[Culture] 希臘文明, Greek civilization and Sparta

希臘其實係一個位於南歐嘅國家，由一個半島同好多島嶼組成。希臘文明可以追溯到古代，米諾斯文明喺公元前2600年左右出現，之後係邁錫尼時期，後來係古典時期，當時有雅典同斯巴達呢啲城邦嘅崛起。斯巴達喺公元前371年被底比斯擊敗之後衰落。佢最終成為咗羅馬嘅一個省份，喺羅馬帝國倒退之後，佢大部分都被遺忘。今日，斯巴達係希臘南部嘅一個小鎮，仍然以佢豐富嘅歷史同文化遺產為榮。 

歷史上，希臘同羅馬有重要嘅關係，羅馬喺公元前146年征服咗希臘，吸收咗佢嘅文化，至於羅馬帝國嘅遺產，現代嘅意大利確實係建立喺佢嘅廢墟上面，而羅馬就係意大利嘅首都。

Greek civilization dates back to ancient times, with Minoan civilization emerging around 2600 B.C. followed by the Mycenaean period, and later the Classical period, which saw the rise of city-states like Athens and Sparta. 

Sparta declined after being defeated by Thebes in 371 B.C. It eventually became a Roman province and was largely abandoned after the Roman Empire fell. Today, Sparta is a small town in southern Greece, still proud of its rich history and cultural heritage.

Historically, Greece and Rome has a significant relationship, which Rome conquering Greece in 146 BC and absorbing its culture. As for Roman Empire's legacy, modern-day Italy is indeed built upon its ruins, with Rome being the capital of Italy. 

The Roman Empire was a vast power that once encompassed much of Europe. North Africa, and parts of Asia. Italy as we know it today didn't exist until the unification of various states in the mid-19th century, specifically in 1861. Prior to that, the Italian Peninsula was comprised of several smaller kingdoms and city-states.

The Italian Peninsula has a rich history. One of the most famous city-states was Venice, known for its stunning canals and ornate bridges. Another prominent city was Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance and home to masters like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Rome, of course, was the capital of the Roman Empire and ramins a UNESCO World Heritage Site to this day.

Greece is actually a country located in SE Europe, consisting of a peninsula and many islands, the most famous being Crete, Lesbos, Rhodes and Corfu. 

Greece and Italy are separated by the Ionian Sea. The distance between them varies, but the closest points are only around 50 miles apart, with the Italian region of Calabria facing the eastern coast of Sicily and the Greek island of Kefalonia.

Modern SPARTA today. Town, Leonidas, Mystras, Greece.

The History of Ancient Sparta and the Spartans (History of Ancient Greece)