
state made up of
a city and the
surrounding
lands it controls.

The people of ancient
Greece used their
geographic surroundings to
their benefit.

Sea travel and trade brought
prosperity to many city-
states, particularly those in
control of important routes
and waterways.

Some city-states also invaded
and colonized surrounding
lands in order to obtain more
land and resources.

Although much of their land
was rocky, the Greeks found
ways to introduce methods of
irrigation to support
agriculture.

Many of the Greek
islands and peninsulas
abounded in olives and
grapes, and farmers
were able to raise goats
and sheep along the
steep hillsides.

Greece’s geography made travel
and communication difficult.

As a result, it was hard to have
one central government.

Because of this, the city-states
grew separately.

The city-states were often quite
different from one another
because of their locations.

The Greek city-states grew in
separation from one another.

However, they did have some
common culture and goals.

When they were threatened,
the Greek city-states
sometimes worked together
to protect themselves.

These threats often came
from another great power—
Persia.

Persia wanted to have more
power in the region.

This struggle for control
meant that Persia often
fought with Greek city-states
and colonies.

Greece’s many mountains and seas contributed to how
Greek civilization grew.

Greeks used the seas to develop a rich trade with other
areas.

The islands and mountains led to the development of city-
states rather than a united civilization.

These city-states would change how future civilizations
formed governments and studied the world around them.

Cyrus of Persia united Iran under his rule. He conquered
neighboring areas, establishing the Persian Empire.

His successors conquered more lands until the Persian Empire
stretched from Egypt to India.

During their conquests, the Persians conquered several Greek
colonies.

King Darius organized the empire so that the Persians could
control the vast and diverse land they had conquered. He created
a single currency. He built roads to link his empire together.
Key Term
Persia- The old
name for
current-day Iran.
It serves as a
bridge between
the East and the
West.

The Persian Empire formed to
the east of Greek civilization.

Persia was a place in what is
now the country of Iran.

This new empire became an
enemy of the Greek citystates.

It wanted Greek land and
power.

Although the Greek citystates generally
operated independently
of one another, they
sometimes joined
together in the face of
threats.

Some of the most severe
threats came from the
Persian Empire, a
powerful empire that
ultimately expanded
through parts of Europe,
Africa, and Asia.
Key Term
Cyrus the GreatUnited most of
what is today Iran
under his control
and established
himself as the
ruler of Persia.
Reading Handout- Cyrus the Great

The Persian Empire formed in
approximately 548 BCE,
when Cyrus the Great united
much of what is today the
nation of Iran.

In the coming years, he
conquered many surrounding
lands and incorporated them
into the Persian Empire.

Darius I, continued the
expansion and instituted a
strong system of
government control over
the conquered lands.

The Persian Empire’s
increasing power led to
conflicts with some of the
Greek city-states.

The Persian Wars united the Greek city-states
together against a common Persian enemy.

The mountains and islands of Greece made it difficult
for the Persians to conquer all of the Greek city-states.

The Greek victory against the Persians ensured that
Greece would remain separate from the Persian
Empire.
Key Term
Persian Wars- A
wars between the
Persian empire
and Greek citystates; Greek
victories allowed
Greek civilization
to define identity.

When some Greek citystates began to rebel
against Persian
domination, a group of
other Greek city-states
united to assist in the
uprisings.
Key Term
Allies- A state
formally
cooperating with
another for a
military or other
purpose, typically
by treaty.

The resulting conflicts
between the Greek citystates and the Persian Empire
are collectively known as the
Persian Wars.

After the rebellion ended,
Darius plotted to conquer all
of Greece, but his plan was
halted at Marathon.

In 480 BCE, Darius’s
son, Xerxes, who
was the new Persian
king, launched an
invasion by land and
sea.

Greek forces created a
brilliant strategy, using
their country’s rocky
terrain to slow the advance
of the huge Persian army
at Thermopylae.

After a fierce battle,
however, the Greeks were
defeated.

It was not until a great
sea battle at Salamis
that the Greeks, using
their famed sailing skills,
gained the upper hand
and eventually drove off
the Persian invaders.

The temple of Athena
Nike was built as a
memorial in
recognition of Greek
victories during
the Persian Wars.

What has been the
“muddiest” point so far in
this lesson? That is, what
topic remains the least
clear to you? (4 minutes)

Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
muddiest point with
theirs. Compare
what things are the
same and what
things are different?
(3 minutes)