Greek Immigration and Greek History: Ancient Greece is the source of Western history, lasting approximately 650 years (800 BC - 146 BC). Located in Southern Europe, in the northeastern part of the Mediterranean, it includes the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, the western coast of Asia Minor, and many small islands in the Aegean Sea. In the 5th and 6th centuries BC, especially after the Persian Wars, economic life flourished, producing a brilliant Greek culture that had a profound impact on later generations. The ancient Greeks excelled in philosophy, history, architecture, literature, drama, and sculpture. This cultural heritage was destructively continued by the ancient Romans after the fall of ancient Greece, thus becoming the spiritual source of Western civilization. There are also literary works with the same name.
The "Homeric Epics" refer to the two long epics, the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey," traditionally attributed to the blind Greek poet Homer. Both epics are divided into 24 books and may have originally been based on oral literature derived from ancient legends, transmitted through the recitation of bards. As historical material, they not only reflect the social conditions from the 11th century BC to the 9th century BC but also depict Mycenaean civilization. They recreate the picture of ancient Greek society and are important historical materials for studying early societies. The "Homeric Epics" possess significant literary and artistic value, and they also provide much worthy of study in history, geography, archaeology, and folklore.
Ancient Greek mythology is a spiritual product of primitive clan society, a collective oral creation of the ancient Greeks, and one of the earliest literary forms in the Western world, emerging around the 8th century BC. It formed a basic scale based on the long oral tradition of the early Greek people and was fully reflected in the works of Homer, Hesiod, and others. The geographical area it originated from and reflects extends from the western part of the Greek Peninsula to the eastern part of Asia Minor, and south to the island of Crete in the vast Aegean Sea. The content of Greek mythology is a vast and complex system, with numerous branches and stories that are not entirely consistent. However, it has a distinct familial character, encompassing a bloodline connection, and exists within a basic framework that can generally be divided into stories of gods and legends of heroes.
Starting with the gift from the guardian goddess Athena, olive oil has become inextricably linked with Greece. Greece is the homeland of Dionysus, the god of wine, and the spread of wine culture also began in Greece. The importance of grains and whole grains for health is undeniable and is also a common food consumed by the people of the Mediterranean region.