Where the Greeks Lived
The Greek civilisation grew on the mountainous lands and many islands around the Aegean Sea in south-eastern Europe. Because tall mountains and the sea separated one community from another, the Greeks did not build a single large empire at first. Instead, they created many small, independent city-states (called polis). The two most famous were Athens and Sparta.
City-States and How They Were Ruled
Each city-state had its own government, army and laws. Athens is remembered as the birthplace of democracy, a system in which free adult male citizens could vote and take part in making decisions. Sparta was very different: it was a military state where boys trained as soldiers from a young age and discipline was strict.
Key idea
The Greeks were not one united nation. They shared a language, gods and culture, but lived in many separate city-states. Athens is famous for democracy; Sparta is famous for its army.
Achievements of the Greeks
The Greeks made lasting contributions to the world. In philosophy, thinkers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle asked deep questions about truth, goodness and how people should live. The Greeks also advanced mathematics, science and medicine, and built beautiful architecture with tall stone columns, such as the temple called the Parthenon in Athens. They began the Olympic Games, held to honour their gods, and wrote plays and poems still read today.
- Democracy — citizens sharing in government.
- Philosophy — Socrates, Plato, Aristotle.
- Architecture — stone columns and temples.
Remember
- Greek civilisation grew around the Aegean Sea.
- It was made of independent city-states such as Athens and Sparta.
- Athens gave the world democracy; the Greeks gave us philosophy and the Olympic Games.