Estes

· Surrounded by water -Easy transportation -Connection of city states -Trading economy -Mild weather
 * Ancient Greeks **

· Mountainous land -Isolates cities à many unique cultures

· War-like
 * Mycenaeans **
 * -**Trojan war

[|Fashion]

In Ancient Greece, clothing was a symbol of who you were, where you were from, and what your social status was. Clothes were very difficult and time consuming to produce, therefore they were expensive. Much like today, the more elaborate, nicely made clothing were worn to show one’s wealth and high class. Colors of clothing represented a lot. Peasants wore gray or brown, soldiers wore red, and the upper class died their white tunics purple. Women in the Mediterranean generally wore long, linen tunics, while men wore short ones. However, farther north, tunics were sometimes wool and men would wear pants under theirs. Farther west and in China, people began to make their clothes from silk and cotton rather than wool and linen. These people did not cut and sew their garments, but they draped large pieces of fabric around themselves. Sandals, head wreaths, and fancy jewelry were very popular among both men and women in Greece.

Spartan culture was very different from that of the Athenians. Athenians appreciated literature, art, and philosophy while Spartans were strictly focused on improving their military. Women in Athens were expected to partake in activities in the home, while in Sparta, women learned how gymnastics and other sports. Spartans views on education were very simple and somewhat close-minded. However, Athenians had a more modern outlook on education and the people had many different options of where they wanted to go in life. Athenians were known for their creativity and expansion of the arts, but Spartans were famous for their strong military. There were many different types of art that were left behind by Athenians, such as pottery, jewelry, sculptures, and elaborate architecture. Some of the most famous buildings in the world were created by the Athenians, such as the Parthenon and the Temple of Athena. On the other hand, Spartans believed that the only art was the art of war. They thought that creativity was not necessary for a society to succeed, so they left behind only a few very simple pieces of art. Spartans have left behind so little art compared to the Athenians because the two cities’ views on what was important were completely opposite. The roles of women in Sparta also greatly varied from those in Athens. Women in Sparta were viewed as equals rather than inferiors. Females in Sparta got a formal education, learning how to read, write, and play sports. However, in Athens, girls in aristocratic families may have been tutored in their home, but usually women had no education. They were taught to sew, weave, and take care of the home. Women in Sparta were not at all expected to stay at home like they were in Athens. While men were gone at war, women were in charge of defending the city if it were to be attacked while their husbands were away. The type of education women received had a huge say in how they participated in society. In Athens, a man could pursue whatever career he wanted, but in Sparta, they were limited to being in the military only. In Sparta, from the time boys were 7, they were trained how to become a strong soldier in order to help develop the military. However, in Athens, a young boy was educated in many subjects, giving him the opportunity to become whatever he wanted. The main focuses in school were not fighting and strength, but music and art. Athenians were much more open minded than Spartans in terms of education.