资源描述：
《古希腊英文简介》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在学术论文-天天文库。
1、Without the Greeks, whowouldhavegivenusscience,technology,democracy,politics,drama,andhistory?Allofthesewords,aswellastheideastheyrepresent,originatedinancientGreece.WHEREWASANCIENTGREECE?Greece is a mountainouspeninsulathatjutsintotheMediterraneanSea.Itincludeshundredsofrockyislandsoffthecoas
2、t.ButthepeopleofancientGreecesettledoveramuchwiderarea,fromsouthernFrancetoAsiaMinor(nowTurkey).Everywheretheywent,theybroughttheirlanguageandtraditionswiththem.WHENDIDGREEKCIVILIZATIONBEGIN?The first Greek civilizationdevelopedontheMediterraneanislandofCretearound2200bc.Thiscivilizationwascal
3、ledMinoanafteralegendaryrulerofCretenamedMinos.TheMinoanslivedbyfarming,fishing,andseafaring.Theirrulersbuilthuge,brightlypaintedpalaces.AmagnificentpalaceatKnossosmayhavebelongedtoKingMinos.TheMinoansinventedawayofwriting,butnoonetodaycanreadit.Soon after 1500 bc, Minoancivilizationcollapsed.
4、Mycenae,acityonmainlandGreece,rosetopower.TheMycenaeansbuiltpalacesfortifiedwithmassivewalls,andtheyrodeinchariots.Theymusthavebeenrichbecausebeautifulobjectsofgoldwerefoundintheirgraves.TheMycenaeanswerewarriors.Theyfoughteachother,andtheywenttowarindistantplaces,suchasTroyinAsiaMinor.These w
5、ars were disastrousforGreece.From1000to750bc,farming,craftwork,andtradesuffered.Peopleevenforgothowtowrite!HOWDIDGREECEREBUILD?Slowly, Greece recovered.TheGreekpeopleorganizedthemselvesintoself-governingcommunitiescalledcity-states.Eachcityhadhomes,workshops,templesdevotedtotheGreekgods,market
6、s,schools,sportsarenas,andmeetingplaces.A city-state also controlledthesurroundingcountryside.Invillagesandonfarms,Greekfamiliesgrewolives,grapes,andgrainforfood.Theyraisedsheepandgoatsforhidesandwool.Along the coast, peoplelivedbyfishingorbytradingwithotherMediterraneanlands.Theysoldoliveoil,
7、wine,timber,andcraftproducts.TheGreekswereespeciallyknownfortheirexcellentmetalworkandpaintedpottery.The Greeks liked debating,questioning,andexploringnewideas.Theyadmiredlogicalargumentsandscientificproof.Theybelievedinjusticeandhumand
