Classical Greek literature refers to the body of written works produced in ancient Greece from the 8th to the 4th century BCE. This period includes notable genres such as epic poetry, drama, and philosophy. Key figures include Homer, known for the Iliad and Odyssey, and playwrights like Sophocles and Euripides, who contributed significantly to the development of tragedy. The literature of this era laid the foundation for Western literary traditions. It explored themes of heroism, morality, and the human condition. Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle also emerged, influencing not only literature but also various fields of thought, including ethics and politics.