HELP ASAP plz have the file as pdf For this assignment, you will research the economy of ancient Greece. You will use your research to analyze the costs and benefits of an economic issue in ancient Greece. You will complete a graphic
organizer, answer questions, and write a cost-benefit analysis.
Background Information
The economy of ancient Greece was based on trade. Trade by sea was important because many
resources were not available in Greece. Because of the rocky soil, certain crops did not grow well, so the
Greeks needed to trade for food and other supplies. They needed raw materials, such as wood, ivory,
and metals. The Greeks could trade artisan goods they made, such as pottery, for supplies. Ancient
Greek civilization was located near several seas and had many port cities. These ports became trade
centers of the ancient world, and Greece became more powerful through trade.
The Mycenaeans were one of the first Greek societies. Their social structure gave each person or group
specific roles in the economy. The king made all political and economic decisions. The noble class helped
the king, influenced trade, and lived in the cities. Merchants also lived in the cities and organized the
import and export of goods. Farmers worked the rocky soils of Greece and lived in mud-brick houses by
their fields. Their connection with the land gave farmers a degree of status. Enslaved persons provided
physical labor.
The Mycenaeans were a warlike people who had survived migration and competition. The Mycenaeans
became wealthy and powerful by conquering and colonizing neighboring lands. Colonies helped the
Mycenaeans maintain control over their new territories and expand their trade network. The Mycenaeans
manufactured ships, olive oil, wine, pottery, and art, as the Minoans had before them. Trade made them
very wealthy. Citizens paid taxes to fund the Mycenaean government and army. Merchants also paid
customs duties for traveling and carrying goods, as well as sales taxes on goods they bought. There were
special taxes on wealthy citizens during emergencies.
Despite their wealth and influence, the Mycenaeans were not the only powerful civilization to trade in the
Mediterranean. The kingdom of Egypt dominated trade in agricultural products, such as wheat and grains.
The Egyptians controlled the Nile River, which meant that they controlled trade with Central Africa.
The Phoenicians were also important in the region. The Phoenician Empire originated in what is now
Lebanon on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. The Phoenicians had a small homeland, but
they were skilled sailors. They established trading centers in North Africa and Spain.
Greece, Phoenicia, and Egypt had traditional economies. Each civilization produced foods, raw materials,
and manufactured goods, and each had goods that the others needed. These three civilizations would
engage in a complex relationship of trade, competition, and cultural exchange. The importance of trade
led to the rise of a merchant class: a class that was not quite royalty but was far wealthier than the
farming class. This merchant class would play a vital role in the culture and politics of the region.
The Phoenician civilization was made up of independent city-states, a network of states that shared a
common culture and worked together. Most governments in Phoenician civilization were monarchies. The
Phoenicians were skilled sailors, shipbuilders, traders, and manufacturers. Their manufacturing was quite
advanced and high tech for the time. The Phoenicians manufactured ships, purple dye, glass, pottery,
papyrus, and other luxury items. Their purple dye was highly valued, especially by the Egyptians.