Greek Cultural Contributions
Samuel Rager
Archetecture
Greek architecture is known for it'''s columns. There are three types of columns: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Other types of Greek art include pottery, sculptures, and paintings. Every city-state had a temple that was dedicated to a specific god. They went there to worship and make sacrifices. Some leaders like Pericles and Alexander the Great spread the Greek architecture throughout Europe.
We see Greek influence in architecture today in important buildings. The White House, Capitol Building, Supreme Court, and the Lincoln Memorial all have columns that show Greek influence.
Government
The ancient Greeks had a direct democracy. Males over the age of 18 whose parents were Athenian citizens could be a leader of ancient Greece. The citizens had to do 2 years of military service. They changed leaders every 10 years, which was then reduced to 6 years, which was then made to 1 year. Every 50 years , new council men were chosen. There was slavery in ancient Greece. Two wars they fought in were the Persian War, and the Peloponnesian War. In today's society we have a democracy, term limits, and you have to be 18 to participate.
Philosophy
Some of the ancient Greek philosophers were Parmnides, Anargoras, Anavimander, Empedocles, Zeno, Pythagoras, Socrates, and Plato. Zeno thought the universe is one. Plato thought that no their ever charged. Socrates thought that you shouldn't pretend to be something your not. Plato wrote a book called The Republic. Arostotle wrote Nicomachian Ethics. The ancient Greeks had questions like, who are we, how can we be happy, and does the universe have a purpose? The philosophers were treated very well and payed very highly. Today we still have the Hippocratic Oath, we see math skills like pi, and Dythogorem Therreum and the study of geometry.
Mythology
Greek mythology was used to explain nature. Some heroes of ancient Greece were Hercules, Theseus, Odysseus, Perseus, Jason, Atlanta. 10 gods of the ancient Greeks were Zeus-sky, Posiden-sea, Aphrodite-love, Athena-wisdom, Ares-war, Hades-dead, Apollo-music, Artemis-hunt, Hermes-messenger, Hera-marriage. Homer and Aesop wrote Greek mythology. According to the ancient Greeks when people died they went to the underworld to be judged. Percy Jackson and Hercules are examples of Greek culture, and we still study it today.
Sports
Free male citizens were allowed to play sports. They played many sports, including, jumping, discus throw, wresting, boxing, pankration, horse chariot racing, running, javelin. Men and boys, along with unmarried women could watch sports. Sports were made in honor of Zeus. They believed that physical fitness and metal discipline was one way of honoring Zeus. Today we have the Olympics We also have many of the same events.