The influence of Ancient Greece, the cradle of Western civilization, is still felt today in all spheres of modern life, from philosophy and politics to literature and art. This book explores the great wealth and cultural achievements of this civilization in colour photographs of buildings, works of art, cities and landscapes, all of which offer insights into the classical world. The text provides an historical framework to this era, from its beginnings in the Bronze Age in Minoan Crete, through the glories of 5th-century BC Athens and the invention of democracy, to the feats of Alexander the Great and the eventual Roman conquest of Greece.