CREEK CIVILIZATION. Before the conquest of Greece by the Romans (11.C. I -Ill) the Creeks had developed every form of government which Eu rope has since known. Their little city States passed from patriarchal kingship to aristocracy and from aristocracy through tyranny to democ racy. In the struggle of their leading States for predominance, as on the larger theatre of Europe •000 years later, a refined diplomacy, so licitous to maintain the balance of lamer, knit and dissolved alliances; and when, \wakened by tlwse internal conflicts, Greece was subjected to the military monarchy of Macedon, an era of im perialistic expansion began. In art and in letters this precocious people similarly anticipated every form of expression civilization has since employed; and Greek builders, sculp tors, poets, and orators produced masterpieces that have not been surpassed. In philosophy also the Greeks have foreshadowed, if they did not anticipate, all the chief tendencies of mod ern thought. By colonization the Greek civiliza
tion was extended to Asia Minor, Sicily, southern Italy (Ilafpt GraTia), and many other points in the Mediterranean. By the conquests of Alex ander the Great, it became dominant in Egypt and southwestern Asia. AA far as Europe was concerned, the only lands which the Greeks brought into closer touch with Mediterranean civilization were those bordering on the Black Sea. In that sea the Pluenieians had had trad ing posts, but the Greeks founded colonies and built cities. A trade route was gradually estab lished between the Black Sea and the Baltic. and the direct influence of the Greek civilization upon eastern Europe did not cease until Constanti nople was captured by the Turks (A.D. 1453).
See GREECE; GREEK ART; GREEK LITERATURE; GREEK PHILOSOPHY.