Pre-Ceramic Greeks lived in small agricultural communities of somewhere between 50-100 people. They generally lived in huts, and cultivated crops, hunted, and fished on a subsistence level. They also developed tools, clothing, and jewelry.

The Neolithic era in Greek history is subdivided into several categories. The earliest of these categories is generally referred to as the Pre-Ceramic period. The Pre-Ceramic period is characterized by the absence of clay pots. Pottery was an important technology that was developed during the next subdivision, the Early Neolithic period.

The Neolithic Revolution, which is another name for the Agricultural Revolution, most likely spread to Greece from Asia Minor. The Neolithic Revolution first took place in the Fertile Crescent of ancient Mesopotamia in 8,000 BCE. It spread gradually around nearby regions, and arrived in Greece around 7,000 BCE.

The Neolithic era in Greek history is subdivided into several categories. The Middle Neolithic period, which occurred from approximately 6,000 B.C.E. until 5,200 B.C.E., is primarily characterized by architectural innovations, like the development of Megaron-type houses and Tsangli-type houses.

Sesklo, the largest population center of its era, made up of between 400 and 800 households, and up 5000 people (but more likely closer to 2000).

The land of ancient Greece was not suitable for framing. It was stony and lacked fresh water for irrigation. Only a quarter of Greece consisted of tiny, fertile valleys suitable for farming. Thus, the Greeks needed a source of natural resources such as timber for building, precious metals for adornment of their cities and sources of arable land and food. Sea trade with other Mediterranean empires enabled them to easily trade and transport goods. The ancient Greeks were not interested in conquering other lands, having adventures or seeing other lands and cultures.

The Homeric epics, The Iliad and The Odyssey, tell the story of the Trojan War. The Trojan War probably did actually take place, although the account of it told by Homer is most likely highly fictionalized. The Iliad tells the story of the Greek invasion of Troy and The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus’ attempts to get home after the war has ended.

The Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations were highly developed in all forms of culture and politics. Their ideology was fanned the growth of Western civilization. They were not the only culture in the Mediterranean that were seafarers and had developed trade routes. Nor is there evidence to support colonization of the northern African coastal areas or influence upon the Egyptian form of writing. The Egyptians developed their own form of hieroglyphics independent of the Mycenaean culture. The Trojan War was a major event in Mycenaean history and while legend says that it lasted for ten years, it did not have much influence on Western Civilization. The Egyptians developed their own form of hieroglyphics independent of the Mycenaean culture. Many ancient nations explored northern Africa but there is no solid evidence of any colonization of the area.

The Mycenaean palace contains a central megaron with courtyards allowing increasing segregation.

Roman temples are built on podia. Greek temples are encircled by columns. The Romans developed the use of cement and domed architecture. Structures with subterranean light wells are also prehistoric, but they are characteristic of the Minoan society.

Theseus was the mythological figure who was thought to have founded the city of Athens. Theseus, like Heracles, has a lengthy mythology attached to him that centers around his “labors.” The most famous of Theseus’ labors was the defeat of the Minotaur. The Minotaur was a bull-headed monster that lived on the island of Crete and was said to terrorize the local population.