Economics is the science of the production and using of goods.

So economists study needs and wishes of the people of the country.

What is the Russian for ‘needs’, ‘wishes’?

Потребности, … (и т.д.)

What needs do you know?

Water, food, clothes, houses, medicines, money.

What do our needs depend on?

- Climate, weather. For example, when it is cold, frosty people need more food,

they need meat, fish and so on. Also they wear warm clothes.

But when it is hot, they don’t eat much food and wear light clothes,

- age or period of history,

- society, its ideas,

- wars

II. T.

Today we have two international teams, a group of scientists and a group of young journalists.

Also there is a great scientist from Russia, Mikhail Jurjevich.

First, they will ask some questions.

1. To the historian

- As far as I know there were a lot of different tribes in ancient Greece, weren’t there?

- You are absolutely right.

- When did they live?

- They lived 3.5 thousand years ago and later.

2. To the archeologist

- The ancient Greeks lived on the Balkan Peninsula. Are there many mountains there?

- Yes, there are.

- What did they do? What was their economics based on?

- You see, as there were a lot of mountains covered with forests and some little rivers the ancient Greeks’ economics was based on farming and trade. They grew grapes, olive trees, wheat. Also they hunted, fished, built buildings and ships. They were good craftsmen.

They made pottery and copper vessels. Also they were good soldiers.

3. To the economist

- In their towns the ancient Greeks built houses to live in, temples to pray to their gods. And what were their houses like?

- In their houses there were two parts, one part for men and the other for women and there was a little yard inside.

- I see. What else did they build? Could you tell me?

- Also they built theatres to listen to poetry and to watch plays, comedies, tragedies, agoras to trade and discuss news and stadiums to watch the Olympic Games and to train.

4. To the economist

- A lot of ancient Greeks took part in the Olympic Games and there were no wars during them. What sports did they compete in?

- The ancient Greeks competed in running, jumping, fighting and throwing spears and discs. They trained a lot and winners became heroes.

5. (to main expert in economics Mikhail Jurjevich)

- To live, to fight at wars, to do sports the ancient Greeks needed a lot of different things.

How did they get them? Did they have money?

- Yes, they did.

- There were the pictures of sacred animals on coins.

III. T.

- Some Greek tribes were called the Spartans. They were the greatest soldiers of ancient Greece. Could you tell us about their life?

IV. T.

Now let’s compare the life of the Spartans and modern children.

V. T. Would you like to go to ancient Greece or not? Why?

So to sum up we can say that the life and economics of a country depends on its climate, a period of time, society, its ideas.