Ancient Greece was a powerful civilization that existed from about 800 BCE to 146 BCE. It was made up of independent city-states called polis, such as Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Thebes, each with its own government and laws.
The Greeks made major contributions to democracy, philosophy, science, mathematics, literature, and art. Athens is known as the birthplace of democracy, where citizens participated directly in government. Sparta focused on military strength and discipline.
Greek thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle shaped Western philosophy. In science and math, Greeks such as Pythagoras and Archimedes made discoveries still studied today. Greek writers created famous epics, plays, and myths, including The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer.
Religion in Ancient Greece was polytheistic, believing in many gods and goddesses like Zeus, Athena, and Apollo, who were thought to control nature and human life. The Olympic Games began in Greece as a way to honor the gods.
Ancient Greece eventually fell under Roman control, but its ideas strongly influenced Roman culture and continue to shape the modern world today.