Greek Civilization

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Greek Civilization

Democracy

Greek Civilization is often heralded as the cradle of democracy in terms of leadership. Athens is remembered as having the civil law and penal code to Draco. Elected as the first archon in 594 BC, the executive powers and jurisdiction was instrumental in formation of democratic processes of governance. He was elected on an annual basis. During the period of 510 BC, the reforms carried out by Cleisthenes ensured that aristocracy was diminished as well as financial differences in the society. A mix was encouraged. Through constant reorganization and giving of power to the people, democracy was obtained from kratos-power and demos-people. Thus, by ensuring that the people had say over the governance of their country, Lewis (22) argues that major achievements propelled leadership to all other subsequent civilizations. In addition, it propelled the intellectual development of the people, raise awareness, and broaden their minds.      

Sciences

The development of science is attributed to Greek Civilization especially with the great contribution from famous scientists in astronomy to medicine. Pythagoras was a renowned Greek philosopher and mathematician. He is credited with the development of the Pythagoras theorem. He devoted his time to study the numbers, material objects, and enactment of the proportion as the ultimate principle (Bertman 16). He also studied the geometrics of proof through methodology and enacted the basics of understanding harmony in the universe. The Pythagoreans are considered the first people to study on the universe mathematics, while considering the earth as revolving around a central fire with other planets. They determined other forms of the central principle of proportion as well as corresponding inferences on ratios of length. Other notable achievements in science were through Archimedes, Democritus, Thales of Miletus, and Euclid.   

Philosophy

Greek philosophy focused on the role of inquiry and reason as explanations to happenings in humanity. The impact achieved a great influence in the growth of up to modern science and philosophy. The classical Greek philosopher, Socrates, epitomized a great achievement within the Greek Civilization. He is considered one of the founding individuals of all philosophical attributes ensued to this date. He made his mark with the achievements on method of inquiry. Majority of his stature is remembered through ethics field, concepts of irony according to Socratic standards and concepts of his methodology. The lasting and important contributions towards epistemology, understanding and logic are well defined in the philosophy lessons as well as his approach and ideas in terms of developing reason. Greek Civilization also celebrates the achievements of subsequent philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, who much of the learnt ideologies are based on.  

Art

Greek Civilization is responsible for the influence placed on numerous cultures and countries across the world from time immemorial. The archaic art of 700-480 BC, Classical of 480-323 BC and Hellenistic of 323-31 BC mark the greatest influences of art throughout humanity (Lewis 21). The categories of Greek art are through physical attributes in pottery, sculpture, architecture, and coin design. In sculpture, different materials were used including marble, stone, limestone and other natural elements. Worldwide recognition placed on the Greek sculptures includes Agamemnon’s Death Mask and Parthenon Marbles. Other great artistic ensembles include the discus thrower, Winged Victory of Samothrace and Venus de Milo. Pottery was used in everyday activities as well as display while coins were used for indication of gods and origin. The materials used in the latter varied from bronze, silver, lumps of gold and metal.   

Architecture

Greek architecture symbolized excellence in workmanship and precision, usually a reserve of its civilization culture. Majority of the formulas used in the science of design are all accredited from the Greek inventions. The famous Greek Temple simplified the achievements of civilization through architecture at its best. In the building and design, the principles of Ionic and Doric were represented in the methods and aims used in its development (Kuhtz and Hazel 27). Every town in the civilization was famously auditioned with a theatre due to the centrality of formal gatherings at the ancient periods. They were set outside of the towns by hillsides, had performance areas, and the orchestra famed with the culture not forgetting the influences from stadiums. In turn, subsequent civilizations borrowed on the design and styles used from such Greek architecture to impose their own productions.    

Sports

Tracing back of the Olympic Games is credited to the Greek Civilization as early as 776 BC. The games had been dedicated to the Olympian gods and staged in characteristic locations within the country. They were linked to religious festivals. They did not take an integral rite path. The secular character of respective sports within the Olympic Games showed evolution of accomplished performance by the participants as well as physical qualities. In addition, they were meant to show that Greek Civilization was encouraging good relations amongst peoples, cities, cultures, nations and other civilizations. Some of the events that were inducted at the earliest of the civilizations included discus throw, jumping, running, pentathlon, boxing, wrestling, equestrian events, and ball games. To this day, the Olympic Games have been credited with huge honors and are usually observed within a four-year-cycle by almost all countries.

Works Cited:

Bertman, Stephen. The Genesis of Science: The Story of Greek Imagination. Amherst, N.Y: Prometheus Books, 2010. Print.

Kuhtz, Cleo, and Hazel Martell. Ancient Greek Civilization. New York: Rosen Central, 2010. Print.

Lewis, Gavin. Wciv. Boston: Wadsworth, 2012. Print.