Archaeological evidence shows that the area of today's Greece, inhabited since the Paleolithic age 40.000 BC. The first evidence of Greek culture, referred to the Neolithic age, in the period from 6.500 BC and after.

  Greece was divided into many independent kingdoms. The first remarkable civilization in parts of Greece, was the Minoan civilization, which flourished in Crete during the period 3.000-1.370 BC. While in the years 2.600 to 1.100 BC, another culture flourished in the Cyclades. In some areas of northern Greece, there are archaeological findings from 2.600 BC.

  From 1.600 to 1.100 BC, the Mycenaean civilization developed, which according to Homer, with the help of other Greek cities conquered Troy in 1.200 BC after 10 years of siege.

Homer

  Around 800 BC, Homer (who is said to be blind) wrote the well-known works, the Iliada, which refers to the conquest of Troy by the Greeks and Odyssey, which refers to the adventure of the return of the Greek king Odysseus, from Troy to his homeland Ithaca.

  At that time, in the Greek area appearedand first alphabetic writing.The list of Olympic champions started in 776 BC.

  Probably until that time were local games, but the 8th BC century, were reorganized taking the form of Panhellenic games, as we know them today as the Olympics.

  From about 800 BC, Greeks from different cities of the Greek area, migrate to all parts of the Mediterranean (Europe-Africa-Asia) where they set up new cities and develop local cultures.

  From the midles of 8th century BC onwards, kingdom of Athens has not yet the dominant position among the other kingdoms of Greece. Its edge begins around 700 BCto be then the most famous ancient civilization on earth. The ancient Greek civilization.

Delphi : The most reliable oracle of ancient Greeks, believed that it
began to acquire prestige and power in the 8th century BC.
It was considered to be the center of the earth.

  The earliest coins minted by Greek city dated from the mid-7th century BC.

  The 5th and 4th century BC, was the period of the great edge of the famous ancient Greek civilization. The two greatest kingdoms - cities, was the one of Sparta which was famous for its military organization, and the one of Athens which created the famous works that have survived until today and has systematically developed philosophy and sciences. It was the time of the creation of the Parthenon, and other architectural monuments of the Acropolis of Athens.

King Leonidas of Sparta

  In 490 BC, the Athenians with help of other Greek cities, defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon, considered by modern historians as perhaps the greatest battle in human history.

  At 481 BC, Greeks clashed with Persians at the Battle of Thermopylae. There only 300 Greeks from Sparta with their king Leonidas, stayed, fought and died bravely, against the army of 300.000 Persians. This battle was written in history because of the bravery and patriotism of the Greeks of Sparta.