Athens was an ideal location for trade, so even though it was not a fertile area, Athens became a powerful city-state. Athens built a fleet of trading ships and imported all their grain from the Mediterranean, using trade to gain wealth and influence. By the 5th century B.C., Athenian coins were used all over the Mediterranean, and Athens was the head of a Greek alliance against Persia.

Philosophy can seem like a bit of a lofty subject for middle school students, but kids are natural philosophers. As soon as they can talk, children start to ask questions, wanting to understand the why of things. Philosophy can be a great tool for tackling questions without easy answers.