The oldest civilisation in Europe. Birthplace of Western Philosophy. The first European alphabet. A place where human sculpture was perfected. A place where democracy was first realised. Where those famous athletic games began. So many accolades for so small a land. Where to begin in telling the story of this oh-so important of nations? At the beginning, of course, and don't stop until the end! In this video I dare to tell the FULL history of this land and its people. It is an incredible story. It is the story of GREECE.

The culture and events of Greece were so influential they have a significant effect on modern-day people all over the world. The ancient Greeks gave birth to democracy, a political system frequently used and considered by some as the best form of government. Great minds from Greece also made incredible and vital discoveries such as the water mill, the basics of geometry and using medicine to cure illness. The ancient Greek philosophers laid the groundwork for a whole new field of thought and study. Ancient Greece offered the foundation of the Olympic games, which still run regularly today. Particularly famous historical figures such as Alexander the Great and Cleopatra also had ties to and roles during Greek history, through the course of wars and empire expansion.

In this episode of History Simplified, we discover how Alexander the Great created a massive empire. Alexander the Great was a king of Macedonia who conquered an empire that stretched from the Balkans to modern-day Pakistan. Alexander was the son of Philip II and Olympias.

What made the Spartan army so powerful? Sparta's entire culture centered on war. A lifelong dedication to military discipline, service and precision gave this kingdom a strong advantage over other Greek civilizations, allowing Sparta to dominate Greece in the fifth century B.C. The history of the Spartan army is subjected to military drills from early manhood. And rose to become the most formidable and feared military force in the Greek world.  They even attained legendary status after their wars against Persia. When they were the main force opposing the Persians.

The Greek Gods represent humanity at its best and worst, from the violent and destructive Ares to the beautiful and seductive Aphrodite, Greek mythology demonstrates the epic power struggle between parents and children in an endless quest to gain control over the world.  Tales pass down from each generation showing them to be some of the most influential deities in human history, that continue to have a significant impact to this day.

Ancient Greece seems like it was a pretty great place. It was the birthplace of democracy, it had a flourishing arts scene, a vibrant mythology, and spectacular architecture. Prominent intellectuals like Aristotle and Plato made huge leaps in scientific reasoning. The land was fertile and the wine flowed like water.

Sparta is often hailed as more progressive in comparison to the rest of Ancient Greece. Sparta was the home of a fierce army, comparatively liberal environment for women and an equality-based society. These are only but a few arguments used by fans of Sparta to hail it as superior over Athens. But was Sparta such a utopian state? Or was it built upon dirty, creepy secrets?