Olympians are third generation gods, born from Titans and ruling Mount Olympus. Core Olympians include Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Apollo, Artemis, Athena. Other notable Olympians: Ares, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hestia, Dionysus. Hades, Asclepius, Eris, Nike, Psyche, Tyche are minor Olympian deities
Ancient Greece was divided into city-states (poleis) centered on western Aegean Sea. Mycenean Greece lasted from 1600 to 1100 BC, described in Homer's works. Greece had colonies in Italy, Egypt, and numerous Greek islands
Born in 384 BCE in Stagira, Greece. Studied at Plato's Academy in Athens until his death in 347. Taught Alexander the Great in Macedon from 343 to 323. Founded Lyceum in Athens in 335, collecting first great ancient library. Retired from Athens in 323 due to anti-Macedonian sentiment
Western philosophy originated in Ancient Greece in 6th century BCE. Presocratic philosophers like Thales and Anaximander explored cosmos through rational explanations. Socrates and Plato introduced Socratic method and moral philosophy. Aristotle developed systematic philosophy with four causes and formal logic
Sparta maintained kingship beyond Archaic age. City had two simultaneous kings called archagetai. No kings existed before mid-sixth century BC
Heracles was born to Alcmene and Zeus, who nursed him with divine milk. Hera induced madness, causing Heracles to kill his family. Oracle of Delphi advised Heracles to serve King Eurystheus for twelve years