| The city-states of ancient Greece are much admired. | | | | long distances, the average Greek didn't need (or |
| Part and parcel to any great civilization, transportation | | | | want) to leave their home area. For these normal |
| constituted a pivotal pillar of the Greek way of life. | | | | citizens, the most common type of transportation was |
| How The Ancient Greeks Got Around | | | | the mule. Horses were relatively unknown and rarely |
| Traveling in the ancient world was much tougher than | | | | used in Greece or Rome, rather they tended to use |
| it is today. Although the technology that we use in the | | | | mules for light transport of items and people, and oxen |
| present age may seem antiquated or cumbersome | | | | for heavier transportation needs. |
| (for instance, the fact that we still use massive boats | | | | Mules had harder hooves than horses, and were |
| to travel the oceans, or the fact that we stand in huge | | | | better suited to the rocky terrain found in much of |
| lines in order to get onto aircraft), our minor | | | | Greece. Their sure footing made them much more |
| inconveniences are nothing compared to the difficulties | | | | valuable in these areas, as the horses would tend to |
| that were faced by our ancestors. Ancient Greek | | | | balk and not be able to pass through mountainous |
| transportation was some of the most advanced of | | | | passes. Also, mules were easier to train than horses; |
| the era, but there were still many problems with their | | | | they are bred from a mare (female horse) and a male |
| methods. | | | | donkey, and for some reason this cross made the |
| One of the most important methods of transportation, | | | | mules more adaptable. Finally, mules can cover about |
| to both the economy of the area as well as its people, | | | | 50 miles of area a day, and need only four to five |
| was traveling by ship. As Greece is partially a group of | | | | hours of sleep, which is much more distance and less |
| islands, there was no way to get to the mainland of | | | | sleep than a horse needs. |
| Europe by simply riding a horse or taking a chariot. | | | | Greek transportation was not glamorous or swift, but |
| Instead, anyone who wished to travel outside of | | | | the animals and ships that were used were able to |
| Greece, or any traders who wanted to get materials | | | | move enough people and items to let Greece grow at |
| from different parts of the world, had to use boats to | | | | a fast pace. As Greece developed their current types |
| get to their destinations. Additionally, this form of | | | | of transport into more streamlined versions, the |
| transportation made Greece the owner of one of the | | | | country was able to really become a major world |
| world's most powerful naval fleets. | | | | power. |
| While boats were a preferred mode of transport for | | | | |