Classical Greece and Rome

Welcome to an exciting journey through two of history’s most influential civilizations – Classical Greece and Ancient Rome. These mighty empires shaped the world we live in today, from our governments to our architecture.

The Rise of Classical Greece

Ancient Greece emerged as a powerful civilization around 800 BCE. Greek city-states, called polis, developed unique cultures and systems of government. Athens became famous for creating democracy, while Sparta was known for its powerful military.

The Greco-Persian Wars
In 490 BCE, the mighty Persian Empire tried to conquer Greece. During the Battle of Marathon, the Greeks proved their strength by defeating the much larger Persian army. Ten years later, the Persians returned with an even bigger force. Despite being outnumbered, the Greeks united and won decisive victories at the Battle of Salamis and Plataea, preserving their independence and culture.

Alexander the Great
By 336 BCE, a young king named Alexander took the throne of Macedonia, a kingdom north of Greece. In just 13 years, Alexander conquered an empire stretching from Greece to India. He spread Greek culture throughout his conquered lands, creating a period known as the Hellenistic Age. His empire was so vast that it forever changed how different cultures interacted with each other.

The Rise of Rome
While Greek influence spread eastward, another powerful civilization was growing in Italy. Rome began as a small settlement around 753 BCE but grew into one of history’s greatest empires.

Republican Rome
For nearly 500 years, Rome was a republic, ruled by elected officials and the Senate. During this time, Rome expanded its territory through military conquest and clever diplomacy. The republic created many ideas we still use today, like checks and balances in government and written laws that apply to everyone.

Imperial Rome
In 27 BCE, after years of civil war, Rome became an empire under its first emperor, Augustus. The Roman Empire reached its greatest size around 117 CE, controlling lands from Britain to Egypt. The Romans were master builders and engineers, creating roads, aqueducts, and architectural marvels like the Colosseum.

Legacy
The influence of Greece and Rome continues today:

• Our democratic systems came from Greek ideas
• Many of our buildings are inspired by Greek and Roman architecture
• English and many other languages use words from Greek and Latin
• Roman laws influenced modern legal systems
• Greek and Roman literature, art, and philosophy still inspire us today

These ancient civilizations remind us how past societies can influence the future for thousands of years. Their achievements in government, architecture, art, literature, and philosophy continue to shape our world today.

Crash Course Content

• The Persians & Greeks
• Alexander the Great
• The Roman Empire. Or Republic. Or…Which Was It?
• Fall of The Roman Empire…in the 15th Century

The Sources

Each of the links below will take you to a primary source. The sources are organized chronologically and geographically. Each geographical heading will take you to a Crash Course World History lesson video dealing with that area.

Persia

Inscription of Tiglathpileser I (Assyria, c. 1077 BCE)
Inscriptions of Cyrus and Darius I (Persia, c. 525 BCE))

Greece

Homer: The Iliad, Selections from books VI and XXIV (full text here)
Homer, “The Odyssey” (full text)
Hesiod, Theogony (c. 750 BCE)
Hesiod, Works and Days (c. 750 BCE)
Critas, Religion as a Human Invention (c. 480-403)
Thucydides, Method of Historical Inquiry (c. 460-400)
Thucydides, The Melian Dialogue (c. 430)
Thucydides, The Funeral Oration of Pericles
Hippocrates, The Sacred Disease (c. 377)
Sophocles, “Antigone” (442 BCE)
Selections from Antigone
Sophocles, “Antigone” (selection on Lauding Human Talents)
Pindar, “The Pursuit of Excellence”
Xenophon: A Spartan Childhood (c. 350 BCE)
Xenophon:  The Role of An Athenian Wife (c. 350 BCE)
Plato, Allegory of the Cave
Plato, The Apology
Aristotle, “Nicomachean Ethics”

Rome

Polybius, “The Roman Army”
Cicero, “On Duty” (c. 40 BCE)
Selection from “On Duty” justifying Caesar’s assassination
Livy, “Rape of the Sabine Women” (c. 15 CE)
Livy, “Rape of Lucretia” (c. 15 CE)
Livy, “The Second Punic War”
Virgil, “The Aeneid”
Josephus, “Description of the Roman Army” (c. 37-95)
Dio Cassius, “In Defense of Caesar and Monarchy”
Dio Cassius, “Caracalla’s Extortions”
Dio Cassius, “Petition to Emperor Philip”
Plutarch, “Dialogue on Love” (c. 120)
Tacitus, “Dialogue on Oratory” (c. 120)
Marcus Aurelius, “Meditations” (167) selections
Marcus Aurelius, “Meditations” (167) full

Late Classical

Jerome, “The Fate of Rome” (409)
Athenagoras, “Sexuality and Family Life” (2nd c.)
Tertullian, What Has Jerusalem to Do with Athens? (c. 240))
Clement of Alexandria, In Defense of Greek Learning (c. 220)
Saint Benedict, The Virtuous Christian (c. 547)
Augustine, City of God (c. 410)
Chrysostom, Discourses Against Judaizing Christians (c. 407)