although fertile valleys cover one quarter of the peninsula, only about 20% is arable (suitable for farming)• Greek diet consists of grains, grapes, olives & fish• lack of resources most likely led to Greek colonization• back then, temperatures usually ranged from mid 40s in the winter to low 80s in the summer - although it could get hot in the summer, it was pretty nice year-round

heir influence began around 2000 BCE

Mycenae is located on a rocky ridge on Peloponnesus,  protected by a 20-foot thick wall

Mycenaean kings dominated Greece from 1600-1100 BCE

- controlled trade in the region

1400 BCE-  Mycenaeans invaded Crete and absorbed Minoan culture (writing system, language, art, politics, literature, religion)