<aside> 💡 From this lesson, you must…
Greece is a country that is characterized by its extremely mountainous geography. The mountains occupy a significant portion of the country's land, and many of them are steep and rugged.
The rugged terrain has played a significant role in shaping the country's history, culture, and way of life. For example, the mountainous terrain made it difficult for invaders to penetrate the country, which helped the Greeks preserve their independence for many centuries.
Additionally, the mountains have influenced the development of agriculture and transportation in Greece. Due to the steep and rocky terrain, farming in Greece has historically been challenging, and the transportation of goods and people has been primarily by sea.
City-states, also known as poleis, were developed separately from each other, which gave them a unique identity that was independent culturally, legally, and politically. This uniqueness resulted from the fact that city-states were governed by their own laws and customs, which were shaped by their unique histories, geographies, and cultures. For example, Sparta was known for its military prowess, while Athens was known for its philosophy and democracy.
It is worth noting that the concept of a united “Greece” didn’t exist until later. Instead, the city-states saw themselves as distinct entities that shared a common language and religion, but differed in many other aspects. It wasn't until the Persian Wars in the 5th century BCE that the city-states came together to repel the Persian invasion, which marked the beginning of a sense of Greek unity.
Despite this, Greek city-states shared some commonalities.
The Greek city-states were united by a common language and writing system that they inherited from the Phoenicians. This allowed for easy communication and exchange of ideas among the different city-states, contributing to the development of Greek culture as a whole.
In addition to their shared language, the Greeks also had a polytheistic mythology that featured gods and heroes with human qualities. These myths were an important part of Greek culture, and were often used to explain natural phenomena or to provide moral lessons to the people.
The earliest Greek myths were part of an oral tradition that began in the Bronze Age, and were passed down from generation to generation through storytelling. This tradition eventually evolved into written literature, with works such as the Iliad and Odyssey immortalizing heroes and chronicling important events in Greek history.
Greek polytheistic mythology featured gods and heroes with human qualities. The earliest Greek myths were part of an oral tradition that began in the Bronze Age.
Written literature such as the Iliad and Odyssey immortalized heroes and sometimes explained natural phenomenon.
In ancient times, the concept of patron gods/goddesses was prevalent among the city-states. Each polis had constructed grand temples to pay homage to their respective deity and celebrated festivals in their honor. These practices reflected the profound influence of religion in the lives of ancient Greeks, and they believed that their gods and goddesses were directly involved in their day-to-day lives.
It was during this time that we see the emergence of a transactional relationship between the people and their gods. The ancient Greeks believed that by offering sacrifices and organizing grand festivals, they could appease their gods and receive blessings in return. This was an essential aspect of their culture and was deeply ingrained in their society.
The first Olympics held in ancient Greece was no exception. The athletes who participated in the games, being devout believers in their gods, prayed to Zeus for victory and success. They also offered gifts to thank him for their accomplishments. This act of gratitude was a way of acknowledging the role of the gods in their lives and seeking their continued blessings.
By looking at these practices, we can understand the significant role that religion played in shaping the ancient Greek society. It was their way of seeking divine intervention in their lives and making sense of the world around them.