Page:Greece from the Coming of the Hellenes to AD. 14.djvu/29

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

THESEUS WITH DOUBLE AXE ATTACKING THE GIANT PROCRUSTES.

From a vase painted by Athenodotus.

THE STORY OF GREECE


I

THE GREEKS AND THEIR WORK IN THE WORLD

The meaning of Hellas—The Athenian supremacy from B.C. 478 to B.C. 404, followed by the Spartan and Theban supremacies B.C. 404–362—The Macedonian (B.C. 338–197) and Roman B.C. 197 to the end) supremacies increase the separation of states—The predecessors of the Hellenes: (1) The Cretan kingdom; (2) the Pelasgians; (3) the Achaeans or Mycenaeans—Homer and the Achaeans—Development of Greek religion—Political science—Literature: (1) Homer and the cyclic poets; (2) The lyric, iambic, and elegiac poets; (3) Prose literature—The drama—Greek art.

The Greeks, who called themselves Hellenes, were a race rather than a nation. Though they were the predominant people in certain parts of Europe and

2
1