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Ancient Greece produced two great historians, Herodotus (pronounced hi-rah-duh-tus) (484-425 B.C.) and Thucydides (thew-ci-dah-deez) (d. 401 B.C.), who emphasized the importance of history.  Herodotus' History described the Persian Wars.  Because he was the first to collect historical materials systematically, check their accuracy and present them in a logical manner with a vivid narrative, Herodutus is considered the "Father of History."  Thucydides also wrote The History of the Peloponnesian War, which was the first full work of historical analysis.  Thucydides blamed Athens' loss on its failed expedition to Sicily, which wasted resources and hurt morale.  He declared Athens' loss to be deserved because of this mistake.  A third historian was Xenephon (427-355 B.C.), a disciple of Socrates.  Although not comparable in achievement to Thucydides and Herodotus, Xenephon was the primary historian of the last days of Greece's freedom, and he picked up from where Thucydides left off (411 B.C.) in his detailed historical account, "Hellenica".

Ancient Greece produced two great historians, Herodotus (pronounced hi-rah-duh-tus) (484-425 B.C.) and Thucydides (thew-ci-dah-deez) (d. 401 B.C.), who emphasized the importance of history.  Herodotus' History described the Persian Wars.  Because he was the first to collect historical materials systematically, check their accuracy and present them in a logical manner with a vivid narrative, Herodutus is considered the "Father of History."  Thucydides also wrote The History of the Peloponnesian War, which was the first full work of historical analysis.  Thucydides blamed Athens' loss on its failed expedition to Sicily, which wasted resources and hurt morale.  He declared Athens' loss to be deserved because of this mistake.  A third historian was Xenephon (427-355 B.C.), a disciple of Socrates.  Although not comparable in achievement to Thucydides and Herodotus, Xenephon was the primary historian of the last days of Greece's freedom, and he picked up from where Thucydides left off (411 B.C.) in his detailed historical account, "Hellenica".

Ancient Greece contributed enormously to medicine.  The father of medicine was Hippocrates (460–377 B.C.), although some claim that medicine started even earlier in ancient India.  Hippocrates issued the "Hippocratic Oath" that has been required of medical students around the world as a condition of graduation.  It originally stated in part:  "I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous.  I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce [[abortion]]."  People who profit from abortion today refuse to obey the Oath, and most medical schools have improperly omitted this key part of the oath.

Ancient Greece contributed enormously to medicine.  The father of medicine was Hippocrates (460–377 B.C.), although some claim that medicine started even earlier in ancient India.  Hippocrates issued the "Hippocratic Oath" that has been required of medical students around the world as a condition of graduation.  It originally stated in part:  "I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous.  I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce [[abortion]]."  People who profit from abortion today refuse to obey the Oath, and most medical schools have improperly omitted this key part of the Oath.

Archimedes (285 to 212 B.C.) lived in the Greek city-state of Syracuse and is considered as one of the finest mathematicians of all time.  He discovered "pi", the ratio between the circumference of a circle to its diameter.  He discovered the relationship between the surface and volume of a sphere and its circumscribing cylinder.  He discovered "Archimedes' principle" allegedly when he was sitting in a bathtub one day, recognizing that volume of a body can be measured by seeing how much the water rises when the body is submerged.  He supposedly ran into town naked from his bathtub declaring "eureka!", meaning "I have found it!"  Archimedes also invented military devices useful for keeping the Roman soldiers out, although eventually they conquered his city-state and senselessly killed him, an idiotic act of violence typical of the Romans.  The "Archimedes screw" is a very clever way to use a large screw surrounded by a pipe to remove water from the bottom of a boat or basement.

Archimedes (285 to 212 B.C.) lived in the Greek city-state of Syracuse and is considered as one of the finest mathematicians of all time.  He discovered "pi", the ratio between the circumference of a circle to its diameter.  He discovered the relationship between the surface and volume of a sphere and its circumscribing cylinder.  He discovered "Archimedes' principle" allegedly when he was sitting in a bathtub one day, recognizing that volume of a body can be measured by seeing how much the water rises when the body is submerged.  He supposedly ran into town naked from his bathtub declaring "eureka!", meaning "I have found it!"  Archimedes also invented military devices useful for keeping the Roman soldiers out, although eventually they conquered his city-state and senselessly killed him, an idiotic act of violence typical of the Romans.  The "Archimedes screw" is a very clever way to use a large screw surrounded by a pipe to remove water from the bottom of a boat or basement.

Other mathematicians from the Greek empire are just as famous.  Euclid (325–265 B.C.) lived in Hellenistic Alexandria, Egypt, and invented geometry.  Pythagoras (582–507 B.C.) lived much earlier than Archimedes and Euclid, and was a philosopher, mathematician and teacher.  He is often credited with proving the Pythagorean Theorem for calculating the length of a hypotenuse in a right triangle, but actually the Mesopotamians discovered it first.  The Greek astronomer Aristarchus (310-230 B.C.) understood and taught that the earth revolved around the sun.  Greek poetry and drama was tremendous too.  

Other mathematicians from the Greek empire are just as famous.  Euclid (325–265 B.C.) lived in Hellenistic Alexandria, Egypt, and invented geometry.  Pythagoras (582–507 B.C.) lived much earlier than Archimedes and Euclid, and was a philosopher, mathematician and teacher.  He is often credited with proving the Pythagorean Theorem for calculating the length of a hypotenuse in a right triangle, but actually the Mesopotamians discovered it first.  The Greek astronomer Aristarchus (310-230 B.C.) understood and taught that the earth revolved around the sun.  Greek poetry and drama was tremendous too.  

Ancient Greece also produced a great orator and statesman, Demosthenes (384-322 B.C.).  As a young man, Demosthenes had very weak lungs and could not speak loudly or clearly.  However, he did not let this defeat him; to improve his voice, Demosthenes would go to the ocean, fill his mouth with pebbles, and practice speaking loudly enough for his voice to be heard over the waves!  He went on to give powerful political speeches -- known as the "Phillipics" - against Philip II of Macedon, once causing the crowd to shout, "Let us take up arms and march!"  But in 338 B.C. Philip of Macedon completely conquered the Greeks at the battle of Chaeronea.  Demosthenes' life later ended in failure when an Athenian revolt against Macedon was unsuccessful.

Ancient Greece also produced a great orator and statesman, Demosthenes (384-322 B.C.).  As a young man, Demosthenes had very weak lungs and could not speak loudly or clearly.  However, he did not let this defeat him; to improve his voice, Demosthenes would go to the ocean, fill his mouth with pebbles, and practice speaking loudly enough for his voice to be heard over the waves!  He went on to give powerful political speeches -- known as the "Phillipics" -- against Philip II of Macedon, once causing the crowd to shout, "Let us take up arms and march!"  But in 338 B.C. Philip of Macedon completely conquered the Greeks at the battle of Chaeronea.  Demosthenes' life later ended in failure when an Athenian revolt against Macedon was unsuccessful.

The Greeks had great philosophical influence.  Two main schools of philosophical thought from the Hellenistic Period were very influential: the Stoics and the Epicureans.   

The Greeks had great philosophical influence.  Two main schools of philosophical thought from the Hellenistic Period were very influential: the Stoics and the Epicureans.