ANCIENT GREEKS

Ancient Greece was the most important place in the world about 2,500 years ago. Greeks were famous for being great thinkers, actors, warriors, athletes, writers, artists, architects and politicians.

Greece was divided into small city-states including Athens, Sparta, Gorinth and Olympia. Before Greece was named Greece it was firstly called Hellas and the people called themselves Hellenes. The name Greeks came from the Romans.

ROMANS The Romans lived in Mainland Greece, they also lived in the Greek islands and the Mediterranean sea.

EARLY GREEK HISTORY People started living in Greece about 40,000 years ago. These people lead a simple hunting and gathering life as well as farming. The Minoans were the first real Greek civilisation, they did not live in mainland Greece but the nearby Island of Crete between 2,200BC and 1,450BC. They were known as Minoans from their legendary king, Minos.

Greece also had good soldiers who fought in the battle of Troy.

There was the Mycenaean age that ended at 1,100BC. A writer called Homer wrote stories from the Mycenaen age in his books The Iliad and The Odyssey.

THE DARK AGE Nobody really new what happened in the dark age as all the writing, language and art had disappeared.

AFTER THE DARK AGES 300 years after the dark age began the Greeks emerged again this time started trading with the outside world. It was now 800BC and Greece held its first ever Olympics. The Greek army then fought off the Persian army and then came the Archaic period. Ancient Greece was now ruled by a king like figure.

GOLDEN AGE The Golden age lasted 200 years. In this period the Greeks built amazing temples, made scientific discoveries, wrote plays and founded the first proper democracy (where the public can vote and take part). This was called Classic Greece.

HELLENISTIC PERIOD This was the last Greek period lasting from 323BC to 30BC. This was when the Romans took over Greece. There wasn't much change as the Romans did not destroy Greek life, in fact some things like buildings, beliefs and clothes were copied by the Romans, they respected the Greeks.

OLYMPIC GAMES The Greeks were the first to host the Olympic games. These games were dedicated to Zeus, the king of Gods. The Olympic games consisted of running, discus, javelin, long jump, boxing, wrestling and chariot racing. The main Olympic event was not the sport but on the 3rd day sacrifices were made to Zeus. 100 oxen were burnt on an altar made from leftover ash. Wars were called off so people could travel safely to the games. Married women were not allowed to enter the games. They would have their own festival called Heraia named after the Queen Goddess and wife of Zeus, Hera. If married women were caught playing in the games they would be thrown off a cliff as punishment! Instead of medals wreaths of leaves were given to the winners and people would say they had been touched by the Gods.