Greece - Greece (ancient)

Ancient Greece was a flourishing civilization that developed in the southern Balkan Peninsula, the Aegean archipelago, and the western coast of Asia Minor. The Greeks later colonized the Mediterranean, Marmara, and Black Seas. Ancient Greek society was divided into city-states (polises), the most prominent of which were Athens and Sparta. Society was stratified, with citizens (free men) having political rights, while women, slaves, and metoikos (settled foreigners) did not. The polis was inhabited by free men who could participate in political life, vote, and hold office. The role of women in society was limited. In Athens, women's main duties were household management and child rearing, while in Sparta, they enjoyed greater freedom and were allowed to participate in physical education. Slaves had no rights and were the property of their owners. They worked in a variety of fields, from agriculture to domestic work. Metoicos were free people who moved to a given polis from other polises or areas. They did not have civil rights, but they paid taxes and could perform military service. The basis of the ancient Greek economy was agriculture, mainly growing grain, grapes and olives. Crafts and trade also played a significant role, and the Greeks conducted a lively maritime trade in the Mediterranean region. Ancient Greece is known as the cradle of Western civilization. They achieved significant achievements in the fields of philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), history (Herodotus, Thucydides), drama (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes), sculpture, architecture and mathematics. The Greeks followed a polytheistic religion, believing in a number of gods, in whose honor they built temples and held festivals. Daily life depended on social status and place of residence. Citizens often spent their free time in community life, politics, sports, or philosophical discussions. Women spent most of their time in the household. Slaves and the poorer classes performed hard physical labor. The basis of the diet was bread, olives, cheese, fish, and wine. The decline of ancient Greek civilization began in the 4th century BC, as a result of the Peloponnesian Wars and internal conflicts. Later, through the conquests of the Macedonian king Alexander the Great, Greek culture spread to the Middle East, but political independence was lost. Eventually, Greece was conquered by the Roman Empire.

Coinage in ancient Greece played an extremely important role in economic and cultural development. The first Greek coins appeared in the 7th century BC and soon spread throughout the Greek world. The earliest coins were usually made of silver, but later gold, bronze and other metals were also used. Several different weight systems existed in the Greek world, which influenced the weight and value of coins. The most common were the Attic, Aeginetan and Corinthian systems. Coins of different denominations existed. The most common units were the drachma (about 4.3 grams of silver), the obol (one-sixth of a drachma) and the stater (usually two drachmas). Coins of higher denominations also existed, such as the tetradrachma (four drachmas) and the dekadrachma (ten drachmas). The obverse of the coins often featured images of gods, heroic figures or patron saints of cities. The reverse side of the coin often featured various symbols, animals, or plants that represented the city or region. For example, the owl of Pallas Athena was often seen on coins from Athens, Pegasus on coins from Corinth, and a sea turtle on coins from Aegina. Coins were usually issued by city-states (polises), but sometimes kings or other centers of power also minted money. Each issuer used specific images and symbols that allowed the coins to be identified. Coins were struck by hand. A metal disc was placed between two chisels, into which the desired images and inscriptions had been previously carved. The upper chisel was then struck with a hammer, so that the pattern was transferred to both sides of the coin. Greek coins spread widely throughout the Mediterranean region through trade. They not only functioned as economic instruments, but also had an important political and propaganda role, as they reflected the power and identity of the cities. Coins of high artistic quality are also important sources of contemporary art and iconography. Coinage continued to develop during the Hellenistic period (from the time of Alexander the Great onwards). Portraits of rulers appeared on coins, and coinage became centralized in the larger kingdoms. The legacy of ancient Greek coinage is significant, as it was one of the first developed monetary systems in history, which also served as a model for coinage in later periods. Greek coins are not only valuable historical relics, but also important sources of contemporary society, economy and culture.