Ancient Greece was not at all like modern states - say, Germany or France. It was a unique formation of many independent towns and villages, located in small territories. If the militant and freedom-loving Greeks did not have to defend themselves from an external enemy, they gave way to their emotions in internecine wars or on sports grounds. The Greeks gave the world sport. They hosted lush sports festivals in Olympia and other cities. In addition, there were many natural storytellers and actors .. It is not surprising that the first great poet of Europe, Homer, was a Greek. His Iliad and Odyssey, written nearly 3,000 years ago, continue to delight us to this day. Homer tells the story of the Trojan War, the clever and resourceful Odyssey, the one-eyed cannibal Polyphemus, the gods who were not much different from people. Poetry, sports, grand festivals, theatre and a common language were the link that united the Greek city-states. The Greeks were proud of their origin, calling everyone else "barbarians" Alexander the Great, having conquered half the world in a few years, created a great empire. The Greek language has become an international language[edit] He founded 16 new cities, all named Alexandria. The Greeks have made an invaluable contribution to European culture. This book will introduce you to the history and culture of ancient Greece, and beautiful illustrations will complement the story.