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WA2. Classical Greece and Modern Western Society

Statement

The Western world has gone through a tremendous transformation since the end of the Ancient Greek civilization.

Do you agree with the statement that Classical Greece influenced modern Western society and culture? Justify with relevant examples.

Answer

The classical period of ancient Greece which lasted from 500s-300s BCE was the golden age of Greek civilization. The Greeks of the time made significant contributions in the fields of politics, art, architecture, philosophy, and justice. These contributions made their way into the Roman Empire which loved Greek culture and then adopted and improved upon it. The Roman Empire then spread these ideas when they conquered much of Europe.

Democracy.

Greece, especially Athens, was the birthplace of the concept of democracy. The Athenian democracy was a direct democracy where citizens voted on laws and policies. Institutions like the General Assembly, the Council of 500, and the Aeropagus discussed and passed laws; where every citizen had the right to speak and decisions were made by majority vote (Rothchild, 2007). The Athenian democracy was not perfect, but it was good for the time. Democracy went through a long course of evolution until it reached the modern form; representative democracy. The fundamental principles are still similar to the ones invented by the Greeks. The United States, for example, has a representative democracy but we see multiple intuitions that participate in the decision-making process. The relationship between the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the White House is similar to the mentioned institutions in Athens.

The Olympics.

The Olympics were a religious festival in honor of Zeus; the games were held every 4 years in the city of Olympia. There were more contests in different cities of a similar nature, but the Olympics were the most famous. The games held political and religious significance; wars were stopped during the games so that the athletes could travel to Olympia safely. Such games stopped in the 400s CE due to their pagan nature; but they then revived in the 1800s CE (Britannica, 2024). The modern Olympics share the same purpose and values as the ancient ones; they promote peace, unity, and sports spirit; the flame of the modern Olympics reassembles the eternal flame of the ancient games.

Science and Mathematics.

The philosophers of ancient Greece made great contributions to the science and mathematics that are still taught and named after them today. Pythagoras, for example, the creator of the famous mathematical formula for the right triangle is taught in every school today. An entire geometry field is named after Euclid, the father of geometry. Archimedes, Hippocrates, and many others have their names circulating in the scientific community. The most important contribution of the Greeks to science was the scientific method; the idea of using observation and experimentation to understand the world.

Architecture.

Greeks were great architects; they dedicated huge efforts to important buildings such as temples, theaters, and stadiums. The Parthenon, for example, was a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena; multiple buildings around the world are inspired by the Parthenon. The White House, The Jefferson Memorial, and many other museums and memorials are inspired by this temple.

Conclusion.

The Greeks built a great civilization; the text gave some examples of elements of Greek culture that have influenced the modern world. But there is more; the alphabet, the library, the lighthouse, and trial by jury are all examples of such elements. The obsession of modern great philosophers and historians with ancient Greece is just another proof of the greatness of this civilization. The Greeks were the first to do many things, and these things have evolved to their modern forms.

References

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