I have this [uninformed/idealistic] view that Ancient Greece was generally a very peaceful place, where people discussed ideas and freedom of thought was paramount. I'm aware that there was of course still war within and around Greece, per the likes of Homer's Iliad, but it punctuated an otherwise highly enlightened society. (Beyond external influences, my reasoning is based on asking, "How could things like democracy, philosophy, mathematics, etc. flourish in an unstable environment?")

Moreover, I also have the view that afterwards -- whatever that may mean -- things kind of went to pot! The Romans were obviously great engineers, etc. but my impression of them is more that they were the start of Europe's descent into imperialism and warmongering. Something that the West is still clinging on to thousands of years later.

Is my view of Ancient Greece wrong and it actually was a politically unstable and bloodthirsty place to be, where all the good stuff was fostered out of luck? If not, what went wrong? Could we be a thousand-or-so years more advanced if we'd stayed on the right track?