Classical Antiquity

ancient history · Greece and Rome · culture

Greece and Rome together. Classical antiquity was really about two civilizations, ancient Greece and ancient Rome, that were so important they're called the Greco-Roman world together. They influenced everything from laws to art across Europe, North Africa, and western Asia.

A thousand year span. This incredible period lasted from around the 8th century BC (about 2,800 years ago) all the way to the 5th century AD. That's roughly 1,300 years of amazing achievements in art, philosophy, building, and government.

Shaped the whole region. These two civilizations had such a huge influence that they completely shaped how people thought, built things, and governed themselves across the Mediterranean basin, which includes southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Followed dark ages. Classical antiquity came after Greece's Dark Ages, which was a less documented period. Then it was followed by late antiquity, showing how history flows from one exciting era into the next.

Culture and ideas. People during classical antiquity created amazing things like philosophy, theater, sculpture, architecture, and new ways of thinking about government that people are still studying and using today.