The Greeks were one of the most important peoples of antiquity and their civilization influenced the entire West.
They developed forms of philosophy, politics, art and sports, which are still used today.
Its territory occupied the European continent and almost 1000 islands spread across the Mediterranean Sea.
greek peoples
The Greeks were made up of various peoples such as the Achaeans, Ionians, Dorics, Attic tribes, etc.
They considered that their founding hero was Helen, a soothsayer who is portrayed in the work "Odyssey" and called himself "Hellenes". This was also the name of a village located in northwestern Greece today.
The word “Greece” was used by the Romans and means “land of the Greeks”.
Greek gods
The inhabitants of ancient Greece were polytheists and worshiped various gods, demigods and heroes.
Religion fulfilled the role of unifying the different villages and had the objective of morally shaping society. The legends of the gods served to teach citizens values and ensure the proper functioning of the polis.
Each tribe claimed that it had been founded by a mythical hero, and festivals dedicated to the deities were an important social event.
The main Greek gods were the 12 who lived on Mount Olympus: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Ares, Demeter, Apollo, Artemis, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Hermes and Dionysus.
history of ancient greece
For study purposes, we have divided the history of Ancient Greece into four periods:
- Pre-Homeric (20th - 12th century BC Ç.)
- Homeric (12th - VIII a. Ç.)
- Archaic (8th - 6th centuries a. Ç.)
- Classic (5th - 4th centuries a. Ç.)
During the Archaic period we observed the rise of the Greek city-states, the development of Greek philosophy and art that would so influence the Western world.
greek cities
Each Greek city had its own political system and that is why they were called city-states.
While we see in Athens the beginning of democracy, where citizens could participate in politics; in Sparta, on the other hand, we see greater centralization of government.
However, city-states make alliances with other cities in case of war. When they had to face a common enemy, as was the case with the Persians, the Greek cities united.
See too: Sparta and Athens
greek culture
The Greeks liked theatre, poetry, music and dance.
The plays had a religious function, as they were staged during the feasts of the god Dionysus. Likewise, they played a moral role, because they always gave a lesson to the spectators.
Likewise, they appreciated the epic poetry, sung by poets, who were based on works such as the "Odyssey" and the "Iliad". These were recited at domestic or public feasts.
The most common Greek musical instruments were the lyre, indispensable for reciting poems, and flutes of different sizes. Greek music reached the present day through the modes of musical scales that the Greeks used.
greek society
Although there were differences in each of the city-states, Greek society was divided into free men, foreigners and slaves.
Women were not considered in this count, as even if they were free, they did not have political rights.
citizens
Greek society was headed by citizens born in the city. In Athens, for example, regardless of the amount of money, every citizen could intervene in the affairs of the city-state.
Citizens gathered in the agora to pass laws, judge crimes and decide war.
See too: Athenian Democracy
Slaves
Human beings were enslaved during wars or to pay off some debt. They were employed in various tasks, both in domestic and in commerce and agriculture.
It is estimated that 40% of the population of Athens was made up of slaves who practiced qualified professions such as teachers, doctors, painters, scribes, private secretaries and much more.
Foreign
As each city-state was independent, the foreigner could be someone from the neighboring city. They had no political rights or land and, therefore, dedicated themselves to trade and the production of goods.
Women
Women were married at age 15, in a domestic ceremony, in front of the family altar. The woman took care of the slaves, the children and weaved the necessary clothes for everyone in the house.
Social differences
The social division was clear during the war. The rich fought in cavalry, as they were able to keep the animal.
Those who had no means joined the infantry and fought on foot, armed with spear, helmet and shield; while the poor and the damned rowed in the galleys of the boats.
greek economy
Large cities such as Athens and Sparta had their own currency.
Athens took advantage of the silver mines in the Laurion region to mint its currency, which will be the most valuable in the region. In this way it was possible to sustain wars with its neighbors.
Agriculture consisted in the cultivation of grapes for the manufacture of wine; olives, from which oil was extracted and grains for bread, such as barley and wheat. Many of these products were exported to other locations along the Mediterranean.
There were artisans specialized in making ceramic, leather and metal products.
We have more Greek texts for you:
- Pre-Homeric Period
- Archaic Period
- achaeans
- Gods of Olympus
Bibliographic references
Gomes, Laurentino - Slavery: from the first auction of captives in Portugal to the death of Zumbi de Palmares. Globe Books, 2019. Rio de Janeiro.
Documentary: La Grèce Antique, origine de notre Civilization (Planète). Accessed on 12.05.2020.
