An Overview of Ancient Greece

In examining the impact that the ancient world has had on modern Western civilization, the two ancient civilizations which are frequently understood as having had the greatest influence are Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. These two civilizations would eventually come to shape much of what would become the modern European culture, politics and society, and by extension, a vast proportion of global culture and society. In examining the trajectory of modern history in an era of globalization of Western ideas and modes of living, the importance of these civilizations in world history is extensive, contributing to cultural, political and social trends which may well dominate the globe in the future.

The Ancient Olympic Games took place during a time of prosperity for the nation of Greece. In fact, they contributed to the success of the Greek Empire. The Olympic Games reinforced the power of ancient rulers, brought peace with the surrounding nations, and created a reliable way to track time. These ancient games have had such an influence, that they are still continued in our modern society.

When people wonder about Ancient Greece the first thing that comes to their minds is Greek mythology; gods and goddesses that have helped shape many historical events. “In ancient Greece, stories about gods and goddesses and heroes and monsters were an important part of everyday life.” (“Greek Mythology.”) The civilization showed that numerous characters and stories helped shape Greeks. The beliefs the Greeks had with mythologies was they understood the meaning behind all the characters that are known today. However, to the Greeks, they were not just characters, these were their gods and goddesses who gave them meaning and understanding of the world around them. Worshiping the gods and goddesses helped them with their religious rituals and the temperament of the weather. A famous wine-jar that was made during this time period was “Achilles killing the Amazon Queen Penthesilea, 540-530 BCE, black-figured amphora”. (Khan Academy) The civilization that they lived in grew around their worship and achievements.

Unlike their husbands, Athenian women were forced to stay indoors at all times. They were controlled by their fathers through childhood and by their husbands after marriage. Mostly uneducated, except for learning how to read, they spent their time managing the household and slaves. They were only allowed to leave the house to attend certain religious festivals.

In 776 B.C a new era began for athletes. The first olympic games were held in Olympia, Greece. “The ancient games were not only an expression and definition of common cultural values, but also an arena for intense competition between Greeks.” (Gold, silver, and bronze) The olympics were an important part of Ancient Greece culture because, it brought their civilization together, kept the greeks fit and ready for war, and the games were used to satisfy their gods.

1. During the Mycenaean civilization, who was the great poet and what were his two important literary works that influenced the Greeks and formed part of Western literature? Homer, The Iliad, The Odyssey

Towering mountains. Bright blue seas. Glittering white temples dedicated to the gods. Though Ancient Greece was made up of many different regions and colonies, these 3 things were almost always in view. The ancient Greeks worshiped many different gods and goddesses that each controlled something in the mortal world. What was different about their gods and goddesses was that they were very human like. They looked like mortals, had thoughts like mortals, and they even quarreled with each other like we do. Ancient Greek religion is also known as Greek Mythology, Classical Religion, and Classical Mythology. Though whatever people call it, decisions made in Ancient Greece were heavily influenced by their religion.

Ancient Greek civilizations mentality is what got them through life by their way of thinking. Even though Greece’s geography isolated the civilizations, it allowed them to see the world by providing the civilizations with the Mediterranean Sea. The geography divided Greece up into city-states that made them strive to do better than each other, which we know today as competition. This allowed for art, politics, literature, athletics, inventions, and new ideas to come about. Greece’s dry and rocky climate allowed for the civilizations to find two cash crops known as grapes and olives. Grapes and olives is what led to Greece civilizations trading around the Mediterranean Sea. This boosted trade, allowed settlement (colonization), and allowed new ways and ideas to come about. When the Persians tried to defeat Greece, Greeks not only

Mythology was very huge in Ancient Greece. There are so many different folktales and myths

Athenian women were relegated to the status of child bearers and keepers of the household. There was no room for personal expression or freedom and the strict

The Olympic Games, was once a significant athletic festival that originated in ancient Greece as a religious festival which was revived in the late 19th century as a secular competition to

Ancient Greece was a advance stage of Greek history from Greek Dark Ages of the 12th – 19th centuries BC to the end of antiquity (c.600 AD). History period of ancient Greece is very remarkable in world history.

Early Greece was the most compelling human advancement of the old world on account of their solid learning in art, writing, philosophy, and science. Two Bronze Age civilizations emerged along the eastern Mediterranean, The Minoan (c. 2500-1250 BCE) and Mycenaean (c. 600-1150 BCE) societies. These two societies were both devastated by natural causes and intrusion. After the "dark age" came to be the earliest Greek human advancement proper (900-480 BCE). (Bishop 48) Although the early Greeks had a different way of doing things as opposed to other civilizations of the ancient world, they became very advanced rather quickly. The earliest civilizations in Greece contributed to the ascent of established Greece by building colonies along the Northern

In Greece, what we call a “Greek salad” is typically made with tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, onion, feta cheese and olives, but no lettuce. In Greece this salad is called a “country salad” and in Greek is:

Ancient Greek agriculture was the very necessity of the empire. People needed food to work and soldiers needed food to fight, defend, and conquer neighboring empires. Nearly 80% of the Greek population was somehow involved in agricultural practices. In Greece, meat was expensive and available only to the elite.