Most Greek people lived in the country and were farmers. It was a hard life. The soil was rocky and did not grow very good crops. It rained too much in the winter and too little in the summer. The summer was also very hot. Grapes grew on th esides of the hills. Olives grew on trees on the poor soil, just as they do today. Their oil was used for cooking and for making lamps. On the better soil the Greeks grew corn. They used oxen to plough. They kept donkeys, sheep and goats.

The roads were very poor and most people walked. Some peope had horses and carts and rich people rode on horseback. As well as farmers there wer carpenter to make and mend arts. There were herdsmen to look after the animals. There were also miners who dug for silver.