A realistic account of life in ancient Greece as experienced by an ordinary citizen of the time, this work presents the ancient Greeks not only in their role as founders of Western civilization, but also as people who are interesting in themselves. The author traces the development of early Greece--from Mycenaean times, through the period of Homer and Archaic Greece, and finally to the expansion of Greek culture following Alexander's conquests. The volume features color plates, illustrations, maps, and charts that form an integral, visual complement to the text. Bibliographies, quotation sources, and a glossary provide additional study aids.