Classical Greece: Its Influence to Modern Western Society and Culture

 Introduction

This paper will discuss the classical Greece and its influence to modern western society and culture. We cannot deny the fact that classical Greece and Roman culture has a huge influence to modern western society and its culture. “The term “classical Greece” refers to the period between the Persian Wars at the beginning of the fifth century B.C. and the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. The classical period was an era of war and conflict—first between the Greeks and the Persians, then between the Athenians and the Spartans—but it was also an era of unprecedented political and cultural achievement.” (history.com Editors, 2010)

While there are various traditions, reforms and culture obviously rooted from the classical Greece visible in the modern world from different side of the country, “It also brought us the political reforms that are ancient Greece’s most enduring contribution to the modern world: the system known as demokratia, or “rule by the people.” (history.com Editors, 2010)

Body/Main Topic:

Classical Greece has been advancing since it started, these advancements has influenced the modern cultures from different countries around the globe. It has influenced several aspects of the modern world, such as government, language, and architecture, as well as making scientific advancements. In the modern western society, the teachings of the Greek Philosopher Aristotle, Hipocrates and many other Greek philosophers are taught in school. The education system of the western culture has been influenced by these philosophers.

The Hippocratic Oath, which was written around 300 BC, rough out several of the latest guidelines for physicians. Though the course of actions has substantially changed, the oath is still used by some, and parts of it are even written into modern laws.

The advanced Athenian Democratic government are practiced in many countries especially in the western society and culture. For example, the freedom of speech in the United States of America, it implies the true essence of democracy – which is “freedom”. The western democratic government is “a form of government where the legislature is elected directly by universal adult suffrage and the executive government is chosen either directly as presidential system or indirectly from among the elected representatives of the people, as is the norm of parliamentary system.” (Nehru, 1979) This system is closely similar to the Athenian democracy practiced in the ancient Greece; thus, implies that the western culture has greatly impacted by the Greek culture. Not only the political aspect but also the literature, architectural aspects of the western society.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no denial that not only the modern western society and its culture but also the cultures around the globe have been influenced by the ancient Greek, its practices, beliefs, philosophies and cultures. It is very important that we understand the Greek history to ensure better knowledge and understanding to our own culture, beliefs, philosophies and practices especially for those that are influenced by the ancient Greek.

References:

History.com Editors, (2010). Classical Greece. History. https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-greece/classical-greece

Nehru, B. K. (1979). Western Democracy and the Third World. Third World Quarterly, 1(2), 53–70. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3990333