Geogrpahy
Regions and Cities
Phoenicia
Phoenicia was originally a civilization made up of city states. It was located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea in modern day Syria, Lebanon, and northern Israel. The people were known for their mighty ships and merchant economy. They traded all over the Mediterranean Sea. Their signature good was purple dye which they made out of a small snail. Romans later took over the city states when they expanded into the area. The Romans adopted their alphabet as their own.
Ithaca
Ithaca was an island off the coast of Greece in the Ionian Sea. It was part of the Ionian Archipelago. It was the home of Odysseus in Homer’s famous epic, The Odyssey. It was considered to be rocky and mountainous, with many olive trees. The high point of Ithaca's culture was during the Mycenaean Empire. The people were known for their incredible naval abilities and for the explorers they produced, who went to the farthest reaches of the Mediterranean Sea.
Mycenae
Mycenae was a fortified city that was active during the Bronze Age. It was built between two hills on the Argolid Plain in modern day Peloponnese, Greece. The city was said to have been founded by the mythological Perseus. It was at its peak during the Mycenaean Civilization. It had large dams to keep out flooding. It also had a large palace close to the center of the city that was a hub for trade. The most interesting artifact found was the death mask of the legendary Agamemnon, who fought during the Trojan War.
Cyprus
Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located south of Asia Minor and east of Greece and Italy. At the middle of the island, Cyprus is quite mountainous. It is a relatively large island; Cyprus is about 3,500 sq. miles.
Bithynia
Bithynia is a region located in the northwest of Asia Minor. It is east of Troy. In 74 BCE It was conquered by the Roman Republic. After this, the Romans decided to combine Bithynia with Pontus, and it was given the name Bithynia et Pontus.
Mountains
Mt. Parnassus
Parnassus was a mountain in central Greece. It was above the city of Delphi and north of the Gulf of Corinth. Its terrain included rocky limestone and olive forests. It was considered sacred to Dionysos, Apollo, and Corycian nymphs. It was said to be home of the Muses, and it’s caves were home to Pan and nymphs. On its southern slopes was the oracle of Delphi, who sat in a cave and gave visions of the future.
Atlas Mts.
The Atlas Mts. are located in northern
Africa. They travel through Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. The mountain range stretches more than 1200 miles. These mountain are named after the Titan, Atlas, who was forced by Jupiter to hold up the weight of the sky on his shoulders.
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