ANCIENT GREECE

Ancient Greece
About 4000 years ago, the original Greeks came from central Europe and settled on the Greek peninsula. In about 1600 BC a great Greek civilization rose up. It was called the Mycenaean. Many of the Mycenaean rulers lived in grand palaces with wall paintings like the ones of earlier times discovered on the Aegean island of Crete. The lords of Mycenae were buried with gold masks that looked like themselves. They also buried some of the personal possessions with them, such as cups, rings, and dagger blades that showed scenes of war and hunting. The Mycenaens honored the strength and courage of lions, and two stone lions still proudly remain above the magnificent gateway of Mycenae.

Greece is a country of mountains and small plains. In ancient times in the mountains, herds of goats and mountain sheep were raised for their skins, their wool, and their milk. In the plains, where the soil is rich, the farmers planted grains, grapes for wine, and olives. If the crops did n...