Ancient Greece consisted of roughly 1,500 city-states (poleis) each with their own legal and military rules.
Athens was among these city-states.
Back then, Athens was considered to be the premier city-state. Home of the Parthenon which still stands today.
1. The Athenians were the first to use democracy
Ancient Greeks pioneered democracy in their city-state. Democracy derives its name from two Greek words, demos for “people” and kratos for “power”.
Democratic systems of governance allow citizens to elect their leaders by voting. Furthermore, democratic systems empower voters with direct impactful on certain policies and issues.
Ancient Greece had three primary bodies of governance, the ekklesia (an assembly similar to our modern parliaments), boule (an arena for debate and voting) and law courts. Each citizen could participate in these bodies through speaking out or voting at these gatherings.
2. The Athenians were the first to use ostracism
Athenians were the pioneers of ancient Greece to employ ostracism. They employed it against powerful or dangerous citizens who threatened the city of Athens.
They achieved this through holding a secret ballot where voters wrote their names on pieces of broken pottery before throwing it into a large clay jar.
People unable to write their ballots themselves would enlist help from others – this was an innovative practice in ancient Greece which helped equalize privileges across classes of citizens.
Athenians also used it to maintain political oversight. Through various laws that prevented anyone from becoming too powerful or dangerous for the city and an expulsion system that allowed for those not performing their duties as expected to leave quickly.
3. The Athenians were the first to use taxation
Solon introduced several constitutional and judicial reforms in Athens that created more equal distribution of power throughout society. He accomplished this through constitutional changes which removed oligarchy’s grip over governance of Athens to enable more equal distribution of authority among its inhabitants.
Athens had long been dominated by powerful families that held a monopoly over its politics, which caused many poorer citizens of Athens considerable trouble.
Athens was in danger of falling into civil war when its leader, Solon, instituted reforms which later came to be known as democracy.
Athenians were subject to taxation in addition to being charged an eisphora (poll tax) during times of war; this poll tax would then be lifted when peace had been restored.
4. The Athenians were the first to use the word “idiot”
Idiot” derives its meaning from ancient Greek and means someone who does not participate in public affairs.
Athenians took pride in actively engaging in the political process. Citizens had an obligation to contribute their voice through active citizenship in their city-state (polis), which served as its heart.
People who did not participate in this process were considered irrelevant and treated accordingly by their peers, thus prompting Athenians to coin the term “idiot” during ancient Greece’s Golden Age.
5. The Athenians were the first to use the word “salt”
Humans have used salt ever since its discovery millennia ago for various uses. Not only was it an essential food preservative, but religious offerings often contained salt. Furthermore, salt was considered one of the most valued commodities traded during ancient times.
People have long been drawn to the sea and salt. Empires and civilizations have sprung up around salt routes; wars have often been waged over its supply.
Salt was an integral component of ancient Greek life. Used in ceremonies and believed to have supernatural protective powers against evil spirits, salt played an essential role in daily life.
6. The Athenians were the first to use the word “red lipstick”
Ancient Greek women wearing red lipstick were able to assert their social standing while also marketing beauty products.
Cleopatra was well known for her use of red lipstick during her reign of power, so the term red-lipped derives its origin from this practice.
Modern women often wear red lipstick as an expression of glamour and sensuality, making themselves stand out from the crowd and become the focus of attention.
Ancient Athenians used “epilipia” to refer to red lipstick for the first time; this signified the beginning of using makeup to define women’s beauty.
7. The Athenians were the first to use the word “red carpet”
The term “red carpet” first made an appearance in an ancient Greek play written around 458 BCE called Agamemnon, as its protagonist King Agamemnon returns home after fighting in the Trojan War and his wife Clytemnestra has prepared a path with red carpet tiling for him to walk upon returning.
As expected, that decision was not wise: red carpets are for gods only and Agamemnon seemed to think he could stand beside them as powerful beings.
So he was punished by being killed when he returned to his palace; but the term “red carpet” continued in usage and gradually came to represent royalty, heads of state and Hollywood celebrities alike.
8. The Athenians were the first to use the word “salty”
Salt has long been recognized for its transformative powers, but ancient Greeks were particularly fond of using it as both an ingredient and method to preserve foods. They employed it both as an embellishment and preservation measure.
Greek cuisine featured an abundance of fruits, vegetables, cereals and legumes cultivated on farms throughout Greece – such as figs, olives and wine grapes which were especially favored.
Honey was an integral component of their diet, serving both as an ingredient and flavor enhancer in cheese production.
Drinks included water, wine (which had been mixed with water), kykeon beer and honey mead.
9. The Athenians were the first to use the word “olympics”
Athens was among the first places in ancient Greece to coin the term “Olympics.” These sporting competitions pose physical and mental challenges.
These games were held every four years and winners received wreaths and free meals for life as prizes for winning them. Furthermore, these events served to promote Greek culture while honoring their gods.
The word “olympics” derives its name from Latin word “Olimpus,” which translates to sacred place. In Ancient Greece, these games were held as religious events at Olympia – their site being sacred since its name itself means sacred in Greek.
10. The Athenians were the first to use the word “soup”
Soup is a liquid food composed of various components cooked together with water or broth for consumption.
Delicious Chicken Noodle Soup is an enjoyable wintertime meal that’s quick and simple to make, while boasting full of flavor! A classic choice among many families!
Ancient Greece relied heavily on soup as a staple food source, and as an effective means of staying warm during cold weather conditions.
Soup was an integral part of many cultures’ diets for centuries, as its quick preparation allowed for easy consumption by all types of eaters – whether sedentary or travelling cultures, rich or poor people, invalids alike.
The Ancient Greeks were an incredible civilization that were at the forefront of many significant developments in history, culture, art, and science – namely history itself! However they also contributed to some bizarre things, such as:
Although most scholars agree that Greek women did not enjoy equal education to men, we can still observe them at work in vases depicting scenes of war.
1. The Greeks were the first people to have written language
The Greeks first invented an alphabet around 1,000 BC; this marked an incredible step forward for humanity as people could read, learn and communicate more quickly than before.
As well, this meant the world was opening up to new ideas and cultures, thanks to a shared language which enabled information to travel over longer distances more effectively. This allowed new scientific ideas to spread more widely as well as making travel and trade simpler for people – leading to further growth and development.
The Ancient Greeks were among the first societies to create democracy – an ideology whereby every free individual had equal voice in government. Unfortunately, women and slaves didn’t enjoy equal representation and they still used ostracism if someone displease them – something similar could happen today.
Ancient Greeks looking for answers would frequently consult the Oracle of Delphi. She would offer prophecies based on their gods – Apollo being one such. Her advice could then help shape their decisions.
Romans borrowed heavily from Greek culture and religion, including their language and religious practices. Greeks also invented the Olympic Games back in 776 BC to honour Zeus as King of Gods; events like running, discus throw and boxing became most popular at that time; winning competitors would pray to Nike – goddess of victory – after each win!
2. The Greeks were the first people to have democracy
The Greeks were among the first people to develop democracy as an ideological system in which adult male citizens could vote and take part in politics; women and slaves were excluded as second-class citizens; nonetheless, this innovation in governance would become widespread worldwide. It marked a great contribution to humanity that many other countries around the globe would eventually replicate.
Ancient Greece saw a variety of government systems as people explored ways to effectively rule their city-states. Some individuals believed sovereignty lay within a constitution or with one leader while others held that power rested with all citizens – however some Greeks managed to combine all these ideas together into what we now refer to as democracy.
Limited democracy was an early form of direct democracy that allowed citizens to elect leaders for their city-states, such as the ekklesia (a sovereign body that wrote laws and dictated foreign policy); boule (composed of 500 people – 50 from each of Athenian tribes); and dikasteria (popular courts with lottery-selected jurors). This limited democracy is one of ancient Greece’s greatest contributions to Western civilization and an essential precursor for representative democracies today.
The Greeks contributed enormously to our world through philosophy, art and politics – their achievements still having an enormous effect today. Their focus on harmony among diverse populations; equality in treatment of citizens by government institutions; active debate as means of clarifying uncertainties were hallmarks of Greek civilization.
3. The Greeks were the first people to have slaves
Slavery was an integral part of Greek life. Ancient Greeks also utilized slaves for military service. Their remarkable civilisation left a profound mark on humanity; pioneering innovations like papermaking, poetry writing, music playing and temple building remain testament to that fact today.
Slaves were employed mainly in construction, agriculture, domestic work and tradesmen and craftsman jobs in towns and cities. Domestic male slaves would stand in for their masters at their trade or act as batmen on hoplites while also carrying out travel duties; artisans such as artists or musicians were occasionally enslaved although this was less frequent.
Pirates and brigands provided Greece with slaves during its maritime years, although this diminished over time. Sons of defeated enemies could also be taken captive as slaves while foreigners with debts to pay could often find themselves sold into slavery by family units. Debt enslavement was common practice throughout Greek society.
Ancient Greece had several schools where children learned how to read and write, as well as literature, history, music (with many of the great composers originating in this time) and athletics – most famously with marathon races beginning here!
Ancient Greece was an unusual land, comprised of numerous city-states each with their own laws, government and army – even their own language! Although these city-states were considered democracies at times (with women, slaves and migrants not having voting rights for example), tyranny often reigned supreme. One man, Cleisthenes drafted laws that made Athens more democratic.
4. The Greeks were the first people to have birthday candles
It is believed that the global tradition of blowing out candles on birthday cakes was inspired by ancient Greek votive cakes adorned with lights in honor of Artemis, goddess of the moon. She was revered as protector of childbirth, animals, and nature, with cakes shaped like moons decorated with lights to resemble its glow against a starry night sky; their smoke believed to carry prayers up into heaven where she could hear them and honor them accordingly.
Though we think of ancient Greece as one country, in reality it consisted of multiple city-states such as Sparta and Athens. Greek innovation can be found throughout our lives today from democracy to Olympic Games.
They also created water mills, which enabled food to be ground into flour for grinding purposes. Greece gave birth to school education with boys being taught reading, writing, mathematics and poetry at school while girls received most of their education either at home from their mothers or attending sophistry schools exclusively dedicated to female education.
Warfare against the Persians in 480 BCE catapulted Athens to prominence and allowed culture to thrive – around this time were written some of the earliest Greek plays.
Greek athletes were not only great athletes; they were also revered philosophers, artists, and writers – with famous Greek figures like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle coming to represent these disciplines. Additionally, ancient Greece pioneered the notion that Earth is round with no set borders between worlds; their marathon running race originated with Pheidippides who ran 26 miles between Marathon and Athens to announce that Greece had defeated Persia army.
5. The Greeks were the first people to have pots
The ancient Greeks were an incredible civilisation that continues to have an enormous effect on modern societies today. They developed democracy, created some of literature and philosophy’s landmark works, advanced science with Democritus and Leucippus’ scientific breakthroughs, created alphabet and language systems unique to themselves, and may well have even first imagined a concept such as an “atomic universe”.
Athenians were also among the first people to use pots, which allowed for easier cooking. At first, these vessels were handcrafted and plain; over time they began decorating them with scenes including animals, humans, tales from Greek mythology or even battle scenes – such as depicting women with deers (from 6th Century BCE). One such pot can be seen below displaying such art.
Ancient Greece was remarkable in that it consisted of various city-states with their own laws and governments, each having their own individual character and history. Athens is often seen as the birthplace of democracy – this meant every male citizen aged 20 or over could come together on a high hill downtown and cast votes on new laws being proposed by elected representatives.
Other cities like Sparta maintained more traditional forms of government. Led by two hereditary monarchs – Agiads and Eurypontids – their power was still limited by elders courts (Gerousia) as well as magistrates appointed specifically to watch over him (Ephors). Furthermore, Spartans were some of the first people who introduced democracy into their army with men over 20 being given the right to suggest or veto laws.