How did the ancient Greeks change the world?

Why do we still talk about the ancient Greeks?

An ancient Greek person making a sculpture.

Many parts of modern life, from the Olympic Games to the way we choose our leaders, began thousands of years ago in Greece. The ancient Greeks:

made discoveries in science and maths
created beautiful art and buildings
wrote stories and kept historical records
used a language and alphabet that influenced English
developed ideas about government

Important words for the ancient Greeks

Keyword	Definition
Architecture	The art and science of designing and constructing buildings.
Mathematics	The study of numbers, shapes and patterns to solve problems and explain the world.
Philosophy	The study of ideas about knowledge, truth and how people should live their lives.
Statue	A figure of a person, god or animal made from a hard material like stone or metal.
Temple	A building used for worship to honour a god or goddess.

How did Greek ideas spread so far?

Ancient Greek alphabet — Image caption,
These are the letters the ancient Greeks used in their alphabet.

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.

This happened because of 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 people called him ‘Alexander the Great’.

Wherever he went, he 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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Find out about some of the ways the ancient Greeks changed the world.

Did the Greeks invent government?

In ancient Athens, citizens would gather together on a dusty hill called the Pnyx.

There they would decide the city’s laws and who should be on its ruling council. This was democracy or ‘rule by the people’.

All 30,000 citizens were men. Women and enslaved people didn't get a say.

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 made to leave Athens.

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 at least 6,000 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.

Greek men and boys trained in a gymnasium. We also go to the gym, although today women and girls are welcome too.

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.

An ancient Greek 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.

Cartoon of athletes at the Olympic Games. — Image caption,
The first Olympic Games were held in honour of the god Zeus at Olympia, in 776BC.

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.

How did the Greeks influence art and architecture?

An image of the British Museum. A big, old stone building with tall columns in front. People are walking and sitting outside on a sunny day, and a Union Jack waves on top of the roof. — Image caption,
Buildings like the British Museum are inspired by ancient Greek architecture.

Greek art showed people and gods in lifelike poses, inspiring artists for thousands of years.

The ancient Greeks also built beautiful temples and statues to honour their gods.

They used columns in three main styles to decorate buildings.

Doric was the simplest style with sturdy plain tops and no base.
Ionic styles were more decorative with slimmer columns and scroll-shaped designs at the top.
Corinthian style columns were the most ornate with elaborate designs with carved leaves.

Many modern buildings, like museums and government offices, are based on Greek designs.

Famous Greek scientists, philosophers and writers

The ancient Greeks valued education and believed learning helped become better citizens.

Ancient Greek thinkers made big discoveries. Hippocrates was famous for his ideas about medicine. Ancient Greek ideas about medicine spread to other countries and were used for a long time.

Doctors still take a Hippocratic Oath, promising they will help people and not cause anyone to be hurt.

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.

Philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle studied philosophy and science to understand the world. They asked questions such as “What is a good life?” and “How do we think?”, which people are still trying to answer today.

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.

Greek mathematicians such as Euclid and Pythagoras made discoveries still used in schools today. Their ideas shaped how people study and learn across the world, from universities to modern science.

Watch: Dick and Dom discover Archimedes

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

Think like a historian

Orange thought bubble that says Thinking Points!

Have a look at the thinking points below and think about your answers to each question. You could even write them down on a piece of paper or discuss them with somebody else if you want to.

How have Greek ideas about learning and questioning shaped the way we study today?
Can you think of any modern buildings that remind you of Greek temples?