The book represents the first part of the classic work of academician Vasily Vasilyevich Latyshev (1855–1921) “Essay on Greek Antiquities” (published with minor abbreviations). The antiquities of the Greek people are part of the history of Greece, relating to the public and private life of the ancient Greeks. The work examines in detail the political, financial, legal and administrative structure of Hellas, using the example of mainly Sparta and Athens. The reader will learn how Athenian democracy was structured, how the courts functioned, how young Spartans were raised, and many other nuances of the everyday life of the Hellenes.