Greek and Roman history

Greek history centers on city-states like Athens and Sparta, known for democracy, philosophy, art, and warfare from around 800 BCE to 146 BCE, culminating in Greek influence on Western culture. Rome began as a monarchy, became a republic, and then an empire (27 BCE–476 CE), dominating the Mediterranean with advances in law, engineering, and governance. Roman culture absorbed Greek ideas, spreading them across Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. Both civilizations laid foundational principles of Western civilization—democratic thought, legal systems, architecture, and philosophy—shaping future societies through their achievements and struggles.