Book Creator | Ancient Greece - farming - a Year 6 home learning project

Ancient Greece

Farming

Almost 80% of Ancient Greeks had some involvement in farming. Whether it be raising sheep and goats or growing barley, grapes, olives and wheat, farming was a big part of their lives.

What did they grow?

Mainly, wheat and barley, used for bread and porridge. Grapes, and sometimes raisins, were stomped on, to make wine. Olives, that were crushed in stone presses, were used for olive oil. They were famous for their wine and oil!

The Ancient Greeks farmed many animals including: Sheep, goats, cows, chickens and pigs. As well as their meat they had some other uses:
Sheep, for their wool, which was used to make clothes, goats and cows for milk and cheese, and chickens for eggs.

They also grew: apples, figs, pears, pomegranates, cucumbers, lettuce, garlic and onions.

Some people kept horses, mules and donkeys for transport.

Wealthier farmers produced lots of crops and would sell or trade them at the Market place. Such as:
cereals, wine, olives, figs, beans, cheese, honey and meat.

What animals did they have?

The Ancient Greeks farmed many animals including: Sheep, goats, cows, chickens and pigs. As well as their meat they had some other uses:
Sheep, for their wool, which was used to make clothes, goats and cows for milk and cheese, and chickens for eggs.

Some people kept horses, mules and donkeys for transport.

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Bee keeping

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Many Ancient Greeks were beekeepers. Bees helped fertilize the crops and produced honey. As raw sugar hadn't been discovered yet, honey was used as a sweetener.

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Honey was also used in some medicines.

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They also either had very hot summers or mild winters with lots of rain and sometimes violent rain storms. This weather is not great for growing crops.

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Farming wasn't always straight forward...

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Because of all the rocky mountains, the soil was not very good for growing crops.

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They also either had very hot summers or mild winters with lots of rain and sometimes violent rain storms. This weather is not great for growing crops.

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Tools

The people of Ancient Greece didn't have the tools that we have now, such as tractors and combines. But somehow they still managed...

Some Ancient Greeks wouldn't eat beans because of a superstition that beans held the souls of dead people

They mostly used basic tools for farming, digging, weeding and ploughing. Everything was either done by hand, using an iron or wooden plough, hoes or mattocks (a bit like a pickaxe)

Wealthier farmers used Oxen to help plough their fields.

The Ancient Greeks believed one of the Greek Gods, Hera, won an argument against Poseidon, he dried out her land for revenge!

The Greeks sometimes dug trenches around trees to catch rain water for the crops.

Did you know...

Some Ancient Greeks wouldn't eat beans because of a superstition that beans held the souls of dead people

The Ancient Greeks believed one of the Greek Gods, Hera, won an argument against Poseidon, he dried out her land for revenge!

Farmers could have up to 50 animals in a herd!

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