Changes

=== Introduction ===

=== Introduction ===

Greece was the most significant ancient civilization, and perhaps the greatest of all time.  Intellectually, politically and militarily, ancient Greece had it all.  For example, it was ancient Greece that invented democracy, discovered mathematics and philosophy, and developed places of learning.  The achievements of ancient Greece are even more remarkable when we consider how they did it without the benefit of Christianity, which came hundreds of years later.  In many ways Greek culture laid the groundwork for Christianity to spread centuries later.  

Greece was the most significant ancient civilization, and perhaps the greatest civilization of all time.  Intellectually, politically and militarily, ancient Greece had it all.  Ancient Greece that invented democracy, discovered mathematics and philosophy, and developed places of learning - and these are only a few examples of Greece's great accomplishments.  The achievements of ancient Greece are even more remarkable when we consider that they succeeded in establishing these new ideas without the benefit of Christianity, which came hundreds of years later.  In many ways Greek culture laid the groundwork for Christianity to spread centuries later.  

There were two basic reasons for the Greek success: language and political structure.  The Greeks developed a complete alphabet that facilitated the expression of powerful ideas.  The Greeks also developed a democracy-based political structure that ensured self-government and freedom for its citizens, thereby enabling productive work to flourish.

There were two basic reasons for the Greek success: language and political structure.  The Greeks developed a complete alphabet that facilitated the expression of powerful ideas.  The Greeks also developed a democracy-based political structure that ensured self-government and freedom for its citizens, thereby enabling productive work to flourish.

At first, from 3000 to 1000 B.C. Greece was not as successful or influential as the other ancient cultures.  At the end of that period the Dorians, who were tribes speaking the Doric dialect of Greek, settled Greece between 1100 and 1000 B.C.  They had a military ruling class that oppressed the local people, and they retained this rule by an aristocracy in Sparta and Crete even after the Greeks established democracy in Athens.  The simplest form of Greek architecture, consisting of a straight column without any artistic trim at the top, was created by the Dorians and is known as the "Doric order."

At it beginning, from 3000 to 1000 B.C. Greece was not as successful or influential as the other ancient cultures.  At the end of that period the Dorians, who were tribes speaking the Doric dialect of Greek, settled Greece between 1100 and 1000 B.C.  They had a military ruling class that oppressed the local people, and they retained this rule by an aristocracy in Sparta and Crete even after the Greeks established democracy in Athens.  The simplest form of Greek architecture, consisting of a straight column without any artistic trim at the top, was created by the Dorians and is known as the "Doric order".

The beginning of the ancient or classical Greece was around 750 B.C., and its peak was 500-336 B.C. when Greece consisted of many small city-states, each comprising a city and surrounding countryside.

The beginning of the ancient or classical Greece was around 750 B.C., and its peak was 500-336 B.C. when Greece consisted of many small city-states, each comprising a city and surrounding countryside.

Why is ancient or classical Greece dated from about 750 B.C.?  After all, the Greeks probably migrated southward into the Greek peninsula as early as about 1600 B.C.  But from 1600 to 1100 B.C. was a period known as Mycenaean Greece, when progress was slow.  The period from 1100 to 800 B.C. were the "dark ages," during which there was little progress and from which little survived.  The momentous event that heralded ancient or classical Greece was the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C.  This played a unifying role for the culture, and the Olympics were then held every four years for nearly 1000 years before disappearing for a while.

Why is ancient or classical Greece dated from about 750 B.C.?  After all, the Greeks probably migrated southward into the Greek peninsula as early as about 1600 B.C.  But from 1600 to 1100 B.C. was a period known as Mycenaean Greece, when progress was slow and few noteworthy advances were produced.  The period from 1100 to 800 B.C. were the "dark ages," during which there was little progress and from which little survived.  The momentous event that heralded the beginning of ancient or classical Greece was the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C.  This played a unifying role for the culture, and the Olympics were then held every four years for nearly 1000 years before disappearing for a while.

Greece then thrived for hundreds of years, until Alexander the Great died in 323 B.C.  After that historians refer to the culture as Hellenistic Greece, because it extended far and wide, even to where Jesus would teach near Jerusalem.  Ultimately the Roman empire conquered Greece in 146 B.C.  The Olympic games declined and disappeared but were restarted in A.D. 1896 and occur every four years today.

Greece then thrived for hundreds of years, until Alexander the Great died in 323 B.C.  After that historians refer to the culture as Hellenistic Greece.  Greece's land extended far and wide during this period, even to where Jesus would teach near Jerusalem.  Ultimately the Roman empire conquered Greece in 146 B.C.  The Olympic games declined and disappeared but were restarted in A.D. 1896 and occur every four years today.

Progress in ancient Greece was sparked around 800 B.C., when the Greeks formed their alphabet by borrowing from the Phoenician alphabet and adding vowels to it.  A written record then appears.  Greece divided itself into many small self-governing communities as required by Greek geography.  In that terrain every region is separated from its neighbors by water or mountain ranges.  Once again we see how geography shaped history: the terrain of ancient Greece led the people to create city-states.  (Earlier we saw how the geography of Egypt supported the rise and power of that civilization.)

Around 800 B.C., the Greeks formed their alphabet by borrowing from the Phoenician alphabet and adding vowels to it, and this sparked the progress and learning that we remember ancient Greece for.  The spread of this new alphabet provides written records pf Greek society, culture, and life which survive today.  Greece divided itself into many small self-governing communities because of Greek geography, which made travel and communication between areas difficult.  In Greece, every region is separated from its neighbors by water or mountain ranges.  Once again we see how geography shaped history: the terrain of ancient Greece led the people to create city-states.  (Earlier we saw how the geography of Egypt supported the rise and power of that civilization and prevented its boundaries from changing, even when it was conquered.)

Magnificent Greek literature began almost as soon as the Phoenician alphabet became the standard.  Homer wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey in the 800s or 700s B.C., and they remain great works of literature to this day.  They describe adventures arising from the mythical "Trojan War" caused by the Greek gods, which included the famous gift of a "Trojan horse" to fool the enemy.  In our internet era, a "Trojan horse" is a program or download that looks helpful, but actually contains a harmful computer virus.  Greek mythology remains a powerful influence to this day, as the names for gods have inspired many common terms today, such as "Achilles heel," "Amazon", "atlas" and "titans".  Some would say that modern sports heroes or media figures are appealing to the public in the same way as Greek mythological gods were so popular nearly 3000 years ago.

Magnificent Greek literature began to appear almost as soon as the Phoenician alphabet became the standard.  Homer wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey in the 800s or 700s B.C., and they remain great works of literature to this day.  They describe adventures arising from the mythical "Trojan War" caused by the Greek gods, which included the famous gift of a "Trojan horse" to fool the enemy.  In our internet era, a "Trojan horse" is a program or download that looks helpful, but actually contains a harmful computer virus.  Greek mythology remains a powerful influence to this day, as the names for gods have inspired many common terms today, such as "Achilles heel," "Amazon", "atlas" and "titans".  Some would say that modern sports heroes, music starts, and media figures are appealing to the public in the same way as Greek mythological gods were so popular nearly 3000 years ago.

Poetry developed.  Aesop's Fables were written in the 600s B.C., containing popular insights repeated to this day.  For example, the term "sour grapes" applies to someone who complains after he loses, based on Aesop's fable about the fox unable to reach grapes.  Aesop was smart enough to know that foxes are the only canines that like grapes.  All the Fables are now available for easy access online.<ref>http://aesopfables.com/</ref>

Poetry developed.  Aesop's Fables were written in the 600s B.C., containing popular insights repeated to this day.  For example, the term "sour grapes" applies to someone who complains after he loses, based on Aesop's fable about the fox unable to reach grapes.  Aesop was smart enough to know that foxes are the only canines that like grapes.  All the Fables are now available for easy access online.<ref>http://aesopfables.com/</ref>

{{cquote|A Wolf found great difficulty in getting at the sheep owing to the vigilance of the shepherd and his dogs.  But one day it found the skin of a sheep that had been flayed and thrown aside, so it put it on over its own pelt and strolled down among the sheep. The Lamb that belonged to the sheep, whose skin the Wolf was wearing, began to follow the Wolf in the Sheep's clothing; so, leading the Lamb a little apart, he soon made a meal off her, and for some time he succeeded in deceiving the sheep, and enjoying hearty meals.}}

{{cquote|A Wolf found great difficulty in getting at the sheep owing to the vigilance of the shepherd and his dogs.  But one day it found the skin of a sheep that had been flayed and thrown aside, so it put it on over its own pelt and strolled down among the sheep. The Lamb that belonged to the sheep, whose skin the Wolf was wearing, began to follow the Wolf in the Sheep's clothing; so, leading the Lamb a little apart, he soon made a meal off her, and for some time he succeeded in deceiving the sheep, and enjoying hearty meals.}}

As Gentiles learned insightful Aesop's Fables like the one above, Jewish and Christian warnings about the deceit of the devil were easier to understand and accept.

As Gentiles learned insightful Aesop's Fables like the one above, Jewish and Christian warnings about the deceit of the devil were even easier to understand and accept.

The government of Athens in this early period was controlled by aristocrats who owned land.  They elected "archons", who were the government officials who made the law.  But in the 600s B.C., tyrants rose to power.  The tyrants were primarily rich upstarts who illegally took over the government by violent means and catered to the lower classes to maintain popularity.   

The government of Athens in this early period was controlled by aristocrats who owned land.  They elected "archons", who were the government officials who made the law.  But in the 600s B.C., tyrants rose to power.  The tyrants were primarily rich upstarts who illegally took over the government by violent means and catered to the lower classes to maintain popularity.