Ancient Greece

The Greeks are famous for their achievements in Architecture. They invented 3 types of columns that were used on their buildings throughout the empire. The Doric style is the most plain. The Ionic design is famous for its scrolls. The Corinthian style is quite fancy.

"The term acropolis means upper city and many of the city states of ancient Greece are built around an acropolis where the inhabitants can go as a place of refuge in times of invasion. It's for this reason that the most sacred buildings are usually on the acropolis. It's the safest most secure place in town." "The term acropolis means upper city and many of the city states of ancient Greece are built around an acropolis where the inhabitants can go as a place of refuge in times of invasion. It's for this reason that the most sacred buildings are usually on the acropolis. It's the safest most secure place in town."

The Acropolis in Athens is perhaps the most famous. The Acropolis in Athens is perhaps the most famous. In Athens, as in other Greek city-states, the ancient Athenians built temples and moments on the Acropolis dedicated to Athena and other. In Athens, as in other Greek city-states, the ancient Athenians built temples and moments on the Acropolis dedicated to Athena and other ancient Greek gods. The Parthenon was built by in the 5th century BCE. The Parthenon was built by Pericles in the 5th century BCE.

There were three types of plays: Tragedies: The first type they invented was the tragedy. In tragedies, one or more major characters always suffered a disastrous end. Comedies: Comedies were invented next. In comedies, plays always had a happy end. The third type was the satire. Satires: Satires were plays that made fun of mortal legends and of real people. In ancient Greece, you did not poke fun at the gods - not in a play, not in real life, not ever. But you could poke fun at your leaders. And that was uniquely Greek. Satires in ancient Greece were often political in nature, and could indeed affect people's opinions about current events.

In ancient Greece, theatre was a really big deal. Crowds of 15,000 people would gather to see a play. In ancient Greece, theatre was a really big deal. Crowds of 15,000 people would gather to see a play. Because so many people came to see the plays, the Greeks built huge outdoor theatres on hillsides, so that people could be seated in a way that let them see what was going on down in the orchestra pit - the stage area. The entire seating section was called the Theatron, which is the origin of our word "theatre". Because so many people came to see the plays, the Greeks built huge outdoor theatres on hillsides, so that people could be seated in a way that let them see what was going on down in the orchestra pit - the stage area. The entire seating section was called the Theatron, which is the origin of our word "theatre".

The Greeks used the large deposits of clay to make pottery. By the year 1000 BC Athens had become one of the leading cities in making pottery. The pots were both functional and beautiful. The Greeks made two basic kinds of pottery. One was the red-figured and the other was black-figured. We simply used red and black clay to form these red and black figured Greek style vases. Greek Pottery

Democracy Only in Athens, and only for a short time, "rule by many" meant that all citizens had to be willing to take an active part in government. That was the law. Each year, 500 names were drawn from all the citizens of Athens. Those 500 citizens had to serve for one year as the law makers of ancient Athens. All citizens of Athens were required to vote on any new law that this body of 500 citizens created. One man, one vote, majority ruled. Women, children, and slaves were not citizens, and thus could not vote.

The first Olympics games are usually given the start year of 776 BCE, but they probably began even sooner. The ancient Greeks loved competitions of all sorts, especially sporting competitions. The Olympics were not the only competition games held in ancient Greece, but they were the most popular. The first Olympics games are usually given the start year of 776 BCE, but they probably began even sooner. The ancient Greeks loved competitions of all sorts, especially sporting competitions. The Olympics were not the only competition games held in ancient Greece, but they were the most popular. The Greeks took the games quite seriously. Nearly all the ancient Greek cities sent teams to participate in the ancient Greek Olympics. If two or more Greek city-states happen to be at war with each other when the game date arrived, war was halted for the duration of the games. Everyone wanted their city- state to win! The Greeks took the games quite seriously. Nearly all the ancient Greek cities sent teams to participate in the ancient Greek Olympics. If two or more Greek city-states happen to be at war with each other when the game date arrived, war was halted for the duration of the games. Everyone wanted their city- state to win!

The First Showers! The first real showers, with plumbed-in water, were invented by the ancient Greeks. After exerting themselves in the stadium, ancient Greek athletes would freshen up in the kind of shower depicted on an Athenian vase of the fourth century B.C. Piped-in water sprays down on the bathers through showerheads shaped like the faces of boars and lions. Near the top is a rack or pole over which the girls have draped their garments and towels. The whole scene is amazingly contemporary. The first real showers, with plumbed-in water, were invented by the ancient Greeks. After exerting themselves in the stadium, ancient Greek athletes would freshen up in the kind of shower depicted on an Athenian vase of the fourth century B.C. Piped-in water sprays down on the bathers through showerheads shaped like the faces of boars and lions. Near the top is a rack or pole over which the girls have draped their garments and towels. The whole scene is amazingly contemporary. The remains of a whole complex of shower-baths were excavated in a gymnasium at Pergamum, a rich Greek metropolis in Western Turkey. The remains of a whole complex of shower-baths were excavated in a gymnasium at Pergamum, a rich Greek metropolis in Western Turkey.

Philosophy Ancient Greek philosophy is dominated by three very famous men: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. All three of these lived in Athens for most of their lives, and they knew each other. Socrates came first, and Plato was his student, around 400 BC. Socrates was killed in 399 BC, and Plato began his work by writing down what Socrates had taught, and then continued by writing down his own ideas and opening a school. Aristotle, who was younger, came to study at Plato's school, and ended up starting his own school as well. Ancient Greek philosophy is dominated by three very famous men: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. All three of these lived in Athens for most of their lives, and they knew each other. Socrates came first, and Plato was his student, around 400 BC. Socrates was killed in 399 BC, and Plato began his work by writing down what Socrates had taught, and then continued by writing down his own ideas and opening a school. Aristotle, who was younger, came to study at Plato's school, and ended up starting his own school as well.SocratesPlatoAristotleSocrates PlatoBC AristotleSocratesPlatoAristotleSocrates PlatoBC Aristotle Socrates was a famous teacher in ancient Athens. He wanted his students to question things. "Is our government good? If gods exist, where do they live?" Socrates was a famous teacher in ancient Athens. He wanted his students to question things. "Is our government good? If gods exist, where do they live?"

Science and Math The Greeks were very interested in science as a way of organizing the world and making order out of chaos, and having power over some very powerful things like oceans and weather. The Greeks were very interested in science as a way of organizing the world and making order out of chaos, and having power over some very powerful things like oceans and weather. From about 600 BC, a lot of Greek men spent time observing the planets and the sun and trying to figure out how astronomy worked. By the 400's BC, Pythagoras was interested in finding the patterns and rules in mathematics and music, and invented the idea of a mathematical proof. From about 600 BC, a lot of Greek men spent time observing the planets and the sun and trying to figure out how astronomy worked. By the 400's BC, Pythagoras was interested in finding the patterns and rules in mathematics and music, and invented the idea of a mathematical proof. Archimedes was an amazing mathematician that founded the principals of volume, area, and use of levers.

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