| Ancient Greece is defined by the time period | | | | religious beliefs and shared goals, than by any ruling |
| between the dark ages, and when the Roman | | | | government. Thus, while there were small territories |
| Empire took over the region. This portion of Greek | | | | and large territories, and each had its own economic |
| history is denoted by a large amount of expansion | | | | center, no single territory held any dominance over |
| both in territory as well as economic growth. The | | | | any other colony. It is thought that the first Greek |
| political and governmental structures of the hundreds | | | | colonies began as monarchies, but quickly converted |
| of states of Greece were also in a perpetual state | | | | to oligarchies, wherein the people governed |
| of change. Meanwhile, the traditional practices of | | | | themselves, while a presiding representative only |
| education and social structure were becoming ever | | | | stood in for ceremonial reasons. |
| more ingrained. However, the most recognizable | | | | One residual effect of the original monarchy states |
| piece of Ancient Greek history lies in their religious | | | | was the social structure of Ancient Greek history. As |
| beliefs and practices. | | | | with most of the colonies in existence at that point in |
| As the population of Greeks increased exponentially, | | | | time, only the wealthy and the natives were |
| the usable land available to them was quickly | | | | guaranteed education and protection of the law. |
| consumed. Eventually, sections of the population | | | | Education was almost entirely a private matter, not |
| broke off and spread in every direction. The more | | | | open to the general public. Likewise, peasants and |
| the population increased, the further these colonies | | | | slaves were afforded no luxuries, nor political stance. |
| spread. By the time the Romans overtook the Greek | | | | However, it should be noted that not all of the |
| independence, the Greeks had formed several | | | | colonies were structured this way, as the colonies |
| hundred colonies in hundreds of territories. The | | | | independence gave them authority over their own |
| expansion of the Greek territories was accompanied | | | | social structures. |
| by an equal expansion of their economy. | | | | Lastly, and most notably, much of ancient Greek |
| The economy of ancient Greece was deemed the | | | | history is learned from the stories of their gods and |
| most sophisticated and advanced economy of its | | | | goddesses. This particular portion of Ancient Greece |
| time. As the Greek territories expanded, trades | | | | is based upon the epic tales of the twelve Olympians |
| began with European nations as well as African tribes. | | | | and the dozens of other gods and goddesses. |
| While monetary exchange was not used in the | | | | Ancient Greek history is a topic that extends |
| preindustrial age, the value of a Greek worker's daily | | | | indefinitely, covering everything from political |
| labor was estimated to be at least three times that | | | | structures to economic advances. The social |
| of any other nation in the world during that time | | | | structure of the Greek colonies is a miraculous topic |
| period. | | | | by itself, as it was unlike anything else at that time. |
| With so many colonies and territories spread | | | | Overall, Greek mythology is one of the most |
| throughout the region, there was a complete lack of | | | | well-known and important pieces of ancient Greek |
| a governing agent when it came to Ancient Greece. | | | | history, and how the Greeks conducted themselves |
| The people of Ancient Greece recognized | | | | up until they were defeated by the Roman Empire. |
| themselves as a common people, but their individual | | | | There were many aspects of Flower Tattoos that |
| colonies were guided more by the groups' common | | | | were not covered in this article. |