Module Overview
Ancient Greece

Canal of Belgium

The Acropolis at Athens by Leo von Klenze, 1846

Have you ever wondered where people get ideas about what they consider beautiful and how governments should run? While individuals have personal thoughts on the subject, they often share certain standards with others in their community. Beyond what standards are evident in present times, you must also consider the root of such ideas in a historical context. By examining literature, art, and politics of ancient Greece, you will understand that people during this time were the source of artistic, social, and political standards for today's societies in Europe, North America, and South America. In this module, you will learn how the advancements made by the great thinkers and inventors in ancient Greece played an important role in the development of human civilization. As you explore ancient Greece, take note of how this civilization compares to those you have already studied.

Getting Started

the eastern side of the Parthenon is on the left, and an ancient Greek wine vessel is on the right

getting started iconArchitecture and artwork were integral parts of ancient Greek culture. Take a moment to examine the images. Write a description of each image in your own words. Then answer the following questions about each image.

Image 1: What features in this structure do you see in modern buildings?

Image 2: Do you see religious themes in modern art like you do on this vessel?

Key Vocabulary

glossary iconTo view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.

Adriatic Sea
Aegean Sea
Alexander the Great
Archimedes
aristocracy
Aristotle
Balkan Peninsula
barter
city-state
colonization
Corinthian
Dardanelles
Delian League
democracy
Doric
Euclid
Hellenistic culture
Herodotus
Hippocrates
Homer
Ionic
Macedonia
Marathon
Mediterranean Basin
militaristic
monarchy
oligarchy
Peloponnesian League
Peloponnesian War
Peloponnesus
peninsula
Pericles
Persian Wars
Phidias
Phillip II
Plato
polis
Pythagoras
Salamis Strait
Socrates
Sophocles
strait
Thucydides
tyranny