Society

Darius is the Persian ruler to seek revenge. Later Xerxes became the new Persian monarch and vowed revenged, planned to overule Greece. Then Athenians formed a defensive alligence against the Persians called the Delian League. The society participated directly in government decision making through mass metting. The males in Athens partcipatedin governing assemblies and voted on all major issues. Sparta, Athens, and Thebes struggled to dominated Greek affairs. The Greeks ignored the growing power of Macedonia to their north, oversight would cost them their freedom. The Religion affected every aspect of Greek life. Temples were dedicated to gods and goddesses were the major buildings in Greek cities. Thought gods lived on Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. Festivals developed a way of honor towarfds their gods and goddesses.

Ancient Greece

The ancient Greek dialects are influential even to this day with much Greek vocabulary embedded in the Modern Greek and English languages. Renaissance was guided in large part by the re-discovery of the ancient Greek ideas through text and art. The majority of Greek states were governed by groups of rich landowners, called aristocrats; this word is derived from 'aristoi', meaning best people. This was a system known as 'oligarchy' the rule by the few. Men if they were not training in military, or discussing politics went to the Theatre for entertainment. To watch dramas that they could relate to, including tragedies and comedies. These often involved current politics and gods in some form. It is thought that women were not allowed to watch theatre or perform at the theatre, although male actors did play women roles. The history of Greece can be traced back to Stone Age hunters. Later came early farmers and thecivilizations of the Minoan and Mycenaean kings. This was followed by a period of wars and invasions, known as the Dark Ages. In about 1100 BC, a people called the Dorians invaded from the north and spread down the west coast. In the period from 500-336 BC Greece was divided into small city states, each of which consisted of a city and its surrounding countryside. There were playwrites, Epic Poets, Philosphophers