What is the central idea of this paragraph? What we call classical Greece (from the sixth to the fourth centuries BC) gave future civilizations more than just stories. The ancient Greeks made huge contributions to modern culture in Greece and elsewhere. In fact, Ancient Greece is often called the cradle of western civilization. This is because so much of modern life is based on contributions from the Greeks. The United States current system of government, democracy, came from Greek civilization. The Olympics began in Ancient Greece. Great Greek thinkers made revolutionary discoveries in astronomy, biology, and medicine. Ancient Greeks also wrote stories and plays that are still read and performed today. Their architecture also live on in modern times.