David Pickering - Ancient Greece (Collins Gem)

At first glance, the civilization of ancient Greece, with its ruined temples, vanished gods and age-old mythology, may seem to belong entirely to the past. Over the centuries, however, the culture forged by the ancient Greeks has had a profound influence upon the development of modern Western civilization, and in many respects their ideas and achievements remain highly relevant in the modern world.

The ideas of ancient Greek thinkers contributed greatly to the foundation of contemporary philosophy, politics, mathematics, science, architecture, literature and a host of other subjects. Even our modern languages contain thousands of words of Greek origin.

The gods and heroes of Greek mythology, meanwhile, have long been absorbed into the modern literary tradition, and continue to exert a powerful hold on the modern imagination, providing inspiration and material for a plethora of novels, plays and films.

The same may also be said of a small number of real people, such as Alexander the Great, and of the actual historical events of the period, encompassing a wide panorama of history, from the invention of democracy to the many wars that were waged both between Greek city-states and with enemies from beyond the borders of Greece.

Often described as the cradle of modern European civilization, ancient Greece continues to fascinate everyone, from archaeologists to tourists. We know a surprising amount about ancient Greece and the lives of its varied inhabitants, largely because theirs was one of the first civilizations to leave behind a detailed written and artistic record.

This book aims to summarize what we understand today about the world of the ancient Greeks, including their history, their religion and mythology, their daily lives, their culture and the wars they fought.

The Greek revival

Interest in the world of the ancient Greeks intensified in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, when it became fashionable for wealthy aristocrats and academics to visit sites in the classical world. Greek ideas were soon taken up with enthusiasm throughout the arts and sciences.

The world of the ancient Greeks extended much further than mainland Greece, with the establishment of Greek colonies throughout the Mediterranean region and the Black Sea. Greece itself was not a single united country, but a host of independent city-states that shared a common culture.

The most powerful city-state

Athens, dominated by the temple of the Acropolis, was the most important of all the Greek city-states.

The Greek World

Greece was not one united country but a collection of independent city-states, all of which had their own patron gods, laws and constitutions. The first communities grew up where there was a good water supply and suitable farmland. These small communities later combined to form the first city-states, which typically included a city (usually a seaport) and the surrounding land with its villages and farms.

Each city-state (or polis hence the word politics) developed its own distinctive character. Cities were usually separated from their neighbours by mountains, valleys or the sea, which limited contact between them. However, city-states traded enthusiastically with each other and shared the same language, religion and other cultural features. Citizens were fiercely loyal to their particular state and, if called upon, would fight to defend their homeland. If attacked, citizens retreated to the acropolis (a citadel or walled area at the highest point of the city). The development of Greek civilization was regularly interrupted by squabbles between neighbouring states, although on rare occasions they allied to resist invasion by foreign armies (namely, against the Trojans in the late twelfth century BC, the Persians in the fifth and sixth centuries BC and Alexander the Great in the fourth century BC).

Populations

Aristotle believed that city-states had to have more than ten citizens but less than 100,000, as citizens needed to know the people they voted for.

Athens was the largest and most powerful of the ancient city-states. At its peak in the Classical Period, it had over 250,000 inhabitants and was a centre of culture and learning. Named after its patron, the goddess Athena, it developed around a hill called the Acropolis, which was originally a fort but later became the religious heart of the state and the site of the Parthenon and other temples.

The Athenians were responsible for many of the great advances of ancient Greek civilization, from democracy to philosophy and the theatre. It was home to celebrated philosophers, politicians and artists, and was a thriving trading centre, with business being conducted in its marketplace (the agora). The funds provided by such trade paid for the construction of many great buildings and other treasures for which Athens became famous.

Classical Athens

This map shows the layout of classical Athens with the Acropolis and Parthenon.

1 Parthenon

2 Statue of Athena Parthenos

3 Altar of Rome and Augustus

4 Acropolis Museum

5 Belvedere

6 Sanctuary of Eros and Aphrodite

7 Boukoleion

8 Altar of Athena Polias

9 Erechtheion