How did the ancient Greeks change the world?

How did Greek ideas spread so far?

Even after 3,000 years, we're still using ancient Greek ideas in maths, science and art.
Our alphabet is based on the Greek one. Hundreds of words we use come from the Greek language.

An ancient Greek person making a sculpture.

It’s all down to a young king called Alexander.
He led his army to take over Greece, Persia, Egypt and even part of India.
He ruled so much of the world they called him ‘Alexander the Great’.
Wherever he went, Alexander took Greek ideas.
After he died, the Romans took over. They liked the Greeks' way of life and carried Greek ideas to even more countries - including ours!

Watch: What did the ancient Greeks do for us?

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Did the Greeks invent government?

In ancient Athens, citizens would gather together on a dusty hill called the Pnyx.
Here they would decide the city’s laws and who should be on its ruling council.
This was ‘democracy’ or ‘rule by the people’.

An ancient ostracon with the name 'Themistocles' written on it. — Image caption,
This ostracon has the name 'Themistocles' written on it. He led the Athenian navy in the war with Persia, but was later banished.

All 30,000 citizens were men. Women and enslaved people didn't get a say.
A citizen could speak for the time it took water to run from one jar into another. When this water clock ran out, it was someone else’s turn.
Men could write a name on a broken bit of pottery called an ‘ostracon’. Anyone named more than 600 times got kicked out of the city.
Today, we also live in a democracy. Unlike in ancient Greece, women get to vote, too. Juries decide if someone is guilty of a crime - we don’t use ostracons anymore!

How did the Greeks change sport?

A statue of the winged goddess Nike — Image caption,
This is a terracotta statue of Nike, the goddess of victory. She is holding a wreath ready to crown a winner.

The Greeks loved sport as much as we do. They enjoyed the discus, javelin, long jump, boxing and horse racing.
Athletes prayed to Nike, the goddess of victory - she’s still a big name in sport today!
The Greeks loved to watch races in a big, open-air ‘stadion’, very like a modern sports stadium.

Cartoon of athletes at the Olympic Games.

Greek men and boys trained in a gymnasium. We also go to the gym, although today women and girls are welcome too.
Every four years the Greeks held a special sporting festival at Olympia - the Olympic Games.
These inspired the modern Olympics which began in 1896. Some of the events were very similar. Like the Greeks, we also hold the Olympics every four years.
Legend tells of Pheidippides, who fought at the battle of Marathon. When the Greeks won, he ran 26 miles (42 km) to Athens with the news – and then fell down dead. Modern marathon races cover the same distance as his epic run.

Famous Greek scientists, philosophers and writers

Ancient Greek thinkers made big discoveries. Hippocrates was famous for his ideas about medicine.
Doctors still take a Hippocratic Oath, swearing they will be honest and truthful.

Sappho was a famous Greek poet. What we have left of her poetry is still read today.
Herodotus wrote a history of the Greeks. He used eyewitness reports to write it, something today’s historians also try to do.
Socrates and Plato were philosophers. They asked, “What is a good life?” and “How do we think?” Philosophers in our time also try to answer these questions.

An ancient Greek person standing on planet Earth.

Aristotle studied plants, animals and rocks. He carried out experiments to find out about the world we live in. Modern scientists do the same kind of thing.
Ancient Greek stories are still told today. We love films about superheroes and monsters. Our TV soaps are full of stories about long-lost children returning to find their parents - just as ancient Greek plays were.

Watch: Dick and Dom discover Archimedes

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Dick and Dom discover the work of Archimedes, one of the greatest Greek thinkers.

Activities

Activity 1: Famous ancient Greeks

Click on the figures below to hear more about their lives.

Activity 2: Quiz – Greek discoveries

Game: The Argo Odyssey

Argo the dog is missing! He was last seen by the mysterious Oracle of Delphi.

Play the game to match items and find out how the Ancient Greeks changed the world.