Chapter 3- Classical Civilizations: Greece

         Classical Civilizations began popping up in the world. This Classical or Hellenistic Period took place around 323-30 B.C.. It was surrounded by a very mountainous country and 3 main seas: the Aegean, the Ionian, and the Mediterranean sea. The workings of geography lead to a competition of sorts among communities. The people declared independent governments that would separate them from other civilizations and control the trade. They also developed the size of communities and the advances made in architecture throughout history. The climate of hot summers and bitter winters gave people a reason to work hard on shelters and buildings. 

One of these main civilizations is Greece. 

The ancient Greek civilization was the beginning of western ideas and cultures. Ancient Greek mythology is a very popular concept, where we learn about historians and gods and goddesses and palaces around Crete. The  line between Greek mythology and actual history is blurry. The legend of Daedalus being an inventor, architect, and designer could be true but what about the part where he invents wings for his son who dies because he flies too high with them? These stories, though most likely exaggerated and ultimately a myth, could hold some origins of truth. The Ancient Greek people are known as masters of philosophy, science, fine arts, geography, medicine, legal systems, and astronomy. In architecture they used a lot of marble material. They were known agriculturally for the production of grain, grapes, olives, and salt. 

From the years 480-400 B.C., the Golden Age occurred where they put a lot of emphasis on developing balance. In architecture this looked like the columns being inclined inwards, the distance between columns changing, the shafts tapered, the entablature bowed in the center, and the heavier corner columns. The columns were detailed and consisted of a base, shaft, capital and entablature.

The interior pace of the buildings had floors that were plastered and painted, to show off wealth, and mosaic techniques of pebbles, glass, and stone for detail. The walls were either not plastered with mud bricks or plastered with delicate paintings. They used colors like red, white dado, and yellow lining. The intricacy of their interior architecture and decorations didn’t stop with the floors and walls, but continued in the windows, doors, and ceilings. They took care in detailing the furniture; the materials they used in the chairs, stools, tables, storage pieces, beds, and couches were all thought through and crafted with talent. They used leather, cords, different types of inlay, copper, bronze, iron, marble, and woods, such as oak, maple, cedar, boxwood, olive, beech, citrus, and willow. The care in materials was followed by a care in textiles, moldings, and patterns.

Present day Greek applications:

A common Greek pattern that is still used in different wallpapers, furniture pieces, and clay artwork today.

Columns are used in many homes and buildings present-day. We can find them often in traditional style homes based on columns created long ago throughout history. 

Modern day Greece, using bright colors [blue, white] and detailed with different pebbles and stones around plastered homes. Though different from prehistoric times, the advancements were based on the architecture and design back then.