Greece

Greek civilization marked the beginning of western ideas and culture.  They focused on the worth of the individual and democracy.  The Greeks were also masters of philosophy, science, fine arts, geography, medicine, legal systems, and astronomy.  Greece is surrounded by the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Ionian sea, and is considered a very mountainous country.

The inhabitants of Crete during 2,000 BC were referred to as Minoans.  The Palace of Knossos was the most important structure during this time.  It was the center of town housing holding 40,000 inhabitants.  This civilization also had very distinctive columns that differed from others.

The Golden Age was from 480-400 BC.  It was during this time in which the ancient temple,The Parthenon was built.  It is dedicated to the goddess Athena and is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece.

Columns were a big part of Greek construction and have become a symbol of this country.  While many of them serve the same purpose, there are different styles and ornamentation.  For the most part, each column contains a base, shaft, capital, and entablature.

The homes in Greece were not as elaborate as the temples or public buildings.  Most of the houses were built of mud-brick on a stone foundation.  They included wooden frameworks and terracotta roof tiles.  The courtyards had a few windows on the outside for security and limited the heat from the sun.  Rooms in the house were given specific purposes as seen in modern houses and some rooms were reserved for use by different sexes.  The homes were inwardly oriented and contained a compluvium and impluvium (cistern).  The compluvium was an opening in the roof that allowed for rainwater to enter, and the impluvium is the section that collected the water.  The floors were plastered and painted which symbolized the wealthy.  Other floors were done with mosaic technique using pebbles, glass, and stone.  Most of the designs were animals, flowers, or mythological creatures.  The walls were unplastered mud bricks and plastered with paintings.  The ceilings were mainly coffered and the doors had wood, stone, or marble frames. The Motifs that are most apparent for Greece are floral or marine, egg and dart, Greek Fret or key.

The furniture material seen throughout Greek culture included leather, cords, copper, bronze, iron, marble, and wood.  Thronos was a formal chair of honor, Klismos is a chair that is considered to be the most graceful and influential piece of Greek furniture, Diphros is a stool without arms or a back, and a Kline is a bed that functioned as a modern day sofa.  Their tables were small, portable, and lightweight.

Past

Present

Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR84c-kr0f4