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Ancient Greece is the first civilization that we are learning about that is not a river valley civilization. Due to its' peninsulas, mountains, and seas, Ancient Greek culture was unique.  The geographical features of Greece caused city states (such as Athans and Sparta) to have vastly different cultures while tough to travel terrain caused Greeks to heavily rely on trading. Additionally, by being surrounded by water, Greeks learned to sail.

Ancient Greece had five main ages: the Minoan age, the Mycenaean Age, the Dark Age, the Archaic Age, and the Classical Age.

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Ancient Greece 101 | National Geographic

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Athens was where democracy was founded.

Watch the video above for an intro to Athens.

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A day in the life of an ancient Athenian - Robert Garland

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Greece has many mountains, which made for difficult travel in ancient times.  This caused trade routes to be established in order to get goods, since farming was not an option!

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Mount Olympus is said to be where gods and goddesses lived.

The ancient Olympic Games were held in Olympia every 4 years to honor Zeus.

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The Mycenaeans were considered the first mainland Greeks.  They were known for building large fortresses.

The Mycenaeans conquered the Minoans after their fall of power and became known as a major trading force in the Balkan peninsula as they traveled through the Mediterranean, Black, and Aegean seas to trade.

Due to the expansive trading, they set up colonies in both Northern Greece and even Italy!  They conquered many until their fall in 1200 BC.

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The Minoans were one of the first groups of people to live in Ancient Greece.

Living on the island of Crete, the Minoans became expert sailors and built sturdy ships to travel along the Aegean Sea for trading. Some items they traded include olive oil, wood, and pottery.

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Learn About Minoans And Mycenaens | Animated Fact of World | World Civilization Facts for Kids

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Additionally, Greece has islands and seas which separate different parts of the country from one another.

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Having access to water, the people of Ancient Greece sailed.

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Sparta is in a valley, which was an advantage to them as a warrior city.

Watch the video above for an intro to Sparta.

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This is Sparta: Fierce warriors of the ancient world - Craig Zimmer