History With a Match - Being an Account of the Earliest Navigators and the Discovery of America #250907

Once upon a time, many, many years ago, there lived a people called the Greeks. They Inhabited a small and very rocky peninsula and a number of Islands. A peninsula Is a piece of land surrounded on all aides but one by water. It has a very long coastline and therefore it offers a beautiful chance for navigation. The Greeks soon learned how to manage small boats. With these they sailed all over the eastern part of the Mediterranean and built cities and villages on the many small and rocky Islands of the Aegean Sea. They were out In the open most of the time and they learned at a very early age how to handle arms and protect themselves against foreign enemies. Time and again the mighty Empire of the Persians tried to conquer this little corner of the world, but all attacks ended In defeat. From all parts of Greece, on land and by means of their quick-sailing vessels, the Greeks would rush to the threatened spot and would stop the Invader, often at the sacrifice of every single man who had gone forth to defend the common Fatherland.