The Ancient Greeks

Greece is a country in Europe that lies on the Mediterranean Sea. Most of its land sticks out into the ocean and includes many little islands. It has large mountains running through the center of the country.

The climate of Greece is similar to the climate here where we live. Winters are mild and rainy and summers can be hot and dry.

Click here to see Greece on a map.

Towns in ancient Greece were called city-states. Each city-state had its own laws and rules. One famous city state was Athens, which is now the capital of Greece. It was named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge.

The people of Athens invented a new government called a democracy. This means that the people in Athens were allowed to vote and help make big decisions. We use this kind of government in the United States today.

The ancient Greeks had their own beliefs. They believed there were many different gods. Each god represented something important to the Greek people. These gods helped explain things in the world. There was a goddess of love, and god that ruled the ocean, and even a god for sleep.

The ancient Greeks liked to honor their gods by showing their respect. They built temples and beautiful buildings for the gods. They even put on sporting events in their honor. The first Olympic Games were held in ancient Greece for the gods. The world still holds the Olympics every two years.