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Greece: Overview and History
Home » Greece » Greece: Overview and History » Greece: Overview and HistoryAncient Greece, the cradle of western civilization, was known for its democracy as well as for being the birthplace of the fundamentals of mathematics, philosophy, and science. Today’s Greece, however, is more known for being a great vacation spot than that of a center for culture and learning. While you are visiting the lively, traffic-ridden capital of Athens, it is hard to imagine that this country was once home to such an advanced civilization that stretches far back into history.
The country, however, is still steeped in tradition, particularly on its islands, which cling to their architecture and way of life in spite of being flooded by tourists. Fishermen still bask in the sun and drink their coffee while black-clad women bring vegetables to island tavernas on donkeys. You can still observe the antiquity of the country through the whitewashed buildings gathered together on hillsides surrounded by narrow pebbled alleys.
Not to mention that all over Greece are images of the country’s glory—from the Temple of Apollo at Delphi to the Parthenon in Athens. Although it may be easy to forget that this fertile land of mythology once bore the philosophical and political ideas that influenced the entire direction of western civilization, visitors today can still glimpse the awe-inspiring beauty of the ancient world.
Each of the Greek islands is unique as they are spread throughout the tranquil waters of the Aegean Sea. The peacefulness of islands like Skópelos stands in stark disparity to the hedonistic party islands of Páros and Myknos, where the god of revelry was once worshiped. Visitors can find natural beauty in the spring at Zakynthos, “the island of flowers”, or beautiful contrasts at the volcanic Santorini where the blackness of the sand magnifies the blinding whiteness of the surrounding villages.
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