The Hellenic Civilization is a term which refers to that period of ancient Greek history between 507 BCE (the date of the first democracy in Athens) and 323 BCE (the death of Alexander the Great).

Athens was a more open society, with less stringent boundaries allowing for the citizens’ mobility within the society. Sparta was socially and politically very conservative, fundamentally a police state, concerned with controlling the large number of conquered Messenian peoples working in slave-like conditions (Helots) maintaining a state.

The religion of ancient Greece was polytheistic, that is, having many gods and goddesses, who reflected life as it was lived in the land.

Greek mythology underlay many religious beliefs. The gods’ interaction with humans was often the basis of the heroic actions of the human heroes. The mythology provided an explanation for natural phenomena: destructive storms were the result of Zeus’s anger at man’s impieties; Poseidon would raise storms at sea and sink the ships of those who displeased him. In the same manner, victory in battle was evidence of Athena’s pleasure, and a successful hunt was the result of Artemis guiding the hunter’s hand. With the earthly domains of the gods and goddesses being a part of human existence, even skeptical persons would hedge their bets through a ritual observance to ensure success.

In the Hellenic Civilization, men lived better lives than women did. Only men could be full citizens and were empowered to make civic decisions. Men were the warriors that protected the polis, and fought its enemies. Apart from Sparta, women were forbidden to participate in communal sports, and were restricted from leaving their homes except to handle the necessities of the household and bear children. Most households, except the poorest, had slaves to carry out the menial tasks of maintaining the home. Sparta was an outlier with regard to women’s activities, and Spartan women were taught reading and writing, as well as how to protect themselves should the need arise. Even when married, a woman was not free. She had to do as her husband wished. She was not allowed out on her own and was not often seen by people other than her own family (Barrow, 2017). Marriage did not change a Greek woman’s life style, as her husband took control of her life as completely as her father had when she was single.

Education differed for boys and girls. Boys were educated to become good citizens and take part in the public life of the city-state. Girls were taught housekeeping and how to care for the family. Most Greek children never went to school, girls were educated at home. The boys started school at the age of 7, and stayed until they were about 14. In the mornings they learned to read, write, and do simple math. They worked in one room, sitting on stools or benches. They read aloud and learned poetry by heart. Boys from wealthy families had a broader education including philosophy.

The economy of Hellenic Civilization was defined largely by the region’s dependence on imported goods. Because of the poor quality of Greece’s soil, agricultural trade was of particular importance. Greece’s dominant location at the water crossroads offset the impact of limited crop production, and its position in the Mediterranean gave its provinces control over some of Egypt’s most crucial seaports and trade routes. Beginning in the 6th century BCE, trade craftsmanship and commerce, principally maritime, became pivotal aspects of Greek economic output.

Since agriculture was labor-intensive, 80% of the Greek population was employed in farming and animal husbandry. Agricultural work followed the rhythm of the seasons: harvesting olives and trimming grapevines at the beginning of autumn and the end of winter; setting aside fallow land in the spring; harvesting cereals in the summer; cutting wood, sowing seeds, and harvesting grapes in autumn. In the ancient era, the aristocracy held most of the land. During the 7th century BCE, demographic expansion and the distribution of land rights increased tensions between the landowners and the general populace. At times of conflict, Greek armies would destroy their enemies’ olive groves depriving them of future harvests.

The growth of trade in ancient Greece led to the development of financial techniques. Most merchants, lacking sufficient cash assets, resorted to borrowing to finance all or part of their expeditions. A typical loan for a large venture in 4th century BCE Athens, was generally a large sum of cash (usually less than 2,000 drachmas), lent for a short time (the length of the voyage, a matter of several weeks or months), at a high rate of interest (often 12% but reaching levels as high as 100%). The terms of the contract were always laid out in writing, differing from loans between friends. The lender bore all the risks of the journey, in exchange for which the borrower committed his cargo and his entire fleet, which were seized by the lender as a precaution upon their arrival at the port of Piraeus.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle divided Greek governments into monarchies, oligarchies, tyrannies and democracies, and most historians still use these categories.

It was developed in the 5th century BCE in the Greek city-state (polis) of Athens.Athens was the first known democracy in the world.

Coins played several roles in the ancient Greek world. They provided a medium of exchange, mostly used by city-states to hire mercenaries and compensate citizens. They were also a source of revenue, because foreigners had to change their money into the local currency at an exchange rate favorable to the state. They served as a mobile form of metal resources, which explains discoveries of Athenian coins with high levels of silver at great distances from their home city. Finally, the minting of coins lent an air of undeniable prestige to any Greek city or city-state.

Hoplites.

It is massed infantry formation where each Hoplite held his shield on his left arm, protecting the right side of his comrade on his left at the risk of his own possible injury, relying on the Hoplite to his left to protect his right side. The shields could be interlocked into a solid wall, and the spears, held horizontally, presented a formidable assault tactic.

These very early letters were probably brought to the Greeks by the Phoenicians, another ancient people. The Greeks added vowels to assist in pronouncing both the letters and the formed words. The result was the very letters you are reading now!

Greek Mythology is the set of stories about the gods, goddesses, heroes, and rituals of Ancient Greeks.

• The Iliad tells the story of Achilles, who was Greece’s best warrior, who fought in the battle against Troy. After falling in love with a Trojan woman, Achilles withdraws from battle so he can be with his love. He gives his friend Patroclus his armor, to wear in battle. Patroclus is killed by the Trojan prince, Hector. Achilles avenges his friend Patroclus by killing Hector, then he is killed when he is struck with an arrow in his heel.

  • The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus, (Ulysses, in English) who tries to return home at the end of the Trojan War. During his journey home he encounters many trials and when he finally arrives home, he finds his house is overrun by hundreds of suitors, trying to marry his wife Penelope.

The Greeks were not interested in understanding nature for its own sake, but in expression human ideals.

• Doric: The Doric order is the oldest and simplest order. The columns have no base and the columns have a very simple capital. In other words, Doric buildings were the least decorated. Archaeologists believe that Doric architectural buildings, which were built in stone, evolved from wooden buildings that were very similar.

• Ionic: The Ionic order is more decorative than the Doric. The columns are taller and thinner, and the capitals at the top of the columns are decorated with scrolls and other patterns. The bases of the columns are also decorated.

• Corinthian: The Corinthian order is a lot like the Ionic order, but the capitals are even more elaborately decorated, usually with leaves and floral pattern.