Greece and Rome Refocused

- Unit 2. Ancient Greece, Cradle of Democracy
- Getting Started
  - What Are We Learning?
  - Observe and Think
  - Map Your Mind
- Ancient Greece, Cradle of Democracy
  - The Land of Greece
  - The History of Greece
    - Crete
    - Mycenae
    - Dark Age
    - Archaic Age
    - Classical Age
    - Hellenistic Age
  - Political Organization
  - An Unequal Society
    - Women
  - Economy
- Self-Evaluation Quiz
- Complementary Activites
  - The Greek and Latin Roots of English
  - One Myth, One Song
  - Games, Comics and Stuff
- References

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# Economy

The inhabitants of the Greek poleis lived on trade and craftwork.

- Craftwork: They made and exported ceramics, things made of leather and fabrics.
- Commerce: This was the most important economic activity. It included craftsmen, farmers selling their crops, and small shops selling all necessities. Some merchants were very rich and powerful; they had boats and traveled all over the Mediterranean. They sold Greek products and bought food, wood and copper. They used silver coins called "dracmas", in fact, the first coins in the world were Greek.

People in the countryside were poor and worked in agriculture and farming. They cultivate the Mediterranean triad, i.e. vines, wheat and olive trees.

Translation

Have you heard of the Cassiterides? Likely you haven't. This name means "Tin Islands" (from the Greek word for tin: Κασσίτερος/Kassiteros), and it is an ancient geographical name of some mysterious islands.

Check this map and write down the names of the regions rich in tin. Then find out in which region Cassiterides were located and which Spanish region is related to the legend.

How is it that tin was so important in Antiquity?

Great Britain.

Galicia.

Because bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. The arrival of bronze meant the begining of a new age: the Bronze Age.

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