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The history of Greece can be traced back to Stone Age hunters. Later came early farmers and
the civilizations of the Minoan and Mycenaean kings. This was followed by a period of wars and
invasions, known as the Dark Ages. In about 1100 BC, a people called the Dorians invaded from
the north and spread down the west coast. In the period from 500-336 BC Greece was divided
into small city states, each of which consisted of a city and its surrounding countryside.
There were only a few historians in the time of Ancient Greece. Three major ancient historians,
were able to record their time of Ancient Greek history, that include Herodotus, known as the
'Father of History' who travelled to many ancient historic sites at the time, Thucydides and
Xenophon.
Most other forms of History knowledge and accountability of the ancient Greeks we know is
because of temples, sculpture, pottery, artifacts and other archaeological findings.
NEOLITHIC PERIOD (6000 - 2900 BC)
According to historians and archeological findings, the Neolithic Age in Greece lasted from 6800
to 3200 BC. The most domesticated settlements were in Near East of Greece. They traveled
mainly due to overpopulation. These people introduced pottery and animal husbandry in
Greece. They may as well have traveled via the route of Black sea into Thrace, which then
further leads to Macedonia, Thessaly, Boeotia etc. The second way of traveling into Greece is
from one island to another and such type of colonies has been found in Knossos and Kythnos...
more »
EARLY BRONZE AGE (2900 - 2000BC)
The Greek Bronze Age or the Early Helladic Era started around 2800 BC and lasted till 1050 BC
in Crete while in the Aegean islands it started in 3000 BC. The Bronze Age in Greece is divided
into periods such as Helladic I, II. The information that is available today on the Bronze Age in
Greece is from the architecture, burial styles and lifestyle. The colonies were made of 300 to
1000 people... more »
Minoan Age(2000 - 1400 BC )
Bronze Age civilization, centring on the island of Crete. It was named after the legendary king
Minos. It is divided into three periods: the early Minoan period (c.3000-2200 B.C.), the Middle
Minoan period (c.2200-1500 B.C.) and the Late Minoan period (c.1500-1000 B.C.).
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Middle Minoan Crete
The Minoans
The History of The Minoans
Mycenaean Age (600 - 1100 BC)
Period of high cultural achievement, forming the backdrop and basis for subsequent myths of
the heroes. It was named for the kingdom of Mycenae and the archaeological site where
fabulous works in gold were unearthed. The Mycenaean Age was cut short by widespread
destruction ushering in the Greek Dark Age.... more »
The Dark Ages (1100 - 750 BC)
- The period between the fall of the Mycenean civilizations and the readoption of writing in the
eigth or seventh century BC. After the Trojan Wars the Mycenaeans went through a period of
civil war, the country was weak and a tribe called the Dorians took over. Some speculate that
Dorian invaders from the north with iron weapons laid waste the Mycenaean culture. Others
look to internal dissent, uprising and rebellion, or perhaps some combination.
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The Greek Dark Ages
A chapter on the history and culture of the Greek Dark Ages.
The Dorians
one of the three main groups of people of ancient Greece, the others being the Aeolians
and the Ionians, who invaded from the north in the 12th and 11th centuries BC.
Archaic Period (750 - 500 BC)
The Archaic Period in Greece refers to the years between 750 and 480 B.C., more particularly
from 620 to 480 B.C. The age is defined through the development of art at this time, specifically
through the style of pottery and sculpture, showing the specific characteristics that would later
be developed into the more naturalistic style of the Classical period. The Archaic is one of five
periods that Ancient Greek history can be divided into; it was preceded by the Dark Ages and
followed by the Classical period. The Archaic period saw advancements in political theory,
especially the beginnings of democracy, as well as in culture and art. The knowledge and use of
written language which was lost in the Dark Ages was re-established.
Classical Period (500-336 BC) - Classical period of ancient Greek history, is fixed
between about 500 B. C., when the Greeks began to come into conflict with the
kingdom of Persia to the east, and the death of the Macedonian king and conqueror
Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. In this period Athens reached its greatest political and
cultural heights: the full development of the democratic system of government under
the Athenian statesman Pericles; the building of the Parthenon on the Acropolis; the
creation of the tragedies of Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides; and the founding of
the philosophical schools of Socrates and PlatoAccording to historians and archeological
findings, the Neolithic Age in Greece lasted from 6800 to 3200 BC. The most domesticated
settlements were in Near East of Greece. They traveled mainly due to overpopulation. These
people introduced pottery and animal husbandry in Greece. They may as well have traveled via
the route of Black sea into Thrace, which then further leads to Macedonia, Thessaly, Boeotia
etc. The second way of traveling into Greece is from one island to another and such type of
colonies has been found in Knossos and Kythnos.
The main characteristics of this era are the climate stabilization and the settlements of people.
The Neolithic Revolution arrives with these people who traveled from Anatolia, Turkey. The
economy of the region became steady with organized and methodical farming, stock rearing
and, bartering and sculptures like pottery. People stopped traveling from region to region and
permanent settlements in Greece. They domesticated animals like sheep and goats and grew
plants and crops. They made their bases around sites where there was ample water supply and
in open landscapes. The Neolithic Greece people can be said as the first 'farmers' and their lives
were less complex and simple.
Archeological findings show more settlements in Northern Greece, like Thessaly and Sesklo.
Villages were found in Thessaly around 6500 BC while settlements in Sesklo started in 5500 BC.
The inhabitants of these areas couldn't have been more than a hundred people. The houses
were made of stone foundations with a roof made of a thick layer of clay and timber. They were
one-room houses measuring 10 to 50 square metres.
A small village was also found at an area called Nea Nikomedia, where people resided around
5800 BC. The houses were made of sticks and mud surrounded by fences.
The villagers made different types of attractive pottery like cups and dishes. Most of them were
designed in a red and white pattern. Excellent remains of such pottery can found from sites at
Sesklo. The figurines that were created in the Neolithic Era were carved to suggest a female
goddess. Offerings in the form of clay animals and birds to the goddess have been found in the
caves. Till now, the oldest artifacts of Neolithic Era have been found in the Knossos region
dating back to 3500 BC.
The village of Sesklo is supposed to have been destroyed in 4000 BC with people possibly from
Northern Greece who were more armed than the villagers. These people made new settlements
called Dimini, which is nearby the settlement Thessaly. It covers about 0.8 hectares and
distributed in circular enclosures. At first they were thought to be built for defence purposes,
but later it was found that they for distribution of land.
Crops and plants that were domesticated by the colonies in Neolithic era have been ancestors
of plants such as barley and animals such as goats, dogs and pigs. At a settlement in Argissa,
findings suggest that domestication of animals took place as early as 8300 BC. Even in the
Sesklo area, cattle bone fragments have been found.
During the last two decades, the settlements of Neolithic era found have gone up to one
thousand; research is going on how the people of that Era communicated their economy,
technology and the environment they lived
Social Structure and Government
Social Structure
Greece in the Archaic Period was made up from independent states, called Polis, or city state.
The polis of Athens included about 2,500 sq kilometres of territory, but other Polis with smaller
areas of 250 sq kilometres.
Greek Society was mainly broken up between Free people and Slaves, who were owned by the
free people. Slaves were used as servants and labourers, without any legal rights. Sometimes
the slaves were prisoners of war or bought from foreign slave traders. Although many slaves
lived closely with their owners, few were skilled craftsmen and even fewer were paid.
As Athenian society evolved, free men were divided between Citizens and Metics. A citizen was
born with Athenian parents and were the most powerful group, that could take part in the
government of the Polis. After compulsory service in the army they were expected to be
government officials and take part in Jury Service. A metic was of foreign birth that had
migrated to Athens, to either trade or practice a craft. A metic had to pay taxes and sometimes
required to serve in the army. However, they could never achieve full right s of a Citizen,
neither could they own houses or land and were not allowed to speak in law courts.
The social classes applied to men only, as women all took their social and legal status from their
husband or their male partner. Women in ancient Greece were not permitted to take part in
public life.
Government
c.800 BC
The majority of Greek states were governed by groups of rich landowners, called aristocrats;
this word is derived from 'aristoi', meaning best people. This was a system known as 'oligarchy'
the rule by the few.
c.750 BC
Athenian power in the Archaic Period was controlled by Aeropagus, or council. Their policies
were delivered through three magistrates called Archons.
c.500 BC
Democracy was introduced by an aristocrat, Cleisthenes. Who was from family of the
Alcmaeonids in 508 BC, after 2 years of civil war, they used the help of Spartans to secure
power.
Ancient Greek Everyday Life
Men if they were not training in military, or discussing politics went to the Theatre for
entertainment. To watch dramas that they could relate to, including tragedies and comedies.
These often involved current politics and gods in some form. It is thought that women were not
allowed to watch theatre or perform at the theatre, although male actors did play women
roles... more
Ancient Greek Everyday Life
Men if they were not training in military, or discussing politics went to the Theatre for
entertainment. To watch dramas that they could relate to, including tragedies and comedies.
These often involved current politics and gods in some form. It is thought that women were not
allowed to watch theatre or perform at the theatre, although male actors did play women roles.
Lives of Women in Ancient Greece were closely tied to domestic work, spinning, weaving and
other domestic duties. They were not involved in public life or in politics. The live were normally
quite confined to the house although one public duty was acting as a priestess at a temple.
Children in ancient Greece usually occupied their time playing with toys and games.
Farming and Food
The majority of Ancient Greek people made their living from farming. Citizens often had land
outside the city which provided their income. The Greek landscape and climate was difficult to
farm.
Grapes were usually picked around September and either kept for eating or made into wine.
Making wine was done by treading and kept in jars to ferment.
Olives were either picked by hand or knocked out of the tress with wooden sticks.
Some were crushed in a press to produce olive oil and some eaten. This was an important
product to the Greeks that had many uses including; cooking, lighting, beauty products and for
athletic purposes. It is also believed that uprooting an olive tree was a criminal offence. The
grain was usually harvest around October to ensure it would grow during the wettest season. A
man drove the ox driven plough, as second man sowed the seeds behind. In Spring the Crops
were harvested using curved knives (sickles). After harvesting the grain, it was then thrashed,
using mules and the help of the wind to separate the chaff from the grain, the husks were then
removed by pounding the grain with a pestle and mortar.
Ancient Greeks usually ate bread (barley or wheat) and porridge, accompanied with
food such as cheese, vegetables, fish, eggs and fruit. Animal such as deer, hare and boars were
hunted only as addition to the food supply. Seasoning usually involved coriander and sesame
seeds. Honey was probably the only sweetening that existed at the time, importance this is
shown as the beehives were kept in terracotta
Ancient Greek Games
Greek boys played games like hockey, which were not part of the Olympic Games. The Ancient
Greek boys usually played games naked, so girls were forbidden to watch.
Ancient Greek women and girls were not expected to do much physical activity for recreation
purposes. From this pot we can see a young girl, juggling three balls, but there is nothing to
presume she was a performer, as she is dressed like an ordinary girl.
The Ancient Greeks also played games that did not involve much physical activity
also, such as marbles, dice, checkers and knucklebones. Below is a famous vase
from the Vatican museum depicting Achilles and Ajax playing 'Petteia' checkers. The
Ancient Greek version of checkers was similar to what the current game of
backgammon is where the Game backgammon is derived from. The Ancient Greek
version oArchitecture in ancient Greece:
Greek life was dominated by religion and so it is not surprising that the temples of ancient
Greece were the biggest and most beautiful.They also had a political purpose as they were
often built to celebrate civic power and pride, or offer thanksgiving to the patron deity of a city
for success in war.
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Greek Temple Architecture
The Greeks developed three architectural systems, called orders, each with their own distinctive
proportions and detailing. The Greek orders are: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.
Doric
Ionic
The Ionic style is
The Doric style is rather
thinner and more
sturdy and its top (the
elegant.
Its capital is
capital), is plain. This
decorated with a scrollstyle was used in
like design (a volute).
mainland Greece and
the colonies in southern This style was found in
eastern Greece and the
Italy and Sicily.
islands.
Corinthian
The Corinthian style is
seldom used in the
Greek world, but often
seen on Roman
temples. Its capital is
very elaborate and
decorated with
acanthus leaves.
Doric Order:
Parthenon - temple of Athena Parthenos ("Virgin"), Greek goddess of wisdom, on the
Acropolis in Athens. The Parthenon was built in the 5th century BC, and despite the enormous
damage it has sustained over the centuries, it still communicates the ideals of order and
harmony for which Greek architecture is known.
Ionic Order:
Erechtheum - temple from the middle classical period of Greek art and architecture, built on
the Acropolis of Athens between 421 and 405BC.
The Erechtheum contained sanctuaries to Athena Polias, Poseidon, and Erechtheus. The
requirements of the several shrines and the location upon a sloping site produced an unusual
plan. From the body of the building porticoes project on east, north, and south sides. The
eastern portico, hexastyle Ionic, gave access to the shrine of Athena, which was separated by a
partition from the western cella. The northern portico, tetrastyle Ionic, stands at a lower level
and gives access to the western cella through a fine doorway. The southern portico, known as
the Porch of the Caryatids (see caryatid) from the six sculptured draped female figures that
support its entablature, is the temple's most striking feature; it forms a gallery or tribune. The
west end of the building, with windows and engaged Ionic columns, is a modification of the
original, built by the Romans when they restored the building. One of the east columns and one
of the caryatids were removed to London by Lord Elgin, replicas being installed in their places.
The Temple of Apollo at Didyma - The Greeks built the Temple of Apollo at Didyma, Turkey
(about 300 BC). The design of the temple was known as dipteral, a term that refers to the two
sets of columns surrounding the interior section. These columns surrounded a small chamber
that housed the statue of Apollo. With Ionic columns reaching 19.5 m (64 ft) high, these ruins
suggest the former grandeur of the ancient temple.
The Temple of Athena Nike - part of the Acropolis in the city of Athens. The Greeks built the
Temple of Apollo at Didyma, Turkey (about 300 BC). The design of the temple was known as
dipteral, a term that refers to the two sets of columns surrounding the interior section. These
columns surrounded a small chamber that housed the statue of Apollo. With Ionic columns
reaching 19.5 m (64 ft) high, these ruins suggest the former grandeur of the ancient temple.
Corinthian Order:
- most ornate of the classic orders of architecture. It was also the latest, not arriving at full
development until the middle of the 4th cent. B.C. The oldest known example, however, is
found in the temple of Apollo at Bassae (c.420 B.C.). The Greeks made little use of the order;
the chief example is the circular structure at Athens known as the choragic monument of
Lysicrates ( 335 B.C.). The temple of Zeus at Athens (started in the 2d cent. B.C. and
completed by Emperor Hadrian in the 2d cent. A.D.) was perhaps the most notable of the
Corinthian temples.
Acropolis
Acropolis in Greek means "The Sacred Rock, the high city". All around the world the Acropolis of
Athens is known as 'The Acropolis'. There are many Acropolises in Greece but the Acropolis of
Athens is the best known. The Acropolis is primarily dedicated to the Goddess Athena. But
humans from the prehistoric era have populated the Acropolis and the caves around it. Situated
in the middle of Athens, many myths, festivals and important events are connected to the
sacred Acropolis. The Acropolis echoes the grandeur and the power of the Athenian empire....
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Parthenon
Work began on the Parthenon, built on the Acropolis, in 447 BC to replace an existing temple
which was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC and cost 469 silver talents to build. The work
began under the orders of Pericles to show the wealth and exuberance of Athenian power. The
name of the building most likely came from a cult statue of Athena Parthenos housed in the
eastern room of the building. This magnificent structure was built of ivory and gold and was
sculptured by the renowned sculptor Phidias. As with most buildings on the Acropolis it was
dedicated to Athena to thank the Goddess for their success. The Parthenon was finally finished
in 432 BC and was to show the world the dominance and power of Athens. The vast majority of
the money used in the construction came from the Delian League funds. The Delian League
was a treaty between the Greek states in league against the Persian Empire. However two
years before work started on the Parthenon, the Athenians had struck a peace treaty with the
Persians ending the war, although the League continued to exist. It is believed that because of
this the league stopped being a mutual defence against Persia but part of the Athenian Empire.
This theory was reinforced when Athens moved the Leagues treasury from the Pan-Hellenic
sanctuary at Delos to the Parthenon (Opisthodomos room). Not only was the Parthenon a
magnificent structure to look at, but it also showed Athenian dominance over the rest of the
Greek peninsula and that Athens was its Greek imperial master. more »
Sculpture
Greek art and sculpture has had a profound effect throughout the ages. Many of the styles have
been reproduced and copied by some of what the modern day audiences would class as some
of the finest artists to have ever lived e.g. Michelangelo. Western art and sculpture derived from
Roman art, while in the East, Alexander the Great's conquest gave birth to Greco-Buddhist art,
which has even had an influence as far as Japan all of which stem from ancient Greek art. The
Greeks used many different types of materials in their sculptures including stone, marble and
limestone as these were abundant in Greece. Other materials such as clay were also used but
due to their brittle nature very few have survived. Greek sculptures are very important as the
vast majority of them tell us a story about Gods, Heroes, Events, Mythical Creatures and Greek
culture in general. Many of the statues that have survived are actually of Roman origin. Like
many people today the Romans had a deep respect for Greek sculptures and many were
copied. If the Romans had not made these copies, many of the Greek Legends and stories that
we know today would have been lost to antiquity. Greek sculptures are mainly divided into 7
time periods - Mycenaean Art, Sub-Mycenaean or Dark Age, Proto-Geometric, Geometric Art,
Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic. more »
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