The Greek and Roman Period
From the Mycenaean civilization emerged a Hellenic, or Greek, civilization. From about 1100 b.c. until the Roman conquest of Greece in the first century B.C., the Greeks created a society outstanding for self-government, philosophy, architecture, mathematics, sculpture, and literature. Greek culture spread throughout most of the Mediterranean region. In central and northern Europe there were less advanced peoples, such as the Celts.
The Romans, conquerors of the Greeks and other peoples, carried on much of the Greek culture and added to it. The Roman system of law had a lasting influence upon Europe.
Alexander's Empire, 323 B.C. This map shows the European parts of the empire of Alexander the Great at its height in 323 B.C. It was the first great empire that began in Europe. It spread Greek civilization into Asia.
Roman Empire, A.D. 117. This map shows the Roman Empire in Europe at the height of its power in A.D. 117. The empire included parts of Western and Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and Southwest Asia.Christianity's spread throughout Europe was greatly aided after it became the official religion of the Roman Empire in the fourth century. By then, however, the Roman Empire was declining in strength. In the fifth century the western part of the empire was invaded by Germanic peoples, Vandals, Goths, Franks, and Anglo-Saxons, who established states within its territory. The eastern part became the Byzantine Empire.
