For 30 years after the Persian destruction, the Athenians built only fortifications and some secular buildings in the Agora, notably the Stoa Poikile, or Painted Colonnade, with its famous paintings by Polygnotus and Micon, one of which represented the Battle of Marathon.
Factors inducing settlement. The site of Athens has been inhabited since the Neolithic Period (before 3000 bce). Evidence for this has come from pottery finds on and around the Acropolis but particularly from a group of about 20 shallow wells, or pits, on the northwest slope of the Acropolis, just below the Klepsydra spring.
These mines had always been exploited, but in 483 bce a big strike was made, the proceeds of which were used to build the ships that won the Battle of Salamis in 480 bce. Thereafter, the mines remained productive throughout the 5th and 4th centuries, providing Athens with the sinews of its strength in the great Classical age.
Athens’s expansion The 6th century bce was a period of phenomenal growth, particularly during the tyranny of Peisistratus and his sons (c. 560–510 bce). On the Acropolis the old primitive shrines began to be replaced with large stone temples.
Government. Divided into city-states, ancient Greece has been a source of inspiration for many political systems we know today. Democracy was invented in Athens and it was unique in the sense that every citizen (read non-slave males) had the right to vote and speak at the assembly, where laws and decisions were made.
The Greeks also used engineering to explain simple machines like the multiple form of the lever, and Archimedes invented an ancient form of screw. Besides that, the Greeks also invented primitive versions of the crane and the water mill.
10 Key Inventions and Innovations of Ancient GreeceDemocracy. Democracy, the system of governance used by just over 50% of the world's population (as of 2020), was established in Athens in 508-507 BC. ... Philosophy. ... Geometry. ... Cartography. ... The odometer. ... The water mill. ... The crane. ... Medicine.More items...•
Greeks have bestowed the world with many other inventions. According to some sources, the Greeks are responsible for the alarm clock, computer, shower, automatic doors, cartography, the odometer, the stadium, and the arch bridge.
The Greeks invented the waterwheel used to power the mill and the toothed gears used to transfer the power to the mill. Alarm Clock - The Greek philosopher Plato may have invented the first alarm clock in history. He used a water clock to trigger a sound like an organ at a certain time.
The Greeks made important contributions to philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. Literature and theatre was an important aspect of Greek culture and influenced modern drama. The Greeks were known for their sophisticated sculpture and architecture.
The Athenians invented democracy, a new type of government where every citizen could vote on important issues, such as whether or not to declare war. All public officials and even generals commanding the army were elected or chosen through a lottery.
What were the major cultural achievements of Athens?The temples on the acropolis in Athens were examples of the Greek talent for architecture. ... Athenians enjoyed dramas staged in large open-air theaters. ... The Greeks competed in athletic events at the Panathenaic Games and the Olympics.
What is Athens most well known for? The most well-known thing about Athens is that it is the birthplace of Western civilization. The city is considered to be the birthplace of democracy, and many of the intellectual and artistic ideas from Classical Greece originated there.
They influenced almost every part of today's world, such as government, language, and architecture, as well as making scientific advancements. Also, the successes of these two civilizations lead to many countries modeling most of their public facilities and systems after the ones found in Greece and Rome.
Greek enterprises, universities, and research institutions are prominent in Horizon 2020, the big EU program for research and technological development, placing Greece within the top seven countries in Horizon 2020-supported tech research and development in the EU.
The Theater. If you've ever gone to a concert, play or movie, you've benefited from one of the ancient Greeks' most obvious contributions to the modern world: the theater. The word "theater" is derived from the Greek word "theatron," meaning the seating section of outdoor arenas where people watched plays.