Reading+Rainbow+Greece+1

1.Compared with Mesopotamia and Egypt, Greece is small. It consists of a peninsula and many surrounding islands that total an area about the size of Louisiana. It is made up of small plains and river valleys surrounded by high mountains. The mountains influenced Greek history, because they separated Greeks from one another. This caused different communities to develop their own ways of life. The small size of these communities encouraged people to be involved in politics. But the rivalry between the communities led to warfare. The sea also influenced Greek history. Greece has a long seacoast with many harbors, so the Greeks became seafarers. Greeks also lived on many islands off the Greek mainland. They sailed into the Aegean, the Mediterranean, and the Black Seas. They later established colonies that spread Greek civilization throughout the Mediterranean world.


 * How did the mountains and sea influence Greek history?**

2.By 2800 b.c.e., a Bronze Age civilization existed on the large island of Crete. southeast of the Greek mainland. It flourished between 2700 and 1450 b.c.e. It was called the Minoan civilization by the English archaeologist, Arthur Evans, who discovered it He named it after Minos, the legendary king of Crete. Evans discovered a huge palace complex on Crete at Knossos. The remains of this complex revealed a rich culture. The palace contained vases, ivory figurines, and jewelry. The rooms were decorated with paintings that showed sporting events and nature scenes. Storerooms held gigantic jars of oil, wine, and grain. The Minoans were traders, and their ships took them to Egypt and southern Greece. The Minoan civilization on Crete was suddenly destroyed around 1450 b.c.e. Some historians believe that a tidal wave triggered by a volcanic eruption was responsible. Most historians, however, believe that the destruction was the result of an invasion by mainland Greeks known as the Mycenaeans.


 * Why is the Bronze Age civilization on Crete called the Minoan civilization?**