Greece

From SourceryForge

Greece is a nation in southeastern Europe,on the Mediterranean sea.The modern state achieved independence in 1830 and only achieved its present geographic extent after the Second World War,but the Greek culture,within and beyond the modern state's boundaries,dates back well over three thousand years.

Today the religious life is dominated by Eastern Orthodox Christianity but Greece was of course the cradle of worship of the Greek Pantheon.

Ancient Greece was also the cradle of classical philosophy and mathematics.

Contents 1 Minoan period 2 Achaeans and Dorians 3 Classical period 4 Hellenistic empire 5 Rome and eclipse

Minoan period

Named for King Minos,ruler of Crete in the myth of the Minotaur,this early epoch of civilization was shattered before the classical era.

Achaeans and Dorians

These people entered from the north,and legends of their time were told by Homer,including the war against Troy.

A leading kingdom of this period was Mycenae.

Classical period

The rise of Greek civilization saw the writing of works studied in the original language to this day.

Hellenistic empire

Alexander the Great,of the Northern Greek kingdom of Macedon,spread Greek civilization far and wide.

Rome and eclipse

Greek independence ended for many centuries with the rise of the Roman Empire.