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Mediterranan Civilizations (Greece (Human-Environment (Located on the…
Mediterranan Civilizations
Greece
Human-Environment
Located on the Aegean Sea
Little land suitable for farming
Mountainous; no river valleys or plains
Cultural
Polytheistic religion, though there was a focus on secular life
Developed art forms, including drama, lyric poetry and classical architecture
Tremendous focus on philosophy; used religion as a guide rather than law
Political
Encouraged the development of the polis, or the city-state
Ancient Greece was never united under one government; when we think of Ancient Greece, we are frequently referring to Athens
Very different forms of government throughout Greece, but democracy was established in Athens for free men
Economic
Lack of fertile plains inland led farmers to rely on sparse rainfall for agricultural development
Very few metal deposits, but there was access to deposits of clay and marble for pottery and architecture
Greece formed colonies in modern-day France and other locations far from home which contributed to developments in trade and cultural diffusion
Social
Frequently a distinction between citizens and non-citizens/servants, though Athens also developed a clear aristocracy
Gender equality was more clearly defined in Athens than Sparta, where women were necessary to maintain life while husbands were away at war
Distinctions in Sparta among citizens focused less on wealth and more on talent
Persia
Human-Environment
Rose in modern-day Iran
Existed in a hot, dry plateau surrounded by mountains and the Indian Ocean
Between major population centers
Cultural
Set the stage for cultural views of the "West" and "East" still responsible for many clashes in the Middle East today
Political
Superior military leadership and organization
Political system in which conquered lands could establish their own systems of government
Repeated conflicts with Greece over territorial expansion
Economic
Location enabled a center for trade between Europe and Asia
Social
Strong relationships between locals and Persians, including intermarriage
Phoenicia
Human-Environment
Focus on seafaring, including travel by ship
Located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea
Cultural:
Built a phonetic alphabet with 22 letters that corresponded to different sounds, and was much easier to understand than other languages of its day
Political
Visited Greece, reestablishing contact between the Mediterranean and the Middle East
Eventually absorbed into the Assyrian Empire
Rome
Economic
Aristocrats owned land that was farmed by peasants and tenant farmers
Slave labor was indispensable, and slaves were responsible for much of the farming, mining and production necessary for Roman society
Played a large role in Mediterranean Sea trade
Human-Environment
At its height, Rome extended around the Mediterranean, into much of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East
Developed in modern-day Italy
Strong control of the Mediterranean Sea
Political
Rome was first a republic governed by representatives, then an empire
Augustus established major changes, including a civil service system and a system of provinces
Laws and legal experts were established, including more complex judicial systems
Cultural
Heavily influenced by Greece, but developed many of its own characteristics
Developed the Latin language
Maintained the Greek tradition of polytheism and focus on secular beliefs
Social
Roman women had little rights, and were frequently treated like children
Strong aristocracy, with wealth and political power highly valued
Strong patriarchal structure, focused on the oldest male member of each family line