South Eugene High School
Classical Greece
A True Civilization
Joshua Soifer and Remy Dunn
Eurasian History
Mr. Yamada
October 6 2017
As the politician and bishop Stephen Gardiner once claimed, “The center of Western culture is Greece, and we have never lost our ties with the architectural concepts of that ancient civilization”. In many ways, through their academic pursuits, philosophical ideologies, or advanced trade systems, Ancient Greek culture has proven to be the foundation for Western culture. Ancient Greece was not only civilized, but exemplifies the standards of civilization to this day. Its pursuits of technology, mathematics, philosophy and politics all serve as the basis for Western thought, while
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Greek philosophers are also considered to have been the founders and leaders of Western philosophy. The first of the major Greek philosophers, Socrates, became a public teacher to the Athenian public. He taught using the Socratic Method, which comprised of teaching others through leading them to question all that they were taught, and formulate their own logical opinions on the subject (Moulton 58). He taught until his death, when the Athenian public convicted him of impiety, and he was killed by way of hemlock poisoning (“Socrates”). His student, Plato, wrote “The Republic” which seeks to discuss Plato’s values and ideology through a telling of, primarily, a conversation in which Socrates takes the leading part. Plato also opened the Academy, where he taught students for much of his life, and which remained open for 1000 years after his death (“Plato”). The last of the main trio of Greek philosophers was Aristotle, a student of Plato. Aristotle established the theory of the syllogism, which is a crucial point in logical theory to this day. Aristotle also later served as advisor and teacher to Alexander the Great (“Aristotle”). Greece also developed many aspects of government, including democracy, clearly showing their attainment of complex institutions. The Athenian Assembly was one of the first true democracies, in which all Athenian citizens had a say in the matters pertaining to
Once a mind has reached a level of imagination, people will start to think for themselves and begin to acquire a high curiosity of what is seen with the naked eye. With the Athenian democracy promoting a development of intellect, philosophers and philosophy began to emerge along with their ideas and share it to the world. In the Article, “Ancient Greek Culture and Civilization,” the author states, “The Philosophers-Socrates, Plato and Aristotle contributed to the way of thinking,human life, and science.” Ancient Greece philosophy fixated on the attitude of question and reasoning. Philosophy had an important significance on modern science and modern day philosophy. The three main philosophers of Greece were Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. They contributed to the expansion of medieval scientists and
In examining the impact that the ancient world has had on modern Western civilization, the two ancient civilizations which are frequently understood as having had the greatest influence are Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. These two civilizations would eventually come to shape much of what would become the modern European culture, politics and society, and by extension, a vast proportion of global culture and society. In examining the trajectory of modern history in an era of globalization of Western ideas and modes of living, the importance of these civilizations in world history is extensive, contributing to cultural, political and social trends which may well dominate the globe in the future.
From around 500 to 300 B.C.E, in Ancient Greece, the area had many contributions to modern Western civilization. Ancient Greece influenced Western civilization politically and socially. Ancient Greece influenced Western civilization with the spread of democracy and impacted Western civilization socially with its style of architecture using columns and the ancient Olympics.
Ancient Greece became a very influential civilization. Founded by the Minoans who first moved to the island of Crete in around 2000 B.C and lasted to about 1400 B.C. The Minoans developed an advanced civilization and expressed their culture in their constructed palaces. Great monuments were reached at Greece’s Golden Age from around 500 B.C to 300 B.C. They created long lasting contributions in subjects such as Philosophy, Military, Health, and Government.
Erudition, innovation, sophistication, every word and thousands more are associated with the name Greece. Steeped in complex lore, mythology, and history, it stands as a turning point in European culture. Its ideas and inventions are responsible for shaping many future events and turning the tide in science, art, and philosophy. At one time a group of city states, Greece was dominated by two centers a cultural one, Athens, and a military one, Sparta. Athens is probably best known for its playwrights, its philosophers, and the Acropolis. Sparta on the other hand is remembered as a military marvel where courage was the highest virtue. Legend tells that it had no walls for its best and only defense was its citizens’ valor
When people wonder about Ancient Greece the first thing that comes to their minds is Greek mythology; gods and goddesses that have helped shape many historical events. “In ancient Greece, stories about gods and goddesses and heroes and monsters were an important part of everyday life.” (“Greek Mythology.”) The civilization showed that numerous characters and stories helped shape Greeks. The beliefs the Greeks had with mythologies was they understood the meaning behind all the characters that are known today. However, to the Greeks, they were not just characters, these were their gods and goddesses who gave them meaning and understanding of the world around them. Worshiping the gods and goddesses helped them with their religious rituals and the temperament of the weather. A famous wine-jar that was made during this time period was “Achilles killing the Amazon Queen Penthesilea, 540-530 BCE, black-figured amphora”. (Khan Academy) The civilization that they lived in grew around their worship and achievements.
Following events, which went on to take place further, established his dislike for the government form, thus resulting his propositions of a Utopia in The Republic. At a young age, Plato began to follow the great philosopher Socrates, which instilled his ultimate desire to pursue philosophy, rather than his destined profession in politics. Plato had grown close to Socrates and his teachings; this close connection was a cause to Plato’s finalizing opinions of Democracy. In 399 BCE Socrates was executed by the newly leading Democratic leaders of Athens, and was voted by a majority to be put to death. Plato turned in disgust from contemporary Athenian politics afterwards and went on to be the founder of the Academy; a gathering place, which one could consider a school, that housed great scholars and their revolutionizing thoughts on Mathematics, Philosophy, and Theoretical Astronomy. Due to the events of Plato’s life, he was able to develop the most profound and employed ideas associated with western civilization. His influence had such great impact that his principles are often used in modern-day establishments, from government forms, to fundamentals pertaining to philosophy, the impacts of socialization, as well as religion. To begin an analysis of principles, there must be an understanding of human nature and his personal thoughts regarding the topic, in having that basis of knowledge one could further understand how the basic
The video on YouTube named “THE ANCIENT GREEKS - ENGINEERING AN EMPIRE - Discovery History Science (full documentary)” by AncientDiscoveryHistory tells the story of the Ancient Greece. The video mentions that for over one thousand years, the charismatic and strong people of Greece made the most advanced technological wonders that the world has ever seen. Greece is a country of islands and city-states that was ruled by leaders whose thirst for greatness united people. However, Persia was the world’s superpower of that time. Persians were self-confident and multi-ethnic. Persia was a land power. A Persian invasion force of epic proportions came to Greece to add it to its empire, but Greece was ready to battle.
Throughout the ancient world, there were many civilizations that had many things in common, but as well many differences. The ancient civilization of Greece and the ancient civilization of India are not truly connected in a specific or direct way, yet there are many similar aspects within each culture. For example, Greece centered their culture around philosophy and politics. Greece also believed in the upanishads and mysticism. While India focused “more on the specifics of ritual and sacrifice” for priests and gods, and India also had the Caste system (Document 2).
Ancient Greece had a major impact on the Western World due to many factors. Documents 1 and 2 reveal that the Western World has been impacted by political factors of the ancient Greeks, whille documents 4, and 5 show us that the Western World was impacted due to cultural reasons.
Socrates and Aristotle were both Greek philosophers who contributed philosophies. Socrates believed that all people contained real knowledge within them and that self critical examination was needed to bring this knowledge out. Socrates once stated, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” In this philosophical idea, Socrates is suggesting that an individual, who chooses to not think about their own actions, does not truly care about their own life. Aristotle believed in the concept of examining individual objects and being able to perceive their form and establish universal principles. These principles did not exist as a separate higher world of reality beyond material things, but were apart of things themselves. Aristotle has
The ancient Greeks lived in the dry, hot mountainous land of what is modern day Italy. The lack of science and technology of the time caused them to believe the gods were responsible for everything around them.In document 2 states,”According to ancient greeks, their gods controlled every part of daily life--the weather, crops, love, money and business, phases of the moon, earthquakes, and even weather a loaf of bread burned in the oven.” So was this more helpful or hurtful? The Greeks not only lived a mountainous area but also an extremely unstable and very volcanic area. Many city states could be destroyed in a moments notice. Document 3 states that,”This got the Greeks interested in a particular kind of religion called oracles. Oracles are
Ancient Greeks have had an significant influence on the western civilization. Greeks were the roots of many important contributions to modern culture. They were home to multiple beginnings in philosophy, architecture and medicine.
Throughout the course of time, different civilizations across the world hold one thing in common by which a society or culture can be based upon or help influence the structure. The one common thing that has help a civilization grow throughout the period of time would be the formation of a religion. Religion is a center point for many societies throughout history. As the center for the different civilizations, it helped form their different traditions and customs. The same could be said about the people of ancient Greece, where religion or mythology played an important role in their lives as it was the pedestal of their culture and how they base their lives upon. The formation of a religion across the large number of regions of Greece, help the different locations mold themselves by the customs that were created from the adaptation. During what was known as Ancient Greece, the people would hear tales of the twelve Olympians and how their actions influence the world around them. Within this period of time for the people of Greece was that of growth, as they sought to bring new ideas into light as they exited from a dark period within their own history.
Every idea has a start and a history that can be traced back in time. An incredible amount of these ideas and thoughts were started by great ancient civilizations. These ancient civilizations are the base of all modern knowledge. No ancient civilization has contributed more to this base than the civilization of Ancient Greece. The unique ways of ancient Greek agriculture have left a profound influence on the agriculture of today.