Time: 800 BC - 146 BC

Who were the Ancient Greeks?

The Ancient Greeks were people who lived thousands of years ago in a part of the world called Greece. They were not one big country, but many small communities called city-states. Each city-state had its own rulers, laws and army, but they all shared the same language, beliefs and way of life.

The Ancient Greeks are remembered for their brilliant ideas. They made important discoveries in science and maths, created theatres and plays, and developed democracy, where people could vote on decisions. Many things we still use today, such as schools, sports competitions and words in the English language, began in Ancient Greece.

Life in Greece was often hard work. Most people spent their days growing food, fishing or making goods. Over time, the Greeks became skilled traders, travelling across the sea to exchange olive oil, pottery and wine for other goods. This made some city-states richer and more powerful.

BBC Bitesize - Greeks
Find our who the ancient Greeks were and what it was like to live in ancient Greece.

When and where was Ancient Greece?

Ancient Greece was located in southern Europe and was surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. It included the mainland of Greece, hundreds of small islands, and some nearby coastlines. The land was very mountainous, with few large flat areas for farming.

Because travelling over mountains was difficult, the sea became very important to the Greeks. They used boats to travel, trade and explore. This helped Greek ideas, goods and culture spread to other lands around the Mediterranean.

Ancient Greece began around 800 BC and lasted until 146 BC, when Greece was taken over by the Romans. Even after this, many Greek ideas continued to influence the Roman world and are still important today.

Greek city-states: Athens and Sparta

Ancient Greece was not one single country. Instead, it was made up of many city-states, which were like small, independent countries. Each city-state had its own laws, rulers, army and way of life, and they often argued or even fought each other. Greek foot soldiers were heavily armed with shields and spears.

Athens was famous for its learning, art and democracy. In Athens, some citizens were allowed to vote and help make decisions about how the city was run. Athens valued education, and children were taught reading, writing, music and sport. Great thinkers like Socrates and Plato lived there.

Sparta was very different. It was a military city-state where life was strict and tough. Spartan boys began training to be soldiers at about seven years old, learning to fight, survive and obey orders. Even Spartan girls trained by running and exercising so they would grow strong and healthy.

Daily Life in Ancient Greece

Daily life in Ancient Greece depended on who you were and where you lived. Life was very different for men, women, children and enslaved people.

Greek men usually worked outside the home. They might be farmers, soldiers, builders or traders. In places like Athens, men could vote, attend meetings and take part in government. They also spent time shopping in markets or meeting friends to talk and debate ideas.

Greek women were expected to stay at home. They cooked, cleaned, made clothes and looked after children. Most women were not allowed to vote or go to meetings, and they had fewer freedoms than men.

Enslaved people did much of the hardest work. They worked in homes, farms and workshops and had no freedom of their own.

Most families lived simple lives, growing food, making what they needed and selling goods at busy markets called agoras. Life could be hard, but family and community were very important.

DK Find Out! - Ancient Greece
Explore the Ancient Greeks with this interactive website. Look at Greek art, food and drink, Greek clothing and philosophers.

Greek homes and clothes

Ancient Greek homes were usually simple and practical. Most were built from stone or mud bricks and were arranged around a small open courtyard, which let in light and fresh air. Rooms were plain, with very little furniture. People slept on wooden beds or benches covered with blankets, and food was stored in clay pots.

Homes had small windows to keep out the heat and dust, and floors were often made of packed earth. Wealthier families had larger houses, but even these were not as fancy as Roman homes.

Greek clothes were simple but comfortable. They were made from wool or linen and were wrapped around the body rather than sewn.

• Men wore short or long tunics.
• Women wore long dresses, often tied at the waist with a belt.

Clothes were usually held together with pins or brooches, and bright colours or patterns were sometimes added.

What did the Ancient Greeks eat?

Ancient Greeks ate mostly simple, healthy foods. Their meals were based on bread made from wheat or barley, along with olives, olive oil, cheese, fruit, vegetables and nuts. Fish was common for people living near the sea, but meat was rare and usually only eaten at festivals or special celebrations.

They did not have sugar, so sweet treats were made with honey. Olive oil was extremely important and was used for cooking, dipping bread, and even for skin care.

The Greeks usually drank water or wine mixed with water. Drinking wine on its own was seen as rude or dangerous because it was very strong.

Food was often shared from large bowls, and people used their hands instead of forks. Meals were social events where families and friends ate together.

Greek gods and myths

Ancient Greeks believed in many gods and goddesses, each with special powers and personalities. They believed these gods lived high above the world on Mount Olympus. The most powerful god was Zeus, the king of the gods, who ruled the sky and weather. Athena was the goddess of wisdom and learning, while Poseidon was the god of the sea and earthquakes.

The Greeks believed the gods controlled everything, from storms and crops to love and war. People built temples to honour the gods and gave gifts and sacrifices to keep them happy.

The Greeks also told exciting myths, which were stories about heroes, monsters and the gods themselves. These stories helped explain natural events and taught people how to behave. Famous myths include stories about Hercules, Medusa, and the Trojan Horse.

Greek education and schools

Education in Ancient Greece depended on where you lived and whether you were rich or poor. In most city states, only boys went to school. They usually started at around seven years old. Boys learned reading, writing, maths, music and sport, because the Greeks believed a good citizen needed both a strong mind and a strong body.

Girls did not go to school. Instead, they stayed at home and were taught by their mothers how to cook, clean, weave cloth and run a household.

In Sparta, education was very different. Spartan boys did not focus on reading and writing. Instead, they were trained to become strong soldiers. They learned how to fight, survive outdoors and obey orders. School in Sparta was about becoming tough and fearless rather than clever.

The Olympic Games

The Olympic Games began in Ancient Greece over 2,700 years ago and were held every four years at a place called Olympia. The games were a religious festival held to honour Zeus, the king of the gods. During the Olympics, wars were paused so athletes could travel safely to compete.

The Ancient Greeks loved sport and fitness, and competitions were held often. However, the Olympic Games were the most important sporting event of all. Athletes competed in events such as running races, long jump, javelin, discus, wrestling, boxing, pankration (a very violent sport combining boxing and wrestling), and horse and chariot racing.

Only free Greek men were allowed to take part. Women were not allowed to compete or even watch most of the events. Winners did not receive medals, but were given olive leaf crowns and treated like heroes when they returned home.

Olympic Games - The History
The History of the Olympic Games. Read about the mythology, the althetes and the sport events of the orginal Olympics.

Greek soldiers and battles

Greek soldiers were called hoplites. They were heavily armed foot soldiers who wore helmets, body armour and carried long spears and large round shields. These shields were so important that losing one was seen as worse than losing a weapon.

Hoplites fought in tight rows called a phalanx, standing shoulder to shoulder so their shields overlapped. This made them very strong as a group, but meant fighting was close, noisy and extremely dangerous. Soldiers pushed against the enemy, stabbing with spears and shouting to scare them.

Spartan soldiers were the most feared in Ancient Greece. They trained from a very young age and lived a strict life focused only on fighting. Spartan armies were known for their discipline and bravery, and other city-states were often frightened to face them in battle.

History for kids - Ancient Greece
The Ancient Greeks lived around 3,500 years ago their legacy shapes the world we live in today.

What happened to Ancient Greece?

Ancient Greece did not end suddenly. Over many years, the Greek city-states argued and fought each other, which made them weaker. Powerful leaders such as Alexander the Great once united much of Greece and built a huge empire, but after his death, the land was split again and became harder to defend.

In 146 BC, the Roman Empire invaded Greece and took control. Greece was no longer independent, and Roman rulers were now in charge. However, the Romans admired Greek culture and did not destroy it.

Greek ideas about art, science, maths, medicine, democracy and architecture were copied and protected by the Romans. These ideas spread across Europe and are still used today in schools, governments and buildings.

Ancient Greece may have fallen, but its influence never disappeared.

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