So how did the Ancient Greek's ideas about basic elements affect their ideas about gravity?

Well, for example, when old Aristotle saw water boiling - he'd say

that WATER + FIRE = Steam (AIR)

This is a "natural" motion since AIR lies between WATER and FIRE in the order of the elements.

But if Aristotle had to do something to an object, for example throw a ball in the air, this requires a violent motion. The ball is made up of mostly of EARTH so once you have thrown it, it falls back to its right place - the EARTH.

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The Ancient Greeks also also thought that the elements had a natural place or order. Try matching the elements to see where they thought each one came.

So what's all this got to do with Gravity I hear you STILL saying?