Hypothetically speaking I reckon it makes sense to teach young English/ (perhaps British) children about the Romans because of their influence. I'm not sure why, but the Egyptians are plain fascinating and we're already mad about them in my family. That's an unfair bias, I know. Cavemen we're into as well. But they're simple to discuss.
But the Ancient Greeks?! I'm considering skipping them altogether. My own degree is in philosophy. I've studied their writings for eons. But when it comes to explaining to young kids what the Greeks did, I get really, really stuck.
Aristotle categorised plants, animals and political systems.
Athens had one of the first democracies, and the first to be called by that name.
The Spartans had one of the earliest systems of special forces training regimes, if you don't call starving seven year old boys and whipping them to death torture. OK, sure. I admit all of it! But how does any of this help?
So, the Greeks invented school. But is that a good thing or a bad thing?
The more I think about it the more convinced I get that the Greeks are going to get skipped in our house. They gave us the inspiration for the film 300. OK but is that something to be glad about? And many of their mythologies are pretty messed up. You've only got to start with Edypus and it all goes down hill to Hades from that point.