Free Essay

The Influence of Greece on Western Civilization

In: Philosophy and Psychology

Submitted By wheresb
Words 1702
Pages 7
The Influence of Ancient Greece on Western Civilization

Of all the cultures that have come and gone throughout human history, it was the achievements of ancient Greece that have left the most indelible imprint on Western civilization. In particular, it was greek achievements in the realms of art, democracy, medicine, philosophy and literature that has influenced the modern world the most. It is interesting to note that the loss of Greek thought after Roman civilization inducted a period popularly characterized as the Dark Ages. During this time human life was, in words popularized by Thomas Hobbes, “nasty, brutish and short.” Superstition, disease and a short life span were the hallmark of the age. It is crucial to understand that the middle “dark” ages finally ended with the re-discovery of greek texts to usher in the re-birth of civilization, ie: the Renaissance. It was the Catholic theologian St. Thomas Aquinas that set Western civilization on its current track by reintroducing Greek thinkers to European intellectuals. The popularizing of Greek philosophers renewed Western interest in Greek achievements, specifically within the realms of art, democracy, medicine, literature, and philosophy. While some of these subjects remained underdeveloped in Greek times, such as the discipline of medicine and democracy, others were so advanced as to set a standard to this day in the realm of art, philosophy, and literature. Discussed herein is a brief exploration of those Greek achievements that left their greatest influence on Western Civilization. To begin, Greek visual art has had a huge influence on the development of Western Civilization. Greek sculptures and plays have influenced Western society most profoundly since the renaissance. Visual art is focused on here ie: sculpture and painting to differentiate it from other forms of art, such as music or plays. Its effects are so powerful as to be worthy of its own exploration. Greek art can be best characterized by the style of romantic realism. Romantic, defined in the artistic sense, means to exalt human existence and to portray reality in its ideal form. The term realism, refers to depicting the chosen subject as similar to reality as possible. This is why Polykleitos set a standard for correct proportions when representing the human figure, whose influence can been seen clearly on renaissance sculptors such as Michelangelo. Consider now the contrast between the idealized man compared to the art of the dark ages. In the latter, man was portrayed as a corrupt, groveling, unworthy creature subservient to disdainful god. The paintings during that period were dark and generally featured misery, suffering and submissiveness. The likeness were crude, two dimensional and even the paintings resembled the imprints of woodcarvings. With the re-discovery of Greek art during the renaissance, paintings began to resemble reality more accurately and hopefully. Painters and sculptures not only used the style of romantic realism, but began to infuse Greek mythology itself into their work(see Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus). The discovery of Greek art at the conclusion of the middle ages provoked a humanist revolution in the world of visual art that continues to this day.

That the Greeks influenced our Western political structures have been spoken of ad nauseum. However it stands out as one the most important contributions of ancient Greece to modern day. Its view of democracy was not exactly like what exists today but was instead an important revolution in thought. Unlike the ancient Athenians, modern voters elect representatives who in turn vote for the laws and bills. Conversely, the laws made in Athenian democracy were passed by the people directly. Two major ideas influenced the creation of our political system. First, the separation of the aristocracy from the governing body. This means that the people who hold office must be either chosen by the people or be appointed by a representative. The second great political idea that influenced the West was that of the Demos or "the people". The idea was that citizens have a natural right to choose their representatives. This was the forerunner to our notion of "human rights". The notion of “one man one vote” still exists today, while applied more liberally. Athenian democracy also had a rough form of checks and balances between the legislature and the executive. This concept influenced Rome which the founder's of the American Republic looked to while constructing their own model. The Greeks inspired the West to institutionalize the concept that the founding level of government is the people, and that the state is beholden to the people. In summary, the Greeks influenced the creation of Western democracy by laying the groundwork for many of the ideas that we take for granted today. Greek medicine has had a profound influence on the modern world. It has laid the foundation for many of the therapies and perspectives that we use today in modern medicine. Many Greek therapies are still used today such as massage and herbal therapy. The Athenian physician Hippocrates is still often described as "the father of modern medicine." The Hippocratic Oath is perhaps one of the most well known influences. It requires a new physician to swear that they will uphold a number of ethical standards. While not required in modern medical schools, it laid the moral groundwork for the profession as it exists today, specifically the principle to "First, do no harm". The influence of Greek medicine unfortunately has had a negative effect as well, as the now-debunked humoral theory was adopted by the medical profession up until the 18th century. Regardless of this, Greek thought inspired the West to create a system of medicine based on reason instead of superstition. This scientific approach was furthered by Aristotle, who was the first to study anatomy in a method similar to Leonardo Da Vinci's dissection and illustrations of the physiology of corpses. Greek medicine gave the West a scientific way of exploring the the body and heath, although it took almost 2,500 years to be fully realized. However, it is responsible for setting Western civilization on a new track towards the treatment of illness based on rationality, which is responsible for the modern treatments we enjoy today. Literature is another major influence that Greece culture has imparted on modern times. Homer's Iliad was the first epic story of recorded history, and set down the basic structure now used by the majority of Western tales. Current stories depicting a hero on a journey or quest had their origins in greek literature. Joesph Cambell writes in his famous book The Writer’s Journey that the structure of the “hero’s journey” has remained unchanged since ancient times. The framework of the story is as follows: a hero is taken from the ordinary world that they have grown up in and are transported into a world of adventure in which they are tested. There they meet allies and foes, friends and villains and their transformation is what they bring back to their ordinary world. Greek literature has not only set down the basic structure of heroic stories but of dramas

and comedies, which are the basis for movie and t.v. dramas currently enjoyed today. It is well known that plays of Sophocles greatly influenced the writing of William Shakespeare, one of the greatest of Western writers. Even today, blockbuster films are not only using Greek story forms, but portray Greek mythologies themselves(The Immortals, Clash of the Titans). In summary, modern culture would not be what it is today were it not for the poems, plays and narratives of ancient Greece. The philosophy developed in ancient Greece had the most profound effect of all upon the modern world. It laid the groundwork for the scientific and technological achievements that our society currently enjoys. During the Archaic and Classical Periods it was the Greek’s devotion to the nature of truth that created the greatest influence upon Western culture. In particular, it was their determination to find natural causes in the universe, rather than divine or mystical explanations to observed phenomena, that created our scientifically derived civilization. It was the pre-socratic philosopher Thales, known as “the father of science”, who began the first attempt to understand the material beginnings of the universe. It was his hypothesis that everything began from water that bore an uncanny similarity to the Darwinian theory of life arising in the sea, which was to come thousands of years later. Without Thales it is unlikely that we would have our modern conception of the Big Bang. The Athenian philosopher Socrates was another titan of Western thought. By using reason to question the assumptions of his contemporaries he transformed the practice of philosophy. Socrates set down such eternal lessons as “question all received wisdom”. Such iconoclast notions are the basis for the revolutions that gave birth to our modern secular society. Yet it was a Macedonian philosopher living in Greece, who formalized the practice of logic, who gave birth to a proto-scientific method. Using observations, testing and rational inference to arrive at conclusions, the ancient Greeks began a movement in thought that would eventually spark scientific and technological revolutions. It was by laying the epistemological groundwork of reason and establishing the right method of gaining knowledge that ancient Greece have had the most influence on modern culture. Greek philosophy created the foundations for the West’s achievements in science, technology, and secular society. Had it not been for the re-introduction of Greek texts into Western society, it is plausible that our society might still be dominated by superstition, unreason and a malevolent perspective of humankind. It was the visual art style of romantic realism that transmitted a view of man that was hopeful while simultaneously realistic. The ancient Greek view of medicine gave us our current scientific methodology and ethics, while the democratic structure of the Athenian government influenced the creation of our political systems. Above all, Greek philosophy gave us formalized reason, intellectual inquiry, and the marvels of science and technology. The Greek framework of democracy and individual rights has since transformed the world. Truly these five intellectual revolutions of ancient Greece have provided not only the foundation of Western society, but of the greatest peace and prosperity the world has ever known.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Contributions of Greek Civilization to Western Civilization

...Alejandra Fraguada Ancient & Medieval Western Civilization Contributions of Greek Civilization to Western Civilization. Ancient Greeks made many influential contributions to western civilization such as in the areas of philosophy, art and architecture, math and science. These contributions, which are also the achievements of ancient Greece, include certain things in the areas of philosophy, art, architecture, math and science. The ancient Greeks were a remarkable civilization in that they have made all these contributions and achievements while simultaneously fighting two wars, the Peloponnesian wars and the Persian wars. Luckily for western civilization, Greece carried on through these hardships and managed to achieve one thing after another, ultimately contributing a vast amount to western civilization. In the area of philosophy, Greece had made many influential contributions to western civilization. Greek philosophers were great thinkers who were determined to seek truth to a certain subject or question no matter where it led them. Three of the most famous philosophers in Greek history include Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato. Socrates, who lived from around 470 to 399 B.C., believed that life was not worth living unless it was examined and the truth about life was sought out. He also believed that there had to be certain standards for justice and punishment. In order to solve problems in life, Socrates invented a method for solving these problems called Socratic...

Words: 825 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

How Did The Greeks Influence Western Civilization

...Greece was a very powerful civilization during the 400s B.C. and helped influence other civilizations. A civilization has many factor that can make it great including: government, specialized work, record keeping, complex institutions, and advanced technology. The Greeks had the majority of these factors in their civilization, which contributed to their success. The Greeks’ government changed multiple times throughout their history and caused them to have multiple types of governments and leaders. All these power changes brought new ideas that helped their civilizations survive, including a new way of medicine. These power struggles also made people begin to think and questions their lives through the study of philosophy. One of the civilizations...

Words: 1351 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Ancient Greece

...Minerva Perez Humanities 101 February 3, 2011 Greek influence on the Western world It is always important to look to the past in order to move toward the future. This was done in the formation of Western Society, and more specifically the formation of American society. The Greek culture defiantly served as a huge frame of reference for many aspects of Western life today. Including our government, architecture, math and the arts. Ancient Greek culture served as a very broad base for which our society was built upon. To start off with Ancient Greece had many developments in political science. During the age of Pericles, the ideal form of government was believed to be a government formed by all of the citizens regardless of wealth or social standing. This government was known as a democracy, which literally translates to "government of the people" Their government favored the ideas of many instead of the few, Just like our government today. Athens was a direct democracy, meaning every citizen participated in debates. Western civilization used this philosophy of government by many, and created an indirect democracy where citizens elect officials to make and enforce laws. They also had trials for people that were believed to be guilty, and had an actual jury made up of commoners to decide on their fate. We of course still use a method such as their democracy today. They also had the founding philosophers that...

Words: 658 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Asdasdasd

...Ancient Greece was a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity (c. 600 AD). Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in ancient Greece is the period of Classical Greece, which flourished during the 5th to 4th centuries BC. Classical Greece began with the repelling of a Persian invasion by Athenian leadership. Because of conquests by Alexander the Great of Macedonia, Hellenistic civilization flourished from Central Asia to the western end of the Mediterranean Sea. Classical Greek culture, especially philosophy, had a powerful influence on the Roman Empire, which carried a version of it to many parts of the Mediterranean Basin and Europe. For this reason Classical Greece is generally considered to be the seminal culture which provided the foundation of modern Western culture and is considered as the cradle of Western civilization. In the 8th century BC, Greece began to emerge from the Dark Ages which followed the fall of the Mycenaean civilization. Literacy had been lost and Mycenaean script forgotten, but the Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet, modifying it to create the Greek alphabet. From about the 9th century BC written records begin to appear.  Greece was divided into many small self-governing communities, a pattern largely dictated by Greek geography: every island, valley and plain is cut off from its...

Words: 538 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Ancient Greece

...What are five of the most important ideas or people to come from Ancient Greece? I believe the most important contribution from Ancient Greece is, from the information uncovered so far, that their education was less compartmentalized than what is found today. This meant that individuals had influence in more than one area, and their search for a set of rules that could use to apply to their areas of interest (page 108). In modern society, Socrates is mostly remembered for and credited with founding Western philosophy, but we have accounts of his influence in other fields. His original profession was as a stonemason (page 98), but his influence can be found in law and ethics with his influence on his pupil Plato (page 100), in art by describing the idealization process to the painter Parrhasius (page 111), and his cross examination and inductive reasoning techniques are the basis for the Scientific Method (page 98). Socrates influence can also be found indirectly in Greek drama, as he was the subject of the comedy The Clouds written by Aristophanes. Another person whose influence stretched over more than one field of study was Pythagoras. He is known as the father of pure mathematics and his major contribution is known to us as the Pythagorean Theorem (page 96). But his influence can also be felt is music because his study of ratios led him to understand that music is controlled by mathematical ratios (pages 96, 123). His views on proportion and symmetry not only influenced...

Words: 595 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Classical Greece Dbq

...The ideas and creations that continue to be used in modern society demonstrate how inspiring the Ancient Greeks were. Greece is a series of islands, known as an archipelago that contained a number of city- states, such as Athens and Sparta, and were ruled by Ephors. Greece has a very mountainous terrain, with only 20% of arable land. Greece also has irregular coastlines that enhance their ability to trade. The contributions of classical Greece benefit Western civilization greatly because of the creation of democracy, which provides citizens with a voice, and the philosophies taught by Socrates and Aristotle, which have shaped educational practices. Also, Euclid and other Greek mathematicians advanced dramatically in geometry, allowing for improvements...

Words: 1074 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Major Events in Western History

...Western Civilization is a type of civilization which relates to cultures of the western European culture. According to historians Western Civilization emerged between fourth and third thousands BC, “when people in different parts of the world began to live in organized communities with distinct political, military, economic, and social structures” (Judith & Learner, 123-129). Basically, Western Civilization is rich and famous for its progressive development and constant changes in people`s lives. She appeared in ancient Greece and ancient Rome. The first stage of its development, known as "ancient civilization", was marked by the emergence of the core values ​​of Western-type society: the relations of private ownership, private production, market-oriented, the first “government by the people” – democracy, republican form of government. In the early times of Western Civilization the foundations of civil society to ensure individual rights and freedoms were established, as well as socio-cultural system of principles, the mobilization of creativity and development of the individuals (Judith & Learner, 130). There are many significant events that happened in Western Civilization and influenced today`s world, as some of them have significantly affected our modern lifestyle and undoubtedly changed our society. Nevertheless, I think the three major elements that happened in Western Civilization are: The Rise of Christianity, the appearance of Democracy, and the invention of the printing...

Words: 2580 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Greek Immigration

...makes the diversity and uniqueness of the world we live in. Greece is a country of a great interests and diverse cultures. The Greeks are particularly proud of their culture and speak of their country with an intense passion, feeling that their Greek culture is a definition of their national and ethnic belonging. Traditions, religion, music, language, food and wines are the major composites of the Greek culture. Greek culture began in Greece located in the southeastern region of the European continent, on the far southern edge of the Balkan Peninsula. The country is well known for the thousands of islands. It is surrounded by mountains and in the north by water. The mountains, which surrounded Greece, gave them the advantage of being well protected. The Ionian and the Aegean seas, together with natural islands and bays, gave the Greeks the opportunity to develop their high level of commerce and their rich culture. They relied on the Aegean Sea for trade and supplies. The Greeks were introduced to many other cultures and they were exposed to western benefits of agriculture and various techniques of metalwork. In addition, they shared their culture with other countries as well. Western culture has learned a lot from the Greeks. Greece is one of the oldest civilizations in the world and the cradle of Western culture as we know it. The Greeks’ have made countless contributions that have made Greek Culture a part of western society in the areas of art, literature, philosophy, drama...

Words: 519 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Comparison of Eyptian, Hebrew, and Greek Literature.

...Three impressive civilizations, from different time periods, have managed to influence each others cultures through the literature works of poetry; from Ancient Egyptian song: “I Am Your Best Girl”, to the glorious Greek love poems of the beautiful Sappho, and the monotheistic Hebrews Song: “I Am the Rose of Sharon.” Over the course of thousands of years, each of these great civilizations had countless views on poetry; all represented inspiration to their own citizens to become successful in life’s endeavors. All forms of literature, art, scripts and artifacts had a wide effect on these societies. By comparing these key examples of poetry, matters of passion for personal integrity, search for eternal love, admiration for greater quality of life and powerful affection towards dear ones, can give us a better understanding towards the emotional and dignifying experiences each culture portrayed. In the first Love Song: “I Am Your Best Girl,” there are many contrasts between the authors theme of powerful affection towards a beloved and the authors self-definition of ones own society. To start, the author sets a personal tone of desire and devotion to ones beloved. She shows ones worth in the first few lines of a simile “I belong to you like an acre of land which I have planted,” here the poet doesn’t mind becoming a part of mans property, she is deeply devoted to him. Nevertheless, it can also bring meaning into a hard days work of maintaining the land and applying that to her...

Words: 2523 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Early Societal Culture

...to trespassers. Behavior claimed a major part of the characteristics of culture. Behavior determined how we treated our neighbors, our families, and the roles men and women played in a society. In early cultures men were the decision makers, the ones who governed or ruled. Religion played a significant role during early culture as well. When cultures encountered each other, they were taken aback by their differences. The fact that they may have spoken different languages or revered dissimilar Gods may have been a conflict of interest. Their inability to communicate effectively would have cause a hostile situation, as they would have felt threatened as if their territory was at risk of being invaded. The main cultural influences on earl civilizations were religion and geography. The geography of a culture determined if they would have the ability to farm the land or if they were close to the sea to they would have the ability to trade resources with other cultures. These resources and ability to create wealth were valuable to the survival of a culture. Greek and Roman culture depended upon the gods to guide them, so religion would be emphasized among the people within the culture. Revisionist history is definitely something to be considered. I have always believed that everything you read in history books is not always truthful. I believe historian do their best to find the most accurate information about past events but I highly doubt they get it right every time. I...

Words: 507 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Glbal Warming

...Spell Check-list Unlike the Greek city-states, the Roman republic embarked almost immediately on imperial expansion. Utilizing its citizen armies, the republic gained control of the entire Italian peninsula. Conquered regions were incorporated into the republic or allowed to remain as independent allies. Rome's greatest rival in the western part of the Mediterranean was the former Phoenician colony of Carthage in northern Africa. Between 264 B.C.E. and 146 B.C.E., Rome defeated Carthage in the three Punic Wars. Rome's victory created an empire that extended from Italy to the Iberian peninsula and into northern Africa. The collapse of the Hellenistic successor states of Alexander's empire drew the Romans into the eastern Mediterranean. Greece, Macedonia, the Asian littoral, and Egypt were drawn into Rome's orbit. Rome and its Empire, (1995), Pearson Education, Pearson Longman, Retrieved from; http://wps.ablongman.com/long_stearns_wc_4/17/4390/1123999.cw/index.html The Regal Period. According to tradition, the first King laid the political foundations for the city, by creating the senate, and by dividing the people into curiae. He also extended Roman power by successful wars. Numa Pompilius is the antithesis, in many ways, of Romulus. He organized priesthoods, established religious rites, and sought to develop the religious life of the people. It was the main purpose of Tullus Hostilius, as it had been that of Romulus, to extend the material power of Rome. Ancus Marcius...

Words: 1177 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Cultural Studies

...Cultural Studies Andrea Spann HUMA215-1301B-27 American InterContinental University GREEK Cultural | Political | Economic | Religion | | The language is almost of Latin. | Greece, and especially Athens, is the cradle of democracy in the western civilization. | The economic and social structure of classical Greece, including thecolonies it sent out around the Mediterranean, had many features in commonWith other agricultural civilizations. | Dancing associated With Religious ceremony. | | Ancient Greek Culture was the birthplace of Western civilization about 4000 years ago. | Apart from many smaller changes, it was mainly based on the opportunity for all citizens over 20 to take part in governing the country. | In the 8th-century Greece depended clearly on farming. | At times Greek peasants showed their interest in some of the more emotionalreligious practices imported from the Middle East, which provided more colorthan the official ceremonies of the Greek pantheon and spiced the demandingRoutines of work. | | The art of ancient Greece has exercised an enormous influence on the culture of many countries from ancient times until the present. | Greek governments supervised the grain trade, providing not onlytransportation facilities but also storage depots to try to minimize theChance of famines. | A common pattern - the Greek economy evolved,Particularly as trade rose and cities grew. | Things that were created turned...

Words: 665 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

The Replication of History Through the Humanism

...“The Portraiture of the author’s Perspective on State of his/ her current epoch through literature” Greek culture has had a profound impact on Western Civilizations. It is always and ever be the pinnacle of human ingenuity. The Greeks have bestowed upon Western culture the concepts of citizen’s rights, democracy, mathematics, physics, astronomy, etc. More importantly, the Greeks also had a highly developed spiritual life that is evident in Homer’s eclectic tale The Iliad. Through this highly developed spiritual life, the Greeks imparted many human traits to their gods and goddesses that would greatly affect their own society’s way of thinking and other civilizations. Through Iliad and the other works of many great thinkers of Greece, they have propelled Greece to become the standard in terms of excellence. The contribution of the Greeks to us is not only great but also timeless, even in our modern age, we still able to learn and relate to the poems that were composed many epoch past. In ancient Greece, poetry was considered an art of which only few knew and could impose. Those who didn't know how to write memorized the stories depicted by the poets. There was the category of poetry known as epic, which is displayed by Homer to its full extent with unequalled precision Epic was the poetry that was very extensive and lengthy with a wide vocabulary used throughout and which told stories of adventure and heroism. Poets didn't just serve as entertainment, they were also educators...

Words: 988 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Ancient Greece

...Ancient Greece Paper 1. Introduction to Ancient Greece * What is ancient Greece? * How long did Ancient Greece last? * How did Ancient Greece impact western civilization? 2. Archaic period * Duration of the Archaic period * Characteristics of the Archaic period * Impact of the Archaic period on Greece’s culture 3. Classical Greece * Duration of the Classical period * Characteristics of the Classical period * Impact of the Classical period on Greece’s culture 4. Hellenistic Greece * Duration of the Hellenistic period * Characteristics of the Hellenistic period * Impact of the Hellenistic period on Greece’s culture 5. Roman Greece * Transition to Roman Greece * Characteristics of the period under Roman rule * Impact of the Greek culture on Rome 6. Political structure of Ancient Greece 7. Social structure of Ancient Greece 8. War in Ancient Greece 9. Religion in Ancient Greece 10. Impact of Ancient Greece on today Introduction to Ancient Greece I chose to write about Ancient Greece because my heritage is from that area of the world and that makes it very interesting to me. The period of time that ancient Greece covers spans for about one thousand years and includes several stages of cultural, economic, and political development. This period was also very important because many consider it the time when western culture was born and developed. However, before ancient Greece developed...

Words: 1761 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Thesis Essay

...Greek and Roman made significant contributions to the Western heritage perhaps they were responsible formulation of the tradition of government. Greece had the first democracy, but Rome had the first republic. All citizens could participate in the government in Greece. Rome arose from the Greek democratic government and established a sharing of the administration with checks and balances. Both Greeks and Romans believed in justice and the equality of people to a certain extent. The Greeks allowed all citizens, rich and poor, to participate in government. The Romans emphasis on the idealization of each individual is reflected in the art and architecture of these civilizations, beginning with Classical Athens. From 1900- 133 BC, Greece’s impact on the Western world is still in effect today. As the Greeks extended their empire, they spread their ideas to other countries, while also scrounging from other cultures. In Greek art, the focus is on an anatomically correct representation of the individual, either in an idealized fashion as during the Classical period, or a more emotionally truthful representation, as during the Hellenistic Period of Greek art. Roman art stole many of Greece's art and architecture, but Rome also added a customized deal to the architecture of the ancient world with its more evolved technical advancement, as evidenced in the Coliseum and its triumphal arches, they were dedicated to celebrating the glory of the state and the very human-like gods or goddesses...

Words: 343 - Pages: 2