Ancient Greece History Overview

Study Notes

Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece was the first civilization in Europe, developing around the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
It was the birthplace of democracy and saw the emergence of powerful cities, great thinkers, and scientists.

Aegean Civilizations

Civilization in the eastern Mediterranean began around 3000 BC on the island of Crete.
The Minoans were skilled sailors who accumulated wealth through trade.
Around 1500 BC, the powerful town of Mycenae on the southern Greek mainland conquered and took control of Crete.
Three centuries later, the Dorians invaded Greece from the north and drove the Mycenaeans out to Asia.

City States

After 1000 BC, the Dorians and Ionians settled in eastern Greece and built large cities, each with their own governments, armies, and independence.
The two most powerful city-states were Sparta and Athens.
Sparta was a dominant city-state focused on war, with a strong army and a history of conquering neighboring cities and enslaving their populations.
Athens, on the other hand, concentrated on trade, science, and other fields, and was the first city to establish a democratic government.

Persian Wars

Around 500 BC, the Persian Empire under Darius I invaded many Greek cities on the Asian coast.
By 490 BC, the Persians attacked the Greek mainland, but were defeated by Greek armies under Spartan leadership.

Peloponnesian War

Under the rule of Pericles, Athens became the most powerful city-state and controlled much of eastern Greece.
Pericles sought to make Athens a beautiful city with many temples, and art, philosophy, and general knowledge became prominent.
Sparta, fearing Athens' growing power, began a war against Athens in 431 BC, which eventually led to Athens' surrender.

Macedonian Rule

As Greek city-states weakened, Macedonia, a kingdom to the north of Greece, grew stronger and eventually conquered all of Greece under King Philipp II.
His son, Alexander, came to power in 336 BC and went on to conquer Persia and spread Greek ideas and culture throughout western Asia and the Middle East.

Roman Rule

In 140 BC, Rome took over Greece and the city-states, and they remained under Roman rule until 395 AD, when they became part of the Byzantine Empire.

Daily Life in Ancient Greece

Men were the heads of most Greek families, and richer families had slaves who were commanded by the wives.
Women usually married at a young age, while men married later.
Ancient Greek society was divided into citizens and non-citizens, with citizens being free men and noblemen who owned land and participated in government.
Education in Athens focused on general subjects like music, writing, mathematics, and reading, as well as physical exercise.
Education in Sparta was geared towards military training, with boys being sent to military schools to become good soldiers.
The Greek diet consisted of food made from grains, fish, eggs, vegetables, and fruit.
Greek men and women wore garments made of linen or wool, with women's garments typically covering their legs down to their ankles.

Description

Explore the history of Ancient Greece, the birthplace of democracy and home to many powerful cities, thinkers, and scientists. Learn about the Aegean civilizations that emerged around 3000 BC, including the Minoans and Mycenaeans.