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Ancient Greece
Farming
Agriculture was an important part of Ancient Greek
life. They were mainly subsistence farmers, growing crops such
as wheat, barley, olives, grapes, and figs. Ancient Greece also
had an abundance of forests, which were used for timber, fuel,
and hunting. Ancient Greeks also raised sheep, goats, and pigs.
The tools they used consisted of copper, bronze or iron sickles,

shears and pickaxes. Sometimes cattle were hooked up to
primitive ploughs but most of the work was done by hand.
Fields were tilled with shovels and spades and olives were
beaten out of trees with sticks and collected in baskets.
Farming (continued)
During the 5th century B.C. most farmers were small landowners. A
typical farmer possessed olive and fig trees and grew some wheat and
barley on their plots of land. From the third century B.C. onwards, the
sudden influx of cheap slave labour and the growth of abnormally
large estates in Roman Italy dispossessed many small landholders and
tenant-farmers and sent them to swell the ranks of an ever-increasing
urban population." Former tenant farmers were claimed as slaves.
Irrigation
Although the evidence suggests that ancient Greeks knew about
irrigation from the widespread watering of the intensive garden,
the kepos (‘small-scale irrigation’), irrigation projects designed for
field cultivation (‘large-scale irrigation’) were few, and primarily
confined to the Classical and Hellenistic periods.
Trade
Trade was an integral part of the Ancient Greek economy,
with merchants travelling far and wide to bring back
exotic goods from distant lands. The bustling ports of
Athens, Corinth and other cities were hubs of activity,
with ships laden with spices, precious metals, pottery
and other luxury items arriving daily.
The Greeks were so keen on the rewards of trade and

commerce that they colonised large parts of the coastal
Mediterranean.
Social Hierarchy/ Social Classes
Ancient Greece was divided into four social classes: the upper class, the
middle class, the lower class, and the slaves. The upper class was made up
of wealthy landowners and merchants, while the middle class was
composed of artisans and traders. The lower class was made up of small
farmers, while the slaves were owned by the upper and middle classes.
Although ancient Greece was dominated by male citizens, the social groups
which made up the population were incredibly diverse. The society of
ancient Greece was largely composed of the following groups:
• male citizens - three groups: landed aristocrats (aristoi), poorer farmers
(perioikoi) and the middle class (artisans and traders).
• semi-free labourers (e.g., The helots of Sparta).
• women - belonging to all of the above male groups but without citizen
rights.
• children - categorised as below 18 years generally.
• slaves - the douloi who had civil or military duties.
• foreigners - non-residents (xenoi) or foreign residents (metoikoi) who
were below male citizens in status.
Religion
In the ancient Greek world, religion was personal,
direct, and present in all areas of life. With formal
rituals which included animal sacrifices and libations,
myths to explain the origins of mankind and give the
gods a human face, temples which dominated the
urban landscape, city festivals and national sporting
and artistic competitions, religion was never far from
the mind of an ancient Greek.
Polytheistic Greek religion encompassed a myriad of
gods, each representing a certain facet of the human
condition, and even abstract ideas such as justice and
wisdom could have their own personification.
Religion (continued)
The most important gods, though, were the Olympian gods led by Zeus.
These 12 Olympian gods were believed to reside on Mt. Olympus and were
recognised across Greece. Some of these gods include:
Zeus
Zeus was the ruler of the Olympian gods and the god of the sky. He was
responsible for the skies and rain.
Athena
Athena is the goddess of warfare, wisdom, learning, strategy, crafts, and skill.
She is also known as the virgin patroness of the city of Athens.
Apollo
He was the god of the sun and light, music, art and poetry, crops and herds,
prophecy and truth, and more.
Poseidon
Poseidon was god of the sea, earthquakes, storms, and horses. He is
considered one of the most bad-tempered, moody and greedy Olympian gods.
Hermes
Hermes was the ancient Greek god of herds and flocks, travellers and
hospitality, roads and trade, thievery and cunning, heralds and diplomacy,
language and writing, athletic contests and gymnasiums.
Language and
Writing
The Ancient Greeks spoke a variety of

dialects, but the most common was
Attic Greek. Ancient Greek was written
using an alphabet, which was adapted
from the Phoenician alphabet. This
alphabet was used to write epic poems,
plays, and philosophical works, which
have been preserved to this day.
Significant
Figures
The Ancient Greeks were renowned for
their great thinkers, from philosophers
and scientists to playwrights and poets.
The most renowned figures of Ancient
Greece include Socrates, Plato, and
Aristotle, who each made lasting
contributions to philosophy, science, and
literature. Socrates was an influential
teacher who questioned the accepted
norms of the day. Plato was an influential
philosopher who wrote extensively on the
nature of reality. Aristotle was a scientist
who made important contributions to
biology, physics, and other fields.
Significant Individuals
Alexander the Great was one of the most influential figures in Ancient Greek history. He was a king of
Macedonia who conquered the Persian Empire and much of the known world. He was a great military leader
and a brilliant strategist. He was also a patron of the arts and sciences, and he founded the city of Alexandria.
in Ancient Greece The historian Herodotus was another important figure in Ancient Greek history. He was a traveler and a
storyteller who wrote extensively about the wars between the Greeks and the Persians. He is considered as
the father of history and is credited with being the first to record history in a systematic and scientific way.
References/ Bibliographies
• Easton, M., Saldais, M., Conti, L., Dumovic, V. & Kostecki, R., 2016, Oxford Big Ideas Humanities and Social Sciences 7 Western Australian Curriculum,
Oxford University Press, pp. 189.
• Google Arts & Culture, 'Greece artifacts through the years', accessed 27 February
2023, <https://artsandculture.google.com/usergallery/YAKSJL4x0qhQIg>
• Google Arts & Culture, 'Amphora with Herakles and Busiris', accessed 27 February 2023, <https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/amphora-with-
herakles-and-busiris-swing-painter-greek/9gFVJF7gYHs_Hg?hl=en>
• Facts and Details, October 2018, 'Agriculture and Livestock in Ancient Greece', accessed 24 February 2023,
<https://factsanddetails.com/world/cat56/sub406/item1998.html#:~:text=AGRICULTURE%20AND%20LIVESTOCK%20IN%20ANCIENT%20GREECE
%201%20AGRICULTURE,Cultivation%20...%206%20Harvesting%20and%20Preparing%20Olives%20>
• Taylor & Francis Online, Krasilnikoff, A. J., 28 Jan 2010, 'Irrigation as innovation in ancient Greek agriculture', accessed 27 February 2023,
<https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00438240903430365?journalCode=rwar20#:~:text=Although%20the%20evidence%20suggests
%20that%20ancient%20Greeks%20knew,primarily%20confined%20to%20the%20Classical%20and%20Hellenistic%20periods.>
• Prof. Geller, mythology.net, December 20 2016,

Sameela's Source (Part B)
Amphora with Herakles and Busiris
This artefact is called Amphora with Herakles and Busiris. It was

created in Circa 540 BCE by the Swing Painter, an Athenian black
figure mannerist. The amphora is a primary source as it was created
during the time of ancient Greece. (c. 776-146 BCE). At the time, the
amphora was a favoured shape used for storing and transporting
oil and wine.
The amphora depicts an unusual scene between the Greek hero

Herakles (Hercules) and Busiris, the legendary king of
Egypt. Busiris is about to conduct a sacrifice to prevent a plague
from occurring. However, Herakles decides to put a stop to this and
disguised himself as a commoner. Herakles then shows himself to
the king and slays him. Herakles then attacks the two white robed
Egyptian priests.

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Ancient Greece

The tools they used consisted of copper, bronze or iron sickles,

The Greeks were so keen on the rewards of trade and

The Ancient Greeks spoke a variety of

• Prof. Geller, mythology.net, December 20 2016,

This artefact is called Amphora with Herakles and Busiris. It was

The amphora depicts an unusual scene between the Greek hero

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