Ancient Greece 101 | National Geographic

Ancient Greece 101 | National Geographic
Quizzed ESL Activities

Ancient Greece: A Legendary Civilization

Ancient Greece was born on the shores of the Aegean Sea around 4000 years ago and expanded to lands as far west as Spain and as far east as India.

Politics and Democracy

Ancient Greece was a collection of over 1500 territories, known as city-states, each with its own rulers. The institution of democracy was developed in the city-state of Athens, giving the Greek people representation and political power.

Military and Heroes

The Greeks earned a strong reputation for their military, which helped expand the Greek Empire and protected Greece from foreign invaders. Soldiers were regarded as heroes, and their heroism was often turned into legend through literary works like the Iliad.

Cultural Contributions

Ancient Greece’s cultural contributions had a considerable impact on the Western world, particularly in art and architecture. They created incredible sculptural works, such as standing figures and reliefs, and developed three types of columns, which were incorporated into structures like the Parthenon.

Legacy

Ancient Greece’s legacy includes:

  • Politics: The institution of democracy and the concept of city-states.
  • Art and Architecture: Incredible sculptural works, columns, and structures like the Parthenon.
  • Religion: A polytheistic religion with anthropomorphic deities that shaped the spiritual beliefs of other cultures.
  • Philosophy: Explorations of reason, ethics, and natural law that influenced later civilizations.
  • Language: Ancient Greek provided the basis for many modern languages, including English, which has thousands of words with Greek roots.

Ancient Greece’s contributions have lasted for millennia, leaving a considerable impression on world history and cementing its status as a legendary civilization.

Key Vocabulary

Term Definition Example Usage
Aegean Sea A body of water located between the Greek mainland and the western coast of Turkey. Ancient Greece was born on the shores of the Aegean Sea around 4000 years ago.
City-state A self-governing city with its surrounding territory. Ancient Greece was a collection of over 1500 city-states, each with its own rulers.
Democracy A system of government where power is held by the people, either directly or through elected representatives. The institution of democracy was developed in the city-state of Athens.
Parthenon A ancient Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, located in Athens. The Parthenon is an example of ancient Greek architecture and features three types of columns.
Polytheistic Believing in multiple gods or deities. Ancient Greece had a polytheistic religion with anthropomorphic deities.
Anthropomorphic Having human characteristics or form. The ancient Greek deities were often depicted as anthropomorphic figures.
Philosophy The study of fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. Ancient Greek philosophy explored reason, ethics, and natural law, influencing later civilizations.
Iliad An ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer, telling the story of the Trojan War. The Iliad is a literary work that turned the heroism of Greek soldiers into legend.

Watch The Video

Ancient Greece 101 | National Geographic

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘having a human form or characteristics’ in the context of Ancient Greek deities?

A) Polytheistic
B) Legendary
C) Anthropomorphic
D) Heroic

2. What term refers to a system of government where power is held by the people or their elected representatives?

A) Monarchy
B) Oligarchy
C) Democracy
D) Aristocracy

3. Which literary work is mentioned as an example of how Greek soldiers’ heroism was turned into legend?

A) The Odyssey
B) The Iliad
C) The Aeneid
D) The Argonautica

4. What is the term for a three-dimensional sculptural representation of a figure or object?

A) Relief
B) Column
C) Sculpture
D) Architecture

5. What is the name of the famous structure in Athens that incorporates the three types of columns developed by the Ancient Greeks?

A) The Acropolis
B) The Parthenon
C) The Theater of Dionysus
D) The Stoa of Attalos

Answer Key:

1. C
2. C
3. B
4. C
5. B

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Present Perfect Tense to Describe Completed Actions with a Connection to the Present

The present perfect tense is used to describe actions that started in the past and have a connection to the present. For example, in the sentence “Ancient Greece’s contributions have lasted for millennia,” the present perfect tense “have lasted” is used to describe an action that started in the past (the contributions) and continues up to the present. This tense is often used with words like “since,” “for,” and “already” to show the connection to the present. Another example from the text is “Ancient Greece was born… and expanded,” where the simple past is used for completed actions without a connection to the present, but if we were to describe an action that started in the past and has a connection to the present, the present perfect would be used, such as “has expanded” if we were talking about the influence of Ancient Greece.

Grammar Quiz:

Choose the correct answer for each question:

  1. By the time the Greek Empire ______, it had already expanded to many territories.
    1. was born
    2. has been born
    3. had been born
    4. will be born
  2. Ancient Greece ______ a considerable impact on the Western world.
    1. has
    2. have
    3. had
    4. is having
  3. The Greeks ______ a strong reputation for their military by the time they protected Greece from foreign invaders.
    1. earn
    2. had earned
    3. have earned
    4. are earning
  4. By next year, the Parthenon ______ for over 2500 years.
    1. will have stood
    2. has stood
    3. had stood
    4. stands
  5. Ancient Greek ______ the basis for many modern languages, including English.
    1. has provided
    2. provide
    3. provided
    4. had provided

Answer Key:

  1. had been born
  2. had
  3. had earned
  4. will have stood
  5. has provided