This section is designed to give you a better understanding of the plays
we will be reading by having you examine maps which depict the Ancient
World. These maps will give you an idea of how close these cities
actually are and give you an impression of where this literature comes
from geographically.
The origins of Western drama lie in Athens, a city which lies in the
south-eastern section of what we now call Greece, but which this map
refers to as the peninsula of Attica. Athens was the policital and
cultural center of Attica, after Theseus supposedly united Attica's
twelve towns into a strong central unit. Locate Athens on the maps
below. Note how close it is to the coast (its port was Peiraeus) and how
this permitted it to become a leader of sea travel and trading.
Now step back for a moment and examine the Map of the Greek World. Ionia lies across the Aegean sea from Attica and many Athenians fleeing invasion settled here. Sparta quickly became Athens rival and its society stressed rigid organization and self-discipline. Other important cities in Greece were Thebes, Delphi (home of the famous oracle), and Corinth (which served as a commercial center).
