Ancient Greece: Gods, Games and Ideas

Ancient Greece was one of the most remarkable civilizations in history. Around 2,500 years ago, the Greeks gave the world democracy, the Olympics, philosophy, and some of the greatest stories ever told. So many of our ideas about science, art, and government began in Greece.

Greece was not one single country like it is today. Instead it was made up of many separate city-states, each like a small country with its own rules and army. The two most famous were Athens, which loved art and learning, and Sparta, where children trained to become tough, fearless soldiers.

The Greeks believed in many gods and goddesses who each controlled different parts of life. Zeus was king of the gods, Athena was the goddess of wisdom, and Poseidon ruled the seas. They believed these gods lived on the cloudy peak of Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece.