Central Italian Peninsula, modern day Tuscany- 900- 450 BCE -- The Etruscans had a major influence on the Roman civilization. The origin of the Etruscans is subject to debate, some historians believe the Etruscans are Italian natives, while others believe they migrated from Asia-Minor, or elsewhere. The Etruscans lived in walled …

Stoicism was a system of thought which became the most popular philosophy in the Hellenistic world. Although, Stoicism deals with personal happiness, it differs from Epicureanism in that it contends that the best means to achieve happiness is through living in harmony with the intentions of the gods. Stoics believed …

Epicureanism is a system of belief based on individual pleasure. Epicurus, 341- 270 BCE, believed that the gods did not play a major role in the lives of humans. Instead he espoused the belief that individuals should be motivated towards self-satisfaction and the pursuit of personal rewards. Epicureanism is not …

287 - 212 BCE- Archimedes is one of the most famous scientists of all time. Archimedes was a native of Syracuse. He is renowned for many inventions and contributions. His contributions include work on the geometry of spheres and cylinders, a value for the constant pi, the concept of specific gravity …

310- 230 BCE - A Greek astronomer who is known to have developed a heliocentric view of the universe. Aristarchus of Samos believed that the Sun and stars were 'fixed' in the heavens, while the Earth rotated around the Sun in a circular orbit. Aristarchus also believed that the Earth revolved …

203- 120 BCE - Polybius was the central historian of the Hellenistic period. Polybius was Greek, however he lived in Rome for a time. He wrote a detailed history of the "inhabited Mediterranean world" from 221 to 146 BCE.

His history focuses on the growth of Rome and the achievements of …