The Rise of Ancient Greece essays

The Rise of Ancient Greece essays The Rosetta stone was an important in our understanding of the ancient Egyptians because the Egyptians used hieroglyphics that we no longer use nor do we understand. Located on this stone were three forms of written language, Greek and two styles of Egyptian. Since we already knew the Greek language, the Rosetta Stone made it possible to decipher the early Egyptian writing. After translating the Egyptian writings, we could make sense of their expressions on pamphlets, walls, statues, etc. This stone was the key to Egyptian life because we could not only understand but also teach their culture. The Sumerians developed a system of writing primarily to maintain records business transactions, make contracts, and keep track of bank accounts. The low-lying, rugged mountains in the geographic area where the Aegean civilization was located affected them by decreasing development and business dealings. In the Aegean era, traveling by land was difficult, especially through these low-lying, rugged mountains. The most common way to trade was by transporting throughout local waters. Aegeans never did unite under one government; it was just too hard to travel. The story of the Iliad started when a Trojan prince, Paris, falls in love with Helen, the wife of a Mycenaean king. Paris takes her back to Troy with him. To avenge the kidnapping of Helen the Mycenaeans lay siege on Troy for ten years. The Mycenaeans never gained control of the Trojan city. Tired of stalemate, the Mycenaeans built a giant, wooden, yet hollow sculpture of a horse. They let the Trojans think this statue was a gift showing apology. The Mycenaean King would never give up so easily; this was merely a warfare tactic. The statue was filled with many highly trained soldiers, waiting for Troys celebration to end. Once this party was over, the soldiers got out, opened the gates to the Trojan city for the other Mycenaean soldiers. They killed all of the Trojan m...