Have you ever wondered who started the Olympics or invented geometry? Well, get ready for an exciting journey back in time to learn about the amazing people of Ancient Greece! This incredible civilization existed around 2500 years ago and lasted for about 700 years until it was conquered by the Roman Empire. Just like the Mayans, Egyptians, and Aztecs, the ancient Greeks were super smart and invented many things we still use today. For example, buildings like the United States Capitol are inspired by ancient Greek architecture. And guess what? The first Olympic Games were held way back in 776 BC!
Ancient Greece was located in what we now call Southeastern Europe, along the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea, right across from modern-day Turkey. The land was mostly covered with mountains, which helped protect the people from enemies. Instead of being one big country, Ancient Greece was made up of many independent city-states like Athens, Sparta, and Thebes. Even though these city-states often competed with each other, they all spoke the same language and shared similar cultures.
Ancient Greece is divided into three main time periods, each with its own special events and achievements.
During this time, the first Olympics were held, and a famous writer named Homer wrote two epic poems called the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey.” A brilliant mathematician named Pythagoras was also born, and we still use his Pythagorean theorem in geometry today!
This was a time of great philosophers like Socrates and Aristotle. Alexander the Great, one of the most famous leaders, was born and conquered many lands. The Parthenon, a beautiful temple in Athens, was built to honor the goddess Athena and still stands today.
This era began with the death of Alexander the Great and saw the decline of Greek civilization. Eventually, the Romans took over Greek lands, making Ancient Greece part of the Roman Empire.
Greek homes were built around a courtyard, which was the center of daily activities. Boys started formal education at age seven, while girls learned homemaking skills. However, in Sparta, girls received more education and freedom than in other city-states.
Most Greek men were farmers, growing olives, fruits, and vegetables. They also worked as fishermen, soldiers, teachers, and craftsmen. Women usually stayed home, taking care of the family and household chores.
Sadly, many Greeks owned enslaved people, often from lands they had conquered. This was a common practice, even though the Greeks were advanced in many other ways.
Let’s see what you’ve learned about Ancient Greece:
Great job! Even though Ancient Greece was eventually conquered, its influence is still felt today in areas like government, philosophy, science, art, literature, math, and sports. So, when you watch the Olympics or solve a math problem, remember to thank the ancient Greeks!
Hope you had fun learning with us! Visit us at learnbrite.org for thousands of free resources and solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.
Build Your Own Greek Temple: Gather some building blocks or use recycled materials like cardboard boxes to create a model of a Greek temple. Think about the columns and the triangular roof. Once you’ve built your temple, discuss with a friend or family member why these structures were important in Ancient Greece and how they are similar to buildings you see today.
Olympic Games at Home: Organize a mini-Olympics with your friends or family. Choose a few simple games like running races, jumping contests, or even a discus throw using a frisbee. After the games, talk about how the ancient Greeks celebrated the Olympics and why it was such an important event for them.
Explore Greek Myths: Pick a Greek myth, like the story of Hercules or the adventures of Odysseus, and act it out with your friends or family. You can create simple costumes and props using things you find at home. After the play, discuss what lessons or morals the myth might teach us and how these stories were a part of daily life in Ancient Greece.
**Ancient Greece for Kids**
Have you ever wondered who started the Olympics or invented geometry? Well, you’re in luck because today we’re going to take a trip back in time and learn all about the people who invented these things in a place called Ancient Greece, around 2500 years ago. This civilization existed for the next 700 years until it was conquered by the Roman Empire. Like the Mayans, Egyptians, Persians, Incas, and Aztecs, the ancient Greeks were very smart and created many things that we still use today. For example, buildings like the United States Capitol and the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., are modeled after ancient Greek architectural styles. The Olympic Games were first held in the year 776 BC.
So where was Ancient Greece located exactly, and what was life like there? Ancient Greece was found in what is now called Southeastern Europe, along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea on the west and the Aegean Sea on the east, right across from modern-day Turkey. About eighty percent of the land was full of mountains, which provided the people with natural barriers of protection from potential enemies. Unlike modern kingdoms or countries today, Ancient Greece was not one large empire; instead, it was made up of various independent city-states, including Athens, Sparta, and Thebes.
Even though these city-states were separate from each other and often fought or competed against each other, they all spoke the same language and had similar cultures and customs. Much like other great civilizations, Ancient Greece was divided into time periods, each with its own unique events and contributions.
First is the Archaic Period, which happened between 800 and 480 BC. The first Olympics were held during this time, and the philosopher and writer Homer wrote two of the most famous poems in the world’s history: the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey.” A famous mathematician and scientist named Pythagoras was also born during this period, and we still use his Pythagorean theorem in geometry today.
Next is the Classical Period, which lasted from 480 BC to 323 BC. The famous philosophers Socrates and Aristotle lived during this time. Alexander the Great, Ancient Greece’s most famous leader, was also born and eventually conquered many lands surrounding the Greek Empire after he became king. The Parthenon, a temple in honor of the goddess Athena, was built in the city-state of Athens. The Parthenon still stands today and is the oldest ancient Greek building to survive in modern times.
Last is the Hellenistic Period, which spanned from 323 BC to 146 BC. This era marked the death of Alexander the Great and the decline of the ancient Greek civilization. After Alexander the Great died, the ancient Romans began to conquer Greek lands, eventually making all of Ancient Greece a part of the Roman Empire.
Now let’s explore a little bit about what daily life was like. The rooms of Greek homes were built around an open space called a courtyard. The courtyard was the center of activity for most ancient Greeks and included a well for water and an altar for religious worship.
Children were treated differently based on their gender. Depending on the city-state, boys were formally educated starting at age seven, either at school or at home. Girls, on the other hand, learned homemaking skills like cooking or sewing, though some were also taught to read and write. Girls in the city-state of Sparta received the most education and freedoms of all the city-states in Ancient Greece.
Most Greek men were farmers, so they ate what they grew. Olives were a very important part of the people’s diet. The majority of the Greek diet consisted of cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and fish. Other occupations for men included fishermen, soldiers, teachers, government workers, or craftsmen. Women typically stayed home as homemakers, caring for children, cooking, sewing, and doing other work inside the home.
Unfortunately, most citizens of Ancient Greece enslaved other people, usually from lands that the empire had conquered. Even the poorest of Greek families typically relied on the labor of at least one enslaved person. In fact, there were about as many enslaved people in Greece as there were free people. So, even though the ancient Greeks were advanced in many ways, their practice of enslavement was not one of them.
Now that you know all about Ancient Greece, let’s test your knowledge with a few review questions:
1. How many different time periods was Ancient Greece divided into? Can you name at least one of them?
– Three: Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic.
2. True or False: In Ancient Greece, only boys received a formal education.
– True.
3. Fill in the blank: Athens, Sparta, and Thebes were three of the independent ______ states found in Ancient Greece.
– City.
Fantastic work, everybody! Even though Ancient Greece was eventually conquered, most of Western culture today was impacted by the ancient Greeks in many areas, including government, philosophy, science, art, literature, math, and sports. So when you are old enough to vote in an election, turn on your TV to watch the Olympics, or solve a math problem using the Pythagorean theorem, you can thank the ancient Greeks.
Hope you had fun learning with us! Visit us at learnbrite.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.
