Greece can be found as the southeastern most region on the European continent. Topographically speaking, it can really be defined as a series of mountains – surrounded on all sides except the north by water. Apart from the mainland, Greece consists of countless islands found throughout the Mediterranean, Ionian, and Aegean Seas. In fact, many of the harbors situated along the coastline allowed Greeks to prosper in maritime commerce, as well as develop a culture which drew inspiration from many sources.
The mountains served as natural barriers and boundaries and dictated the political character of Greece. From early times the Greeks lived in independent communities isolated from each other by the landscape. Later these communities were organized into polies – or city-states. The largest of these city-states was Athens, and became the self proclaimed capital of Western civilization about 2500 years ago. This was the base were Greeks established traditions of justice and democracy. Their arts, philosophy, and science became foundations of Western thought and culture.
In Athens you can find some of the most recognized buildings of the world; the Acropolis and Parthenon. These structures were made before 450 B.C., and served as a ceremonial area for the city’s patron Goddess- Athena. These are important and characteristic monuments of ancient Greece civilization to this day. The ancient Greek civilization was that of a strong and prosperous economy.
Obviously their ports supported strong trade throughout the world. Greeks were primarily known at this time as a strong military force who seemed to be in a continuous perpetual state of war. The private lives of the ancient Greeks are only dimly reflected in the archeological remains of their sanctuaries, cities, and houses. Painted scenes on Black Figure and Red Figure pottery made in Athens during the 6th and 5th centuries B.C. offer glimpses of daily life taking place inside Greek homes. An evening meal might be followed on special occasions by a symposium; - a drinking party organized by the host for his male guests. The participants reclined on couches arranged around the sides of the room with tables of food set in front of them. Symposia were normally attended by the host and his male guests, but could also include female entertainers and servants. Custom dictated that the wives and daughters of the guests and host always be excluded.
Link: Ancient Greece
Resources:
A History of the Ancient World, Chester Starr. New York- Oxford Press 1991
http://www.dragonridge.com/greece/Acropolis.htm
by, Brett Sindelir