Influence of Geography on Greek City States pg. 113

Greece is mountainous so it made travelling harder, so the city states really didn’t unite.  Valleys were good for growing, so that is where people stayed, but there would be mountains surrounding them, and over those mountains would be more people in other valleys. Greeks occupied islands on the Aegean Sea, east of Greece, which helped develop their trade with other people.

The Hellenic Culture pg. 115

Hellas-means Greece.  Around 900 B.C., the Greeks would hold a Panhellenic festivals to celebrate all Greeks.  They took pride in and told tales of the deeds of their ancestors.  Different Greek cities would come together for the Olympic games. They created a written language of 24 letters much like our alphabet. They grew a surplus of food and traded across the sea. They believed in many gods.

Athens pg. 120

Named after Athena meaning goddess of wisdom.  It is located in the northeast of the Peloponnese in a region called Attica. Use to be run by wealthy landowners.  Now it is called the birthplace of democracy because the Greeks rose against the wealthy landowners.  The people had more of a say.

Sparta Democracy pg. 119

Sparta was ruled by two kings.  One would lead armies and the other would run the city.  The kings would share authority with elected council by the people.  Only men were considered citizens.  They were more into war than they were culture or arts.