Ancient Greece: History, Housing & Contributions
It was almost 4,000 years ago when the earliest ancient Greek civilizations thrived. There are many concepts, inventions and discoveries that are accredited to the Greece within the realms of art, philosophy, politics, literature, math, as well as science.
The history of ancient Greece begins with what is referred to as the Aegean Civilization (before 1600 BC). From 1600-1200 BC, the Mycenaean Greece rule took over. The Greek Dark Ages began in 1200-BC and continued until 800 BC. After that Ancient Greece is regarded from 776-323 BC. Hellenistic Greece began in 323BC until 146BC. After that, from 146BC to 330AD, Roman Greece was observed. The Byzantine Empire took over in 330Ad and lasted until 1453. After that, Ottoman Greece and what we know as modern Greece took over.
When you think of philosophy, Greece may come to mind. Some of the best have hailed from this ancient civilization. Military genius, creative minds and successful builders have made strides in numerous areas of life. Today, art from Athens is considered to be quite fascinating. Admirers from all over the world enjoy the architectural designs, pottery, sculptures, as well as jewelry. Contributions that the Greeks have brought into our lives include the right to have a trial by jury; entertaining Greek mythology; tragedy and comedy in the drama world; theater; the Olympics, as well as one of the most important concepts that we hold dear to out hearts in America- democracy.
When it came to who was in charge during ancient Greek times, there was not a king or queen ruling over the land. The area was divided into city-states, where each one possessed their own way of handling politics. A few city-states to keep in mind, includes Athens, Sparta, as well as Corinth. When it came to city-states, ancient Greeks identified with one another by the city-state that they came from. Each one was different, establishing their own character, laws and traditions. Loyalty was a big part of becoming a citizen within one of these city-states. Although ancient Greeks belonged to various city-states, they all spoke the same language. The gods that they looked up to were all the same and their heritage was also one that was shared.
The housing that Greeks lived in consisted on two to three rooms with a courtyard in the center. The materials used to create this housing were wood, stone and clay bricks. This was quite typical during the 6th and 5th century BCE. If the household or home was larger, additional areas of the house were added, such as a bathing area, dining room for the men and a sitting lounge for the ladies. The courtyard stood as one of the most important parts of ancient Greek family life.
As far as pets roaming about the household, man’s best friends accompanied the ancient Greeks. Along with these companions, birds, tortoises, goats and mice were considered pets. This may surprise you, but cats are not on the list for pets during this time period.