Ancient Greece - Revision history

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	{{History of Greece}}		{{History of Greece}}
	'''Ancient Greece''' ({{langx\|grc\|Ἑλλάς\|Hellás}}) was a northeastern [[Mediterranean]] civilization, existing from the [[Greek Dark Ages]] of the 12th–9th centuries BC to the end of [[classical antiquity]] ({{circa\|600 AD}}), ~~that comprised~~ a loose collection of culturally and linguistically related [[polis\|city-states]] and communities. Prior to the [[Greece in the Roman era\|Roman period]], most of these regions were officially unified only once under the [[Kingdom of Macedon]] from 338 to 323 BC.{{Efn\|This roughly 15-year-long unification, under [[Philip II of Macedon]] and his son [[Alexander the Great]], excludes independent Greek city-states in the western Mediterranean, around the Black Sea and Cyrenaica.}} In [[Western world\|Western history]], the era of classical antiquity was immediately followed by the [[Early Middle Ages]] and the [[Byzantine]] period.<ref name="Thomas1988">{{cite book \|first=Carol G. \|last=Thomas \|title=Paths from ancient Greece \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NAwVAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA27 \|year=1988 \|publisher=Brill \|isbn=978-90-04-08846-7 \|pages=27–50}}</ref>		'''Ancient Greece''' ({{langx\|grc\|Ἑλλάς\|Hellás}}) was a northeastern [[Mediterranean]] civilization, existing from the [[Greek Dark Ages]] of the 12th–9th centuries BC to the end of [[classical antiquity]] ({{circa\|600 AD}}), comprising a loose collection of culturally and linguistically related [[polis\|city-states]] and communities. Prior to the [[Greece in the Roman era\|Roman period]], most of these regions were officially unified only once under the [[Kingdom of Macedon]] from 338 to 323 BC.{{Efn\|This roughly 15-year-long unification, under [[Philip II of Macedon]] and his son [[Alexander the Great]], excludes independent Greek city-states in the western Mediterranean, around the Black Sea and Cyrenaica.}} In [[Western world\|Western history]], the era of classical antiquity was immediately followed by the [[Early Middle Ages]] and the [[Byzantine]] period.<ref name="Thomas1988">{{cite book \|first=Carol G. \|last=Thomas \|title=Paths from ancient Greece \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NAwVAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA27 \|year=1988 \|publisher=Brill \|isbn=978-90-04-08846-7 \|pages=27–50}}</ref>

	Three centuries after the decline of [[Mycenaean Greece]] during the [[Bronze Age collapse]], Greek urban [[poleis]] began to form in the 8th century BC, ushering in the [[Archaic Greece\|Archaic period]] and [[Greek colonisation\|the colonization]] of the Mediterranean Basin. This was followed by the age of [[Classical Greece]], from the [[Greco-Persian Wars]] to the death of [[Alexander the Great]] in 323 BC, and which included the [[Golden Age of Athens]] and the [[Peloponnesian War]] between [[Classical Athens\|Athens]] and [[Sparta]]. The unification of Greece by [[Rise of Macedon\|Macedon]] under [[Philip II of Macedon\|Philip II]] and subsequent conquest of the [[Achaemenid Empire]] by Alexander the Great spread Hellenistic civilization across the Middle East. The [[Hellenistic period]] is considered to have ended in 30 BC, when the last Hellenistic kingdom, [[Ptolemaic Egypt]], was annexed by the [[Roman Republic]].		Three centuries after the decline of [[Mycenaean Greece]] during the [[Bronze Age collapse]], Greek urban [[poleis]] began to form in the 8th century BC, ushering in the [[Archaic Greece\|Archaic period]] and [[Greek colonisation\|the colonization]] of the Mediterranean Basin. This was followed by the age of [[Classical Greece]], from the [[Greco-Persian Wars]] to the death of [[Alexander the Great]] in 323 BC, and which included the [[Golden Age of Athens]] and the [[Peloponnesian War]] between [[Classical Athens\|Athens]] and [[Sparta]]. The unification of Greece by [[Rise of Macedon\|Macedon]] under [[Philip II of Macedon\|Philip II]] and subsequent conquest of the [[Achaemenid Empire]] by Alexander the Great spread Hellenistic civilization across the Middle East. The [[Hellenistic period]] is considered to have ended in 30 BC, when the last Hellenistic kingdom, [[Ptolemaic Egypt]], was annexed by the [[Roman Republic]].
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	=== Warfare ===		=== Warfare ===
	{{Main\|Ancient Greek warfare\|Ancient Macedonian army}}		{{Main\|Ancient Greek warfare\|Ancient Macedonian army}}
	[[File:Greek-Persian duel.jpg\|thumb\|Greek [[hoplite]] and Persian warrior depicted fighting, on an ancient [[kylix]], 5th century BC]]		[[File:Greek-Persian duel 1.jpg\|thumb\|Greek [[hoplite]] and Persian warrior depicted fighting, on an ancient [[kylix]], 5th century BC]]

	At least in the Archaic period, the fragmentary nature of ancient Greece, with many competing city-states, increased the frequency of conflict but conversely limited the scale of warfare. Unable to maintain professional armies, the city-states relied on their own citizens to fight. This inevitably reduced the potential duration of campaigns, as citizens would need to return to their own professions (especially in the case of, for example, farmers). Campaigns would therefore often be restricted to summer. When battles occurred, they were usually set piece and intended to be decisive. Casualties were slight compared to later battles, rarely amounting to more than five percent of the losing side, but the slain often included the most prominent citizens and generals who led from the front.		At least in the Archaic period, the fragmentary nature of ancient Greece, with many competing city-states, increased the frequency of conflict but conversely limited the scale of warfare. Unable to maintain professional armies, the city-states relied on their own citizens to fight. This inevitably reduced the potential duration of campaigns, as citizens would need to return to their own professions (especially in the case of, for example, farmers). Campaigns would therefore often be restricted to summer. When battles occurred, they were usually set piece and intended to be decisive. Casualties were slight compared to later battles, rarely amounting to more than five percent of the losing side, but the slain often included the most prominent citizens and generals who led from the front.
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	=== Music and dance ===		=== Music and dance ===
	{{Main\|Music of ancient Greece}}		{{Main\|Music of ancient Greece}}
	In Ancient Greek society, music was ever-present and considered a fundamental component of civilisation.{{sfn\|West\|1994\|pp=1, 13}} It was an important part of public religious worship,{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=14}} private ceremonies such as weddings and funerals,{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=21}} and household entertainment.{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=24}} Men sang and played music at the [[symposium]];{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=25}} both men and women sang at work; and children's games involved song and dance.{{sfn\|West\|1994\|pp=27–28}}		In Ancient Greek society, music was ever-present and considered a fundamental component of civilisation.{{sfn\|West\|1994\|pp=1, 13}} It was an important part of public religious worship,{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=14}} private ceremonies such as weddings and funerals,{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=21}} and household entertainment.{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=24}} Men sang and played music at the [[Symposium (ancient Greece)\|symposium]];{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=25}} both men and women sang at work; and children's games involved song and dance.{{sfn\|West\|1994\|pp=27–28}}

	Ancient Greek music was primarily vocal, sung either by a solo singer or a chorus, and usually accompanied by an instrument; purely instrumental music was less common.{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=39}} The Greeks used stringed instruments, including lyres, harps, and lutes;{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=48}} and wind instruments, of which the most important was the {{Transliteration\|grk\|aulos}}, a [[reed instrument]].{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=81}} Percussion instruments played a relatively unimportant role supporting stringed and wind instruments, and were used in certain religious cults.{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=122}}		Ancient Greek music was primarily vocal, sung either by a solo singer or a chorus, and usually accompanied by an instrument; purely instrumental music was less common.{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=39}} The Greeks used stringed instruments, including lyres, harps, and lutes;{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=48}} and wind instruments, of which the most important was the {{Transliteration\|grk\|aulos}}, a [[reed instrument]].{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=81}} Percussion instruments played a relatively unimportant role supporting stringed and wind instruments, and were used in certain religious cults.{{sfn\|West\|1994\|p=122}}

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	==See also==		==See also==
	~~{{Portal\|Ancient Greece\|Civilizations}}~~
	* [[Outline of ancient Greece]]		* [[Outline of ancient Greece]]
	* [[Outline of ancient Egypt]]		* [[Outline of ancient Egypt]]

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	{{short description\|Greek civilization from c. 1200 BC to c. 600 AD }}		{{short description\|Greek civilization from c. 1200 BC to c. 600 AD }}

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	[[Category:Ancient Greece\| ]]		[[Category:Ancient Greece\| ]]
			{{simple-Wikipedia}}

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simple>SaviourofWikiepdia: /* Timeline of Greek History */Already mentions Mycenaeans

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Timeline of Greek History: Already mentions Mycenaeans

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[[File:Greek Colonization Archaic Period.png|right|350px|thumb|Greek cities and their spread across the [[Mediterranean]]]]
[[File:Parthenon from west.jpg|300px|thumb|The [[Parthenon]] is a temple dedicated to [[Athena]], located on the [[Acropolis]] in [[Athens]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Maynard, Christopher|title=Greek Times (Little Histories)|page=12|publisher=Kingfisher|date=1996|isbn=0753400707}}</ref> It is a symbol of the culture and sophistication of the ancient Greeks.]]

'''Ancient Greece''' was a large area in the northeast of the [[Mediterranean Sea]], where people spoke the [[Greek language]]. It was much bigger than the nation of [[Greece]] we know today. It was the [[civilization]] of Greece, from the [[wikt:archaic|archaic]] period of the 8th/6th centuries [[BC]] to 146 BC. The period ended with the [[Roman Republic|Roman]] conquest of Greece in the [[Battle of Corinth]].

For most of this time, the Greeks did not have a single government or ruler. They did, however, have a common language and culture.<ref>Christidis, Anastasios-Phoibos, ed. 2007. ''A history of Ancient Greek: from the beginnings to late antiquity''. Cambridge University Press.</ref><ref>Easterling P and Handley C. 2001. ''Greek scripts: an illustrated introduction''. London: Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies. ISBN 0-902984-17-9</ref> The Greek language is an [[Indo-European language]].<ref>Fortson, Benjamin W. 2010. ''Indo-European language and culture: an introduction''. 2d ed. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.</ref>

There were a number of [[city state]]s, each with its own [[constitution]]. [[Athens]], [[Sparta]] and [[Corinth]] are examples of city-states. Some had kings, and some, like Athens, had a form of [[democracy]]. As time went on, the most-powerful cities collected other cities into groups known as "leagues". This applied to many of the Greek colonies in [[Asia Minor]], most of which had close ties to one or another of the three big cities.

In the middle of this period, there was [[Classical Greece]], which flourished during the 5th to 4th centuries BC. Athenian leadership successfully repelled the threat of [[Achaemenid Empire|Persian]] invasion in the [[Greco-Persian Wars]]. The Athenian golden age ends with the defeat of Athens at the hands of [[Sparta]] in the [[Peloponnesian War]] in 345Bc

In the last, Hellenistic, period, Greece was unified by the conquests of [[Alexander the Great]]. The city-states continued, under the overall influence of [[Macedonian Empire|Macedonia]].

Greek culture had a powerful influence on the [[Roman Empire]], which carried a version of it to many parts of the Mediterranean region and [[Europe]]. In this way, classical Greece was part of the foundation of [[Western civilization]]. Greek was also the language, and partly the [[culture]], of the [[Byzantine Empire]].<ref>Horrocks, Geoffrey. 2010. ''Greek: a history of the language and its speakers'', 2d ed. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.</ref>

== Timeline of Greek History ==
[[File:Alexander-Helios Musei Capitolini MC732.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Alexander the Great]]]]

The history of Greece went through these stages:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pomeroy |first= Sarah B. |title=Ancient Greece: a political, social, and cultural history |publisher=Oxford University Press |language= |year=1999 |isbn= 9780195097429 |url= https://books.google.com/?id=INUT5sZku1UC}}</ref>
*[[Mycenaean culture]] (c.1600–c.1100 BC) was an early Greek culture during the [[Bronze Age]], on the Greek mainland and on [[Crete]].
*The [[bronze age collapse]] or [[Greek dark ages]] (c.1100–c.750 BC).
* The [[Archaic Greece|archaic period]] (c.750–c.500 BC). Artists made larger free-standing [[sculpture]]s in stiff poses, with the dreamlike 'archaic smile'. The archaic period ends with the overthrow of the last [[tyrant]] of [[Athens]] in 510 BC.
* The classical period (c.500–323 BC) had a style which was considered by later observers to be an outstanding example (i.e. 'classical')—for instance the [[Parthenon]]. Politically, the classical period was dominated by [[Classical Athens|Athens]] and the [[Delian League]] during the 5th century. They were displaced by [[Sparta]]n [[hegemony]] during the early 4th century BC. Finally there was the [[League of Corinth]], which was led by [[Macedon]].
[[File:MacedonEmpire.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The conquests of Alexander stretched as far as [[Himalayas|the Himalayas]]]]
* The [[Hellenistic period]] (323–146 BC) is when Greek culture ([[Hellenistic art]]) and power expanded into the near and [[Middle East]]. This period begins with the death of [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]] and ends with the Roman conquest.
*[[Roman Greece]]. This is the period between the Roman victory at the [[Battle of Corinth]] in 146 BC and the establishment of [[Byzantium]] by [[Constantine I|Constantine]] as the capital of the [[Roman Empire]] in 330 AD.
*The final phase of antiquity is the period of [[Christianization]] during the later 4th to early 6th centuries. It ended with the closure of the later version of Plato's [[Academy]] by [[Justinian I]] in 529 AD.

== Early history ==
=== Literacy ===
In the 8th century B.C., the Greeks learned how to read and write a second time. They had lost [[literacy]] at the end of the [[Mycenaean culture]], as the Mediterranean world fell into the Dark Ages. The Greek Dark Ages (~1100 BC–750 BC), or [[Bronze Age collapse]], is a period in the history of Ancient Greece and [[Anatolia]] from which there are no written records, and few archaeological remains.

The Greeks learned about the [[alphabet]] from another ancient people, the [[Phoenicia]]ns. They made some adjustments to it. In particular, the Greeks introduced regular letters for [[vowel]]s, which was necessary for their language. Their [[Greek alphabet|alphabet]] was, in turn, copied by the Romans, and much of the world now uses the [[Roman alphabet]].

=== Political structure ===
Ancient Greece had one [[ancient Greek language|language]] and culture, but was not unified until 337 BC, when [[Macedonian Empire|Macedonia]] defeated [[Athens]] and [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]]. That marked the end of the Classic period, and the start of the Hellenistic period. Even then, the conquered cities were merely joined to [[Philip II of Macedon]]'s Corinthian League; they were not occupied, and ruled themselves.

==== City states ====
Ancient Greece consisted of several hundred more-or-less independent [[city state]]s. This was different from other societies, which were tribal, or kingdoms ruling over relatively large territories.

Undoubtedly the [[geography]] of Greece—divided and sub-divided by hills, mountains and rivers—contributed to the nature of ancient Greece. On the one hand, the ancient Greeks had no doubt that they were 'one people'; they had the same religion, same basic culture, and same language. Yet each city-state or "[[polis]]" was [[independence|independent]]; unification was something rarely discussed by the ancient Greeks. Even when, during the second [[Greco-Persian Wars|Persian invasion]] of Greece, a group of city-states allied themselves to defend Greece, most ''poleis'' remained neutral, and after the Persian defeat, the allies quickly returned to infighting.<ref>Holland, T. ''Persian fire'', Abacus, {{ISBN|978-0-349-11717-1}}</ref>

The major features of the Ancient Greek political system were:
#Its fragmentary nature. There was not one country, but many little countries called "city-states".
#The focus on cities in tiny states.
#The [[Colonialism|colonies]] they set up round the [[Mediterranean]] were independent of the founding city. However, they were sympathetic to their 'mother city'.
#Conquest or direct rule by another city-state was quite rare.
#The cities grouped themselves into leagues, and members sometimes quit one league and joined another.

Later, in the Classical period, the leagues were fewer and larger, and dominated by one city (particularly [[Athens]], [[Sparta]] and [[Thebes]]). Often cities would be compelled to join under threat of war (or as part of a peace treaty). After [[Philip II of Macedon]] 'conquered' the heartlands of ancient Greece, he did not attempt to annex the territory, or unify it into a new province. However, he did force most of the cities to join his own Corinthian League.

==== Kingdoms ====
Some cities were democratic, some were [[Aristocracy|aristocratic]], and some were [[Monarchy|monarchies]]. Some had many [[revolution]]s in which one kind of [[government]] replaced another. One famous Greek kingdom is [[Macedon]], which became briefly the largest empire the world had seen at the time by conquering the [[Persian empire]] (including [[ancient Egypt]]) and reaching into modern-day [[India]]. Other famous kingdoms are [[Epirus]] and [[Thessaly]].

Monarchies in ancient Greece were not absolute because there was usually a council of older citizens (''the senate'', or in Macedonia ''the congress'') who gave advice to the King. These men were not elected or chosen in a [[lottery]] like they were in the democratic city-states.

==== Citizens ====
[[Citizen]]s that could participate in government in Ancient Greece were usually men who were free-born in that city. Women, [[slave]]s and (usually) residents born elsewhere, did not have the right to vote. Details differed between cities. Athens is an example: The residents of Athens were of three groups: citizens, metics (resident aliens) and slaves.<ref>[http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/pericles/g/Metic.htm Gill N.S. ''Metic''. About.com]</ref> Citizens were residents whose forebears had been Athenians for three generations. Male citizens had the rights of free men and could be chosen to fulfill any official state position. "Of the estimated 150,000 residents of the city state of Attica, only about one fifth held the privilege of citizenship".<ref>Ewbank N. 2009.[http://cliojournal.wikispaces.com/The+Nature+of+Athenian+Democracy The nature of Athenian democracy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217022856/http://cliojournal.wikispaces.com/The+Nature+of+Athenian+Democracy |date=2011-12-17 }} ''Clio''.</ref> Women who were citizens in Athens could not participate in political offices, but in Sparta they could.

==== Colonies ====
[[Image:Sparta ruins.PNG|right|thumb|upright|The ruins of Sparta]]
The number of Greeks grew and soon they could not grow enough food for all the people. When this happened, a city would send people off to start a new city, known as a [[colony]].

Because the terrain was rough, most travel was by sea. For this reason, many new cities were established along the coastline. First new cities were started in [[Anatolia]] ([[Asia Minor]]) and later along the [[Black Sea]], in [[Cyprus]], in southern [[Italy]], in [[Sicily]], and around what today is [[Benghazi]] in [[Libya]]. They even started a city, Naucratis, on the river [[Nile]] in Egypt. The cities of today, [[Syracuse, Italy|Syracuse]], [[Naples]], [[Marseille]] and [[Istanbul]] started as the Greek cities Syracusa, Neapolis, Massilia and Byzantium.

==== The big four ====
By the 6th century BC some cities became much more important than the others. They were [[Corinth]], [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]], [[Sparta]], and [[Athens]].

The Spartans were very well disciplined soldiers. They defeated the people who lived near them and those people had to farm the land for the Spartans. These "helots" had to give the Spartans part of the food they grew and so the Spartans did not have to work. Instead, they learned how to be better soldiers. There were not many Spartans but there were many helots. Spartan military strength controlled the helots. The Spartans had two [[hereditary]] kings who led them in war. At home they were also ruled by a group of old men called the Gerousia (the [[senate]]).

Athens became a democracy in 510 BC. The men came to a place in the center of the city and decided what to do. It was the first place in the world where the people decided what their country should do. They would talk and then vote on what to do at the Boule (the parliament). But the women did not vote. Athens had [[slavery|slaves]]. These slaves were owned by their masters and could be sold to someone else. The Athenian slaves were less free than the Spartan helots. Every year, Athenian citizens elected eight generals who led them in war.

== Greco-Persian Wars ==
[[Image:Persian invasion.png|upright|thumb|The Persian invasion of Greece]]
{{main|Greco-Persian Wars}}

In 499 BC, the Greek cities in Anatolia rebelled. They did not want Persia to rule them anymore. Athens sent 20 ships to fight the Persians on the sea. The Greeks in Anatolia were defeated. The Persian King, [[Darius]] decided to punish Athens. He sent soldiers and ships to fight Athens.

Athens asked for help from Sparta. Sparta wanted to help but could not; they had a religious festival at that time. Athens sent her soldiers against the Persian soldiers: at the [[Battle of Marathon]] (490 BC) they defeated the Persians. Then the help from Sparta came.

At the [[Battle of Thermopylae]] The Spartans were led by [[Leonidas]], and resisted the huge Persian army. After a couple of days, a traitor called Ephialtes led the Persians around the pass behind the Greek army. Realising that defeat was inevitable, Leonidas released many of his men. Those who stayed knew it would be a fight to the death. Leonides kept elite ''hoplites'' (foot soldiers) who had living sons at home.<ref>Because their family line would continue after their death.</ref> There were also allied Thespians and Thebans who volunteered to stay.

On the third day, Leonidas led his 300 Spartan hoplites and their allies against Xerxes and his mighty army. The Spartan-led forces fought this Persian force to their deaths in order to block the pass long enough to keep Xerxes and his army occupied while the rest of the Greek army escaped.

After Thermopylae many Greeks wanted to go south to the [[Peloponnese]]. Because the [[Isthmus of Corinth]], the way into the Peloponnese, is very narrow, many wanted to fight the Persians there.

Athens was north of Corinth and she had a navy. Athens' leader [[Themistocles]] wanted to fight the Persians by the island of Salamis. Xerxes decided to send his fleet against the Greek fleet before the Greek ships could go to the Peloponnese. The Greek fleet defeated the Persians at the [[Battle of Salamis]]. [[Xerxes]] then went home with many of his soldiers but a Persian army stayed in Greece. This army was defeated at the [[Battle of Platea]] in 479 BC.

== Athens against Sparta ==
{{main|Peloponnesian War}}
After the Persians were defeated at Platea, the Spartans did very little. However, Persia was still dangerous. Athens asked the Greek cities on the islands in the [[Aegean]] and in Anatolia to join her. The cities agreed because they were afraid of Persia. These cities formed the [[Delian League]] and Athens was their leader. Many of the cities of the Delian League had to pay Athens [[tribute]] money. Athens used the money to build many ships and the [[Parthenon]]. Sparta was still strong on land, but Athens was stronger on the sea. Several times there was war between Athens and Sparta. Then Athens decided to send many ships to [[Sicily]] to fight against the city [[Syracuse]]. Sparta sent help to Syracuse, and Athens was defeated. None of the Athenian ships came back.

Now Sparta wanted to build ships to fight Athens. It took a long time for Sparta to defeat Athens, but then at the [[Battle of Aegospotami]] the Spartans destroyed most of Athens's ships. The Athenians used an advanced type of ship called [[trireme]]s. These ships had their combat systems, and were propelled by oarsmen. On the front of the Trireme was a large bronze [[battering ram]]. The oarsmen would row the trireme at an enemy boat, and ram a hole into its hull. This was the most effective way for the trireme to destroy other boats. The soldiers ([[hoplite]]s) on the trireme would board the enemy ship and capture it. Nevertheless, the Athenian fleet of triremes was destroyed in a battle in 405 BC. Athens surrendered the following year and the war was over.<ref>Hanson, Victor Davis 2005. ''A war like no other: how the Athenians and Spartans fought the Peloponnesian War''. New York: Random House (hardcover ISBN 1-4000-6095-8; paperback ISBN 0-8129-6970-7.</ref>

== Daily life ==
Men, when not working, fighting or discussing politics, could (at festive times) go to [[Ancient Greek theatre]] to watch dramas, comedies or tragedies. These often involved politics and the gods of [[Greek mythology]]. Women were not allowed to perform in the theatre; male actors played female roles.

Women did domestic work, such as spinning, weaving, cleaning and cooking. They were not involved in public life or politics. Women from rich families however, had slaves to carry out domestic work for them.

== Ancient Greek games ==
The famous [[Olympic games]] were held at [[Olympia]] every four years. They were for men only, and women were not allowed to attend, even as spectators. The sports included [[running]], [[javelin]] throwing, [[discus]] throwing and [[wrestling]]. The Games were unusual, because the athletes could come from any Greek city.

Another competition, the [[Heraean Games]], was held for women. It was also held at Olympus at a different time from the men's event.<ref name=akropol>{{cite web | author=Author not listed | title=
THE HERAIA | work="History of the Olympic Games" | url=http://www.akropol.net/olympic_games_history/history_olympic_games_page.htm | accessdate=February 18, 2006 }}</ref>

The rules for girls in [[Sparta]] were different from other cities. They were trained in the same events as boys, because Spartans believed that strong women would produce strong babies who would become future warriors. Their girl athletes were unmarried and competed nude or wearing short dresses. Boys were allowed to watch the athletes, in the hopes of creating marriages and offspring.

Later, in the [[Classical Greece|Classical period]], girls could compete in the same festivals as males.<ref name=Scanlon>{{cite web | author=Scanlon, Thomas F. | title=Games for girls | work=Ancient Olympics Guide | url=http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/olympics/girls.html | accessdate=February 18, 2006 }}</ref>

== Refer ==
{{Reflist}}

== More reading ==
*Pickering, David 2007. ''Ancient Greece''. Collins. {{ISBN|9780007231652}}

== Other websites ==
{{commonscat|Ancient Greece}}
* [http://sd71.bc.ca/sd71/school/courtmid/Library/subject_resources/socials/ancient_greece.htm Ancient Greece] — links for Middle School students from Courtenay Middle School
* http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Life/

[[Category:Ancient Greece| ]]

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