The Ancient Greeks are the most significant to western culture because of its creation of different types of government, ideas on philosophy, and the impact of Hellenistic culture. If you think of America you think of mainly one thing, democracy. The Athenians invented democracy. Athens was founded around 500 B.C. Athenians were the first ones to give power to someone who they think will actually be good for that job, and not simply due to noble blood or force.
These aspects of their culture were vital to their identity. New styles of art showed up all over Greece due primarily to Athens’ influence. The theater was one area where Athenians were particularly superior. This was due in part to their famous festivals for the God, Dionysus, the most well-known being the Dionysia. Aeschylus was one dramatist who was revolutionary in these festivals; even to this day we utilize his works.
Greece had the first known democracy. The Greeks affected many of our current constitutional rights. In both the US democracy and the Athenian democracy where political power can be exercised by the citizens. Pericles had three goals, to Strengthen Democracy, Hold strength in the empire, and to glorify Athens. Pericles stated that he wanted all citizens to have an equal opportunity to serve the public.
Lindsey Swidergal Period 7 October 29, 2010 The Greeks Impact on Western Civilization More than thousands of years ago the Greeks made advancements that have affected our society today. Art had affected this by the building of sculptures, different architecture, the beginning of drama, and literature. In math, different solutions were created that we still use in present day. Through philosophy, people came with new ideas of thinking and understanding, Democracy made the society have freedom and increase in advancements. The ancient Greeks contributed philosophy, art, math, and democracy to Western Civilization.
One of the most influential people in Rome was Marcus Cicero, a great philopsoper as we say and exam most of his work today we see a story of a honored and respected man as well as loyal, but his loyalty would prove to be his greatest downfall and which would lead to his exicution. (pg. 149) Rome was built of lawyers, judges, and philosophers. (pg. 149) The romans were more practical thinkers and philosophers.
The first ancient Greek Olympics record keeping started in 776 B.C. But there are many conclusions that the Olympics were held even sooner. Even though there were many sporting events, the Olympic Games were the most famous sporting events in ancient Greece, honoring the Greek gods. The event was held every four years in Olympia, Greece. The ancient Greeks believed that keeping their citizens strong and healthy would help strengthen the city-states.
The Ancient Greeks continue to influence our lives today in three prominent ways: architecture, politics, and medicine. In present day, Western architecture owes a heavy debt to the classical styles of Ancient Greece. Ancient Greeks started building temples of worship to their gods at about 600 B.C. One defining feature in these temples was the distinctive column styles known as Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. These can be most easily defined and identified by each column’s capital.
They also believed in philosophy and in Athens there were some of the greatest philosophers. There were many people in Athens that studied philosophy. Philosophy is the study of methods and limits of human knowledge. Some famous philosphers included Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Athens was a direct democracy and many of these ways are still used today.
Running Head: Preservation and Transmission of Greek Philosophy in the Middle Ages Preservation and Transmission of Greek Philosophy In the Middle Ages Antilkumar Gandhi Professor Fleming Religion and Philosophy Introduction Greek philosophy focused on the role of reason and inquiry in the study of the natural world. Many philosophers today concede that Greek philosophy has shaped all of Western thought since its inception. As Alfred Whitehead once noted, with some exaggeration, "Western philosophy is just a series of footnotes to Plato," (Brickman, 1961). Clear and unbroken lines of influence lead from Ancient Greek and Hellenistic philosophers, to medieval Muslim philosophers, and to the European Renaissance and Enlightenment. Early Greek philosophy, in turn, was influenced by the older wisdom literature and myths of the Near East.
Project 1 Greece is one of the most important and treasured cultures in the world history. In addition, Greece also has brought many important contributions to our today’s lives with their traditions, food, religions, cultures, and even careers. The Greeks revolutionized the word of psychology from many years ago known as the Classical Age of Greece with such of important ancient philosophers as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, etc. Alexander the Great was another important and key man in the history of Greece that carried the culture to many other countries such as Egypt, India, and Persia. We understand and have observed their history and significant contributions through books of history and philosophy, perhaps this period was the most interesting time of Greece.