The Golden Age of Ancient Greece
By: Nayisha Bivens
Greece's Golden Age
Greece's Golden Age was an extended time of peace and prosperity. During this Golden Age, Greeks invented new things, and made great strides in the fields of technology and philosophy. They studied medicine, mathematics, literature, and science. Many accomplishments from this period of time affect our world today.
Socrates
Socrates was a Greek philosopher, and is known today as one of the founders of Western philosophy. He is also the founder of the Socratic method. To practice the Socratic method is to solve a problem by breaking it down into a series of questions. This method is used today in the first stage of the scientific method, which is hypothesis.
Pericles
Pericles was a very important general of Athens during the Persian and Peloponnesian wars. The period in which he led Athens is commonly known as the "Age of Pericles". He was a very powerful general, and led the soldiers of Athens through the first two years of the Peloponnesian War. In addition, he led many naval expeditions and promoted arts and literature.
Hippocrates
Hippocrates is considered one of the most important people in the history of medicine. He is the founder of the Hippocratic School of Medicine, which helped Ancient Greeks learn a lot about medicine and illnesses. Hippocrates greatly advanced the study of clinical medicine. He was also the first to write that humans became sick for scientific reasons, and wrote the Hippocratic Oath, which we still use today.
Achievements
During the Golden Age of Ancient Greece, Greeks achieved many things. One of these things was medicine. In early times, Greeks believed that sickness was caused by angry gods. As time passed, Greeks discovered that environmental issues, gender, and many other factors had an effect on illness. Hippocrates and his students developed the Hippocratic Oath, which is still in use today. Greeks also studied mathematics. Though, Greek mathematicians were spread all over the Mediterranean from Italy to North Africa, they were united by culture and language. They contributed to the number theory, mathematical analysis, applied mathematics, and even calculus. Ancient Greeks also founded democracy. Many Greek city-states had forms of government based on democracy. The most known and significant example is Athenian democracy. However, city states such as Syracuse, Corinth, and several others also had democratic governments.