4.26 Ancient Greek Farming

Learn about farming and farming practices in ancient Greece. Discover the types of crops grown, the farm animals raised, planting and harvesting practices, and the use of crop rotation.

Ancient Greek Farming

Did you know that some ancient Greeks didn’t eat beans because they thought the souls of dead people were in them? Although some believed this superstition, most ancient Greeks ate beans as a big part of their diet. Along with beans, they grew many different crops.

Wheat and barley were the most commonly grown crops for making porridge and bread. Olive trees were grown and pressed for olive oil. In addition, grape vines were farmed to make wine. Wheat, barley, olives, and grapes were four of the top crops of ancient Greece. However, they grew a variety of fruits and vegetables, too.

Pears, figs, apples, and pomegranates were planted at their homes along with vegetables. The most widespread vegetables were cucumbers, lettuce, garlic, and onions. Almost everyone in ancient Greece was part of farming.

The land in Greece was not very good for farming so they had to make sure they grew a lot in the small plots. Most of the population were farmers who would grow enough for their families to survive and trade or sell any extras in the local markets. These plots of land would be passed down to the sons in the family.

1. Main points:

The text describes the agricultural practices of ancient Greece, highlighting their diet, main crops, and farming challenges.

2. Questions:

• Content Analysis: What were the main crops grown in ancient Greece?
• Contextual Analysis: Why did the ancient Greeks need to be efficient in their farming practices?
• Linguistic Analysis: How does the text describe the beliefs of some ancient Greeks about beans?

3. Further Discussion:

• If you were living in ancient Greece, what crop would you like to grow and why?

4. Answers:

• Content Analysis: "Wheat and barley were the most commonly grown crops… Olive trees… grape vines… Wheat, barley, olives, and grapes were four of the top crops of ancient Greece."
• Contextual Analysis: "The land in Greece was not very good for farming so they had to make sure they grew a lot in the small plots."
• Linguistic Analysis: "Did you know that some ancient Greeks didn’t eat beans because they thought the souls of dead people were in them?"

Caring for Crops

In the fall, the soil was prepared by plowing the fields. Grain crops such as wheat and barley were planted at this time and harvested in April. Olives grow on trees and were picked between November and February. Grape vines are like trees and continue to grow from year to year. However, they have to be pruned in the spring and then harvested in fall.

Crop Rotation

Like many early civilizations, farmers in ancient Greece practiced crop rotation. Crop rotation is when a farmer cycles a few crops on the same field so that the soil can regenerate nutrients. If the same crop is grown in the same field year after year, then the soil will not have the nutrients it needs to grow crops. Therefore, farmers would plant wheat during one season and beans during the next. Beans add nitrogen into the soil, which helps the plants grow. Often times, farmers will let a field go fallow, which is to leave a field without plants growing for a period of time; this also helps to restore the nutrients in the soil.

1. Main points:

The text discusses the practice of crop rotation in ancient Greece, explaining how it helps in maintaining soil nutrients and promoting healthy crop growth.

2. Questions:

• Content Analysis: What is the purpose of crop rotation, and how does it work?
• Contextual Analysis: Why is it important not to grow the same crop in the same field year after year?
• Linguistic Analysis: What does the term "fallow" mean in the context of farming?

3. Further Discussion:

• How do you think modern farming compares to ancient Greek farming practices like crop rotation?

4. Answers:

• Content Analysis: "Crop rotation is when a farmer cycles a few crops on the same field so that the soil can regenerate nutrients."
• Contextual Analysis: "If the same crop is grown in the same field year after year, then the soil will not have the nutrients it needs to grow crops."
• Linguistic Analysis: "Farmers will let a field go fallow, which is to leave a field without plants growing for a period of time; this also helps to restore the nutrients in the soil."

Farming Animals

The ancient Greeks also raised animals for food. They had chickens, pigs, goats, and cows. They usually only kept enough animals to feed their own families. They raised livestock for meat, eggs, milk, cheese, and wool. The animals mostly grazed in fields on grasses, plant stalks, and fallen fruits.

Lesson Summary

Ancient Greeks farmed a variety of crops and animals for food, including wheat, barley, olives, grapes, fruit trees, and vegetables. They mainly farmed to feed their own families. One main farming method they used was crop rotation, which is cycling a few crops on the same field to restore nutrients. Sometimes they would leave a field fallow, which is to leave a field without plants growing for a period of time.

Additional Activities

Prompts About Ancient Greek Farming for Kids:

Graphic Organizer Prompt:

Create a poster, chart, or some other type of graphic organizer that lists the kinds of crops, fruits, and vegetables that the ancient Greeks farmed. Make sure that your graphic organizer also notes what kinds of food items the crops were often used for.

Example: Grapes were used for wine.

Calendar Prompt:

Make a calendar that shows the important times of year for taking care of crops. Your calendar should include the seasons, months, and specific corresponding activities. Feel free to use illustrations on your calendar to make it more visually appealing.

Example: In the fall, wheat and barley were planted. Grapes were also harvested in the fall.

Essay Prompt 1:

In one paragraph, write an essay that answers the following questions: Why were most farms in Ancient Greece small? What kinds of people maintained farms?

Example: Farms were usually family-run and passed down through generations.

Essay Prompt 2:

Write an essay of one paragraph that explains how the ancient Greeks used crop rotation and why it was important. Also make sure that your essay describes the meaning of fallow.

Example: Crop rotation lets the soil get its nutrients back.

List Prompt:

Make a list of four types of livestock that ancient Greek farmers had. In parentheses next to each farm animal, write what it produced.

Example: You could draw a cow and then write ”milk” in parentheses next to it.