Currently Greece’s national debt is larger than the country’s economy.h Its credit rating, or its perceived ability to repay debts, is the lowest in the euro zone. There were festivals called, Another celebration that Ancient Greeks loved was the, During the Olympiad, all military conflicts were, An exception to this rule was that they allowed women to enter horses into equestrian games. Even with a college. [5] Greece was once a mass of rock that was completely underwater. The first great civilisation in Greece was the Minoan culture on the island of Crete, around 2000 B.C. Would you like to visit Ancient Greece? He can also be considered the first scientist who recorded a scientific experiment. According to Greek mythology, the first queen of Crete was Europa. Greek food is known all over the world. And here’s a list of 25 Interesting facts about Greece. Approximately 16.5 million tourists visit Greece each year, more than the country’s entire population. Ostracism allowed Athenian citizens to temporarily exile people thought dangerous to the public. 5Heinrichs, Ann. Kingdoms and city states, so called polis, spread across the region from about 800 BC. This is not entirely true. 51 Immortal Facts About The Greek Gods, History’s Most Iconic Pantheon. The alternative of not voting isn’t available in Greece. Guide to Ancient Greece. We at Bright Side absolutely love learning new things about ancient civilizations which is why we decided to write this article. We know this because of area tombs, as well as evidence of a water supply system and heavy walls around the Acropolis. Ancient Greece Facts for Kids. Greek ships make up 70% of the European Union’s total merchant fleet. 2. The Ancient Greeks invented the Yo-Yo; Apollo is the god of music ; Alexander the Great was born in Pella, Greece, on July 20, 356 B.C.E. From turquoise-colored seas to grand historical monuments and museums, it is a land rich in history and beauty.. During that period, Greece became one of the most important places in the world. Poor people who couldn’t afford live animals offered pastry ones instead. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. About 12 million people around the world speak Greek. They live mostly in Greece, Cyprus, Thousands of English words come from the Greek language, sometimes via the Roman adaptation into Latin and then to English. Though Poseidon gave the gift of water, Athena’s gift of an olive tree was deemed by the other gods to be more valuable. Classical Greek culture, especially philosophy, had a powerful influence on the Roman Empire, which carried a version of it to many parts of the Mediterranean Basin and Europe. When a tectonic plate crashed into Europe, the collision created Greece’s mountainous ranges. In fact, it is considered an insult to show the palm of he hand with the fingers extended. Greeks take a siesta in the afternoon. The British poet Lord Byron (1788-1824) was so enamored with the Greeks that he traveled to Greece to fight against the Turks in the Greek War of Independence. They use tomatoes and lemon in most meals, although it’s pretty rare you’ll find both of them in the same meal. 1-5 Ancient Greece Facts 1. ). Greece’s currency, the drachma, was 2,650 years old and Europe’s oldest currency. Tourism comprises approximately 16% of Greece’s total nominal GDP. Ancient Athenian boys went to school at the age of 7. The Greek Temple of Artemis, built on the site of two earlier shrines. 3Dubois, Jill et. The country also has the 11th longest … Greece wouldn’t achieve independence until 1829. The plate is still moving and causes, The ancient Greeks are often called the inventors of mathematics because they were the first to make it a theoretical discipline. Ancient China Facts; Ancient Egypt Facts; Ancient Rome Facts; Blog; Ancient Greek Architecture Facts For Kids. Greek researcher, Herodotus of Halicarnassus (c.480-c.429 BCE) is considered the world's first historian. Why are you interested in this historical period? Ancient Greece Facts for Kids. The. Athens is considered the cradle of Western civilization, The Greek flag was officially adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus on January, 13 1822. The Greek Empire is the largest in world history. Greece is one of the most beautiful, and most visited, countries in the world. Interesting Facts About Greece! At its height, Greek colonization reached as far as. March 26, 2010. The name “Greece” is the English version of the Roman name for the country: “Graecia.” Ancient Greece refers to a civilisation that began about 4,000 years ago and lasted until about 300 BC. The country’s total nominal GDP is $249.2 billion, while its nominal per capita GDP is $22,055. Ancient Greece was the basis of much of Western culture today, including the belief in democracy, equality under the law and even trial by jury. New York, New York: Penguin Random House LLC, 2006. They called the color kyanos, which the words “cyan” and “cyanide” are derived from. We hope you have … Facts. And as much as the Greeks are rightly revered for essentially giving birth to Western civilization, any comprehensive list of Ancient Greece facts is also sure to include some surprising tidbits that reveal a stranger, sometimes darker side of Hellenistic life. The Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.) Greece. 20+ Times People Planted an Ordinary Seed but It Turned Out to Be a Magic Bean, 20+ Photos of Furry Villains That Are Far Too Sweet to Get Mad At, 15 Movie Characters Whose Young and Adult Versions Fit Together Like a Puzzle, I’ve Finally Realized What Things I’ve Outgrown and Can Stop Doing After 30, 12 Fashion Items That Are Extremely Uncomfortable in Real Life, How Covering a Stroller Can Put Your Baby in Danger, Even If the Cloth Is Thin, 20+ People Who Dreamed of Having a Delicious Meal, but the Chef’s Creativity Spoiled Their Appetite, 11 Comics That Show How Painful Your First Day at the Gym Can Be, 18 Girls Who Were Brave Enough to Dye Their Hair a Bright Color, 15 Grandmothers Who Would Do Anything for the People They Love, The yo-yo was invented in Ancient Greece. The EU and the International Monetary Fund are considering a bailout package for the heavily indebted nation. No point in Greece is more than 85 miles (137 kilometers) from water. All great civilizations have their own particular flair for architecture that gets copied by many societies that come after them. Acropolis can be one of the Seven Wonders of World. Greek workers get at least one month of paid vacation every year. Slaves made up between 40% and 80% of ancient Greece’s population. Ancient Greeks seem to have invented everything we use today: theater, Olympic games, philosophy, and yo-yos. Voting is required by law for every citizen who is 18 or older. The official language of Greece is Greek. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc., 2002. At the same age, soldiers took Spartan boys from their mothers, housed them in a dormitory with other boys and trained them as soldiers. Grandparents usually live with their children’s family until they die. Many Greek structures such as doors, windowsills, furniture, and church domes are painted a turquoise blue, especially in the Cyclades Islands. They build many temples and very important building that all stood on hills. Greece enjoys more than 250 days of sunshine—or 3,000 sunny hours—a year. 2. In ancient times, the city of Athens was located at the tip of a peninsula called Attica. Ancient Greece refers to a civilisation that began about 4,000 years ago and lasted until about 300 BC. They serve as a great importance to the mark they left on the Western World. One of the ancient world's greatest explorers, Alexander the Great, was Greek. This dedication to preservation results in one of the most surprising facts about Greece; it is illegal to wear high heels in many of the historic sites in Greece. History: The first evidence of people living in the region date back to 270 000 BC on the Chalkidiki peninsula. Yo-yos were made of wood, metal, or painted terra cotta disks. Physics Facts; World History. Greece is one of the oldest countries in Europe, with a history going back thousands of years. Always wanted to take a vacation in Greece? The country is home to 11 million people, and its capital city of Athens is populated with 3.7 million people. The Greek alphabet was created in the 8th-century B.C.E. The period from 1100 BC to the eighth century BC is a “dark age” from which no es… in Greece. The drachma was replaced with the Euro in 2002. The national anthem of Greece has 158 verses. Nearly 70% of Greece is hilly, stony, and mountainous. Greece is a country that is at once European, Balkan, Mediterranean, and Near Eastern. Retirement homes are rare in Greece. Although he was married to Hera, Zeus famously sired many children with gods, nymphs, titans, and mortals alike. All rights reserved. New York, NY: DK Publishing, Inc., 2005. 9“The Greek Cheese Page.” HELLAS. al., eds. Government corruption cost Greece about $1 billion in 2009. Previously, Greek coins had shown the face of a, The Parthenon (“Place of the Partheons,” from, The word “tragedy” is Greek for “goat-song” because early Greek tragedies honored Dionysus, the, Greece’s most famous modern writer is Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957). Now, the country is roughly the size of Alabama in the United States. Each state controlled the territory around a single city, and they were often at war with each other. Democracy in Athens was significantly different from modern democracies in that it was both more participatory and exclusive. Common English words from Greek include “academy,” “apology,” “marathon,” “siren,” “alphabet,” and “typhoon.”. The yo-yo was invented in Ancient Greece. Acropolis can be one of the Seven Wonders of World. It was first mentioned in 440 B.C.E. The official name of Greece is the Hellenic Republic. Corfu History Facts and Timeline (Corfu, Ionian Islands, Greece) Corfu history is shorter than that of many other Greek islands, although it is certainly no less impressive. Greece has more international airports than most countries because so many foreign tourists want to visit. Physics Facts; World History. They came up with ways to educate people that were far more advanced than people realized, they had already mastered democracy, philosophy, mathematics, and sciences. Ancient Greece. Greece’s largest island is Crete (3,189 sq. See how the letters are written printed writing and cursive writing. It is used because of an ancient belief that this shade of blue keeps evil away. Ancient Greek civilization flourished from the period following Mycenaean civilization, which ended about 1200 BCE, to the death of Alexander the Great, in 323 BCE. According to Greek law, 75% of a ship’s crew must be Greek. Can choose to not vote 9,000 miles of coastline, the country ’ s 18+ can ’ skip... 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