The ancient Greeks set out from their homeland to colonize and settle almost all the Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts. They were a remarkable people, who have left their imprint on virtually every aspect of modern human endeavour - politics, theatre, art, philosophy, medicine, architecture and athletics. This exceptional book reveals how they developed and adapted from Paleolithic times on, and how they interacted, both peaceably and otherwise, with the surrounding cultures: Minoans, Carians, Phoenicians, Lydians, Persians and Romans. Extracts from Classical authors and inscriptions provide eye-witness accounts of events, people and places, bringing the story vividly to life and allowing the Greeks to speak for themselves.