Following the demise of the Mycenaean's in 1100BC, Greece fell into a time known as the Greek Dark Ages. The population fell significantly, people lived in small villages and moved around, rather than the larger cities and settlements of before. The lack of documents from this time implies many gave up writing and the previous Greek culture seems to have been lost. However, during this time the social structure crumbled which lead way for the growth of the Ancient Greek Civilisation around 750BC and the formation of democracy in 500BC.

The Ancient Greeks are famous for their scholars, such as Socrates and Aristotle. They studied maths, philosophy, biology and physics, amongst many areas. The Greeks also produced some of the greatest authors and literary works, of which many still remain, such as Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. Athens became the centre of learning and schools were developed throughout the country. Greece also became famous for its pottery, art and theatre. Greek architecture, such as the acropolis in Athens, influenced the building of many future cities, such as Bath and are still admired by people today. The number of Greek temples show the importance of religion within their society. Greece also saw troubled years, the 50 years war with Persia between 499-449BC, the various conflicts with Sparta and the conquering of Greece by Macedonia in 338BC, resulting in the rule of Alexander the Great from 336BC. Greek culture continued to flourish until 146BC, when Greece's defeat at the Battle of Corinth marked the end of the Achaean war and Greece's resistance to Roman supremacy. However, the Romans respected the Greeks and Greece never lost its own individual culture.

Up until 500BC, the Romans were ruled by Kings. However, this monarchy collapsed and a democracy was created. The story is that Sextus, the King's son, raped the wife of a Roman Noble, this sparked a Roman uprising, which managed to remove the King and his son. Instead a Republic was formed. The Repulic consisted of a Senate and several offices, the most superior being the two consuls. Membership to the Senate was a birth right, only nobles and millionaires could hold a seat. However, the offices were elected through a system by which male citizens could vote.

The republic endedwhen the power and influence of Roman generals grew too great, notoriously Julius Caesar. Senatores, fearing Caesar's power, murrdered him. This murder resulted in a Civil War, which ended with the Battle of Actium and the appointment of his adopted son Octavius as the first Emperor, known as Augustus. The Romans are best remembered for their military might, conquering a vast area including Britain (not Scotland), Gaul, Spain, North Africa and around the Mediterranean. Their literature, such as Ovid and Virgil’s works, architecture, including the Coliseum, entertainment, notibly their notorious games and religion, both polytheism and Christianity, are also famously remembered. The Romans spread civilisation to the far outskirts of the known world, building cities with running water, drains and paved roads. However, by the 3rd century AD the military might of Rome could not defend its extensive borders. The attacks of German tribes and the outbreak of civil war slowly resulted in the collapse of the Empire. The Germans slowly moved south and in 476AD the Roman Emperor Augustulus Romulus was overthrown. The Western Roman Empire collapsed, throwing the Empire into the Dark Ages, where most traces of Roman Civilisation were lost. However, the Eastern Roman Empire (which became the Byzantium Empire), survived for another thousand years.

For the purpose of this website, this section ends with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476.