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Connections to Greece are everywhere. I took a drive around my hometown and noted the signs of antiquity. A utility van was advertising Spartan Plumbing. I fueled up at a Marathon gas station. I passed the former Delphi automotive plant. I visited a school in Xenia. At the very center of town is the Old Courthouse, modeled after a temple in Athens (more on that later). Try it yourself. Look around and you'll be amazed by hundreds of allusions to our shared Greek past.
Today is my travel day. That means a lot of sitting around in airports and on airplanes. Let’s make the best use of the downtime with a little background. Yeah, I know. One of the biggest complaints of learning history is the daunting list of dates. Be warned, one is lurking below. It may be unpleasant to some, but it is vital to the story. Historical context allows us to better understand the events of the time, like setting the scene of a play. A drama would be very different if it occurred during the stuffy Victorian era, the licentious Jazz Age, or the conforming post-war years. A good start is to understand broad periods. I’ll attempt the impossible: to summarize early Greek history in a few paragraphs. It’s not going to be perfect, but it will give you the background needed for the journey we’re about to embark upon.
Bronze Age
Around 3000 BCE, the Mediterranean region had a disperse collection of agrarian settlements. However, few were what we would call state-level civilizations. Around 2000 BCE, elaborate palaces began to be constructed on the island of Crete. The Minoans had complex characteristics like regional trade, shared customs, and societal organization. Several hundred years later, the Mycenaeans emerged on the mainland. The culture expanded with palaces being built throughout the Peloponnese. Eventually, they expanded southward and absorbed the Minoans.
Collapse
Then, something catastrophic happened around 1200 BCE. Some believe it was natural, others blame humans. Either way, there was a collapse: trade ceased, artwork stopped, and the palaces were abandoned. The entire region entered a "dark age" for several hundred years.
Archaic
Around 800 BCE, signs of structured society rose again. Settlements grew into cities, trade resumed, and most importantly, ideas were recorded with a new alphabet. While other cultures focused on laws and taxes, the Greeks wrote down their stories. These epics were first passed through oral retellings, solidifying the ideals of their culture and their gods.
Classical
The classical period is how most people imagine Greece: temples, fine art, and big ideas. This is when Athens grew to the height of power. It’s when many of the foundations of Western civilization were further developed like democracy, philosophy, law, and learning. However, it’s also marked by warfare, both from external and internal sources. The infighting weakened the entire region which paved the way for one very ambitious man.
Hellenistic
By 323 BCE, Alexander the Great had conquered much of the known world. His army moved eastward to overtake Persia, Babylon, Egypt, and even reached the border of modern-day India. That's a lot to cover in just a few years by walking! His military successes had an unintended social consequence. Greek culture spread with him. It influenced others in art, literature, theatre, architecture, music, mathematics, philosophy, and science.
Roman
The Battle of Corinth in 146 BCE, then the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE resulted in full Roman control of Greece. Typically, Rome's modus operandi was to conquer an enemy, then absorb them like a big amoeba. However, Greece was unique. The Roman people were in awe of Greece's history and sophistication. It was like a teen movie from the 1980s where the high school hillbilly was suddenly in charge of the popular clique. Horace said it best: "Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit" (captive Greece captured her savage conqueror). So, while Rome had political power, Greece had cultural power. This can be seen in architecture, artwork, religion, even the highest mark of status: Romans wanted to learn the Greek language. To translate into the modern vernacular: Rome was Greek's biggest fanboy.
Whew! That’s a lot to start with. Here’s the TLDR summary: Minoan palaces on Crete, then Mycenaean palaces on the mainland. Collapse. Rebirth with writing and art. Temples, togas, and thought. Alexander the Great spread Greek culture. The Romans captured Greece, but Greece captured Rome's heart.
If you’ve read all of the above, you’ve earned a few travel stories.
As I settled into my airplane seat, I noticed my personal entertainment screen. It would be my best friend for the long flight, offering articles, movies, and important information. However, my thumb brushed the screen during the language section, and I accidently chose Arabic. I had no idea how to change it back. I considered making random selections in an effort to return it to English. However, I had no idea what anything said. Would my button smashing unnecessarily call the flight attendant? Open the emergency exit door? Or perhaps shut down the engine? So, I made the only logical decision: tell absolutely no one and force myseft to learn Arabic in 10 hours. "Yallah!"
After many cautious attempts, I was able to navigate to the movie menu. Imagine my astonishment when a classic picture appeared as an option! Netflix doesn't care about fans of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, so I often have to suffer through some modern crapfest starring Will Ferrell. I nearly lept for joy when the Marx Brothers greeted me. A Night at the Opera was the absolute best way to begin my trip.
As the airplane decended, I opened the window and was treated to my first view of Greece.
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