...execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives - choice, not chance, and determines your destiny.” The Romans inherited a cornucopia of knowledge from the Greeks and Hellenistic cultures in the Mediterranean, such as architecture, strategies of war, politics and the humanities to name a few. However what the Romans had that the Greeks didn’t was extreme self-discipline and organizational skills and when they opened their minds and allowed themselves to be less dogmatic, more artistic and more inclusive they were able to conquer the world. Since we have limited space in which to make our point, we will use religion, philosophy, politics and art in which to illustrate the magnitude of the influence of the Greeks and the Hellenistic cultures on the Romans. The Hellenistic times were a period of questioning our purpose in this world, why things happen, and what transpires after death. Consequently philosophers from many perspectives became popular and presented people with answers and a multitude of options that were being derived from all the Hellenistic societies surrounding the Romans. The political systems inherited from the Greeks became the inspiration for the Roman Empire’s republic and has become the cornerstone of democracies around the world today. Greek and Hellenistic art became the largest influence on every single aspect of Roman life, including their weapons, fashion and home decor. Professor Weber clearly gives the impression that the Romans “conspicuous consumption”...
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...Significance of Ancient Roman Civilization Tuesday, October 02, 2012 7:29 PM Argument for how the achievements of ancient Roman civilization impacted subsequent Western civilization Established one of the largest empires in the world. Enduring legacy that continues to influence Western civilization Achievements: Law and Administration Roads and bridges Institution of a bilingual culture Of greatest significance: Roman Law and Administration Based on principles of justice and reason Instituted a system of common laws to protect citizens Notable aspects that many modern day governments uphold today: The recognition that all men are to be treated equal under the law A person is to be considered guilty until proven innocent The ancient Roman civilization did more than establish one of the largest empires in the world; they also left an enduring legacy which continues to influence Western civilization. Achievements in the areas of law and administration, construction of roads and bridges, and the institution of a bilingual culture helped to form an cultural infrastructure that has prevailed through the ages. Of greatest significance, is the Romans contribution in the areas of law and administration Their laws were based on principles of justice and reason. They institutes a system of common laws that served to protect citizens. A couple of important aspects we continue to value today are the recognition that all people are to be treated equal under...
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...urban folk tales or current legends. Myth, from the Greek word mythos, originally meant word, news, message, event, or history. Myths present a cosmology, a picture of how the world and life in it began, how things in the world are related, what they mean, and the role of the gods. A myth uses its own time—mythic time—distinct from historical time, even though it influences historical time. A myth is a story made up from some real life events and from some imaginations of small town folk, story tellers. Myths I believe from different cultures all around the world address such similar or universal themes is because, all cultures ask and want to know answers to the same questions. Where did the human race come from? What is the meaning of life? It does not matter what part of the world you come from, every human being on earth would love to know the answer to these questions. Over time we as human beings have learned how to answer these questions for ourselves through myths and religion. Myths threw religion has answered those questions also given us something to believe in. The relationship between belief, knowledge, mythology and religion to me are they are created by man. Human beings feel they have more of a purpose in life and need something or someone to believe in, this is where myths such as Greek gods come in to play. I believe most myths could easily be explained by natural occurrences. For example most Greek myths are a test from the gods for man-kind they normally...
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...her current epoch through literature” Greek culture has had a profound impact on Western Civilizations. It is always and ever be the pinnacle of human ingenuity. The Greeks have bestowed upon Western culture the concepts of citizen’s rights, democracy, mathematics, physics, astronomy, etc. More importantly, the Greeks also had a highly developed spiritual life that is evident in Homer’s eclectic tale The Iliad. Through this highly developed spiritual life, the Greeks imparted many human traits to their gods and goddesses that would greatly affect their own society’s way of thinking and other civilizations. Through Iliad and the other works of many great thinkers of Greece, they have propelled Greece to become the standard in terms of excellence. The contribution of the Greeks to us is not only great but also timeless, even in our modern age, we still able to learn and relate to the poems that were composed many epoch past. In ancient Greece, poetry was considered an art of which only few knew and could impose. Those who didn't know how to write memorized the stories depicted by the poets. There was the category of poetry known as epic, which is displayed by Homer to its full extent with unequalled precision Epic was the poetry that was very extensive and lengthy with a wide vocabulary used throughout and which told stories of adventure and heroism. Poets didn't just serve as entertainment, they were also educators. Poetry was part of Greek daily routine; it was taught in schools...
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...Paper 1. Introduction to Ancient Greece * What is ancient Greece? * How long did Ancient Greece last? * How did Ancient Greece impact western civilization? 2. Archaic period * Duration of the Archaic period * Characteristics of the Archaic period * Impact of the Archaic period on Greece’s culture 3. Classical Greece * Duration of the Classical period * Characteristics of the Classical period * Impact of the Classical period on Greece’s culture 4. Hellenistic Greece * Duration of the Hellenistic period * Characteristics of the Hellenistic period * Impact of the Hellenistic period on Greece’s culture 5. Roman Greece * Transition to Roman Greece * Characteristics of the period under Roman rule * Impact of the Greek culture on Rome 6. Political structure of Ancient Greece 7. Social structure of Ancient Greece 8. War in Ancient Greece 9. Religion in Ancient Greece 10. Impact of Ancient Greece on today Introduction to Ancient Greece I chose to write about Ancient Greece because my heritage is from that area of the world and that makes it very interesting to me. The period of time that ancient Greece covers spans for about one thousand years and includes several stages of cultural, economic, and political development. This period was also very important because many consider it the time when western culture was born and developed. However, before ancient Greece developed to the point...
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...Time, and Exploring Ancient Time Periods” Miranda Kirkley World Culture and the Arts (HUM 205) January 19, 2013 James Slama Ancient History. (2013). The History Channel website. Retrieved 12:51, January 21, 2013, from http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history We’ve been in the business of reinventing storytelling since 1984. We took history out of the history books, and we brought biography to life. For our viewers, we’ve invented new genres, told untold stories and broken barriers. For our partners, we’ve offered new networks, new audiences, and new ways for brands to talk to customers. Benton, J. R., & DiYanni, R. (2008 2005 1998). Arts and Culture (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Offering an exploration of Western and World civilization's cultural heritage, this book is richly illustrated, beautifully designed and engaging. Readers move chronologically through major periods and styles–from prehistoric culture to 20th Century America–to gain insight into the achievements and ideas in painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, philosophy, religion, and music. Sakoulas, T. (2003-2012). Ancient Greece. Retrieved from http://www.ancient-greece.org/history/classical.html Associate Professor of Art at the State University of New York, College at Oneonta where he teaches Sculpture and Computer Art. He studied sculpture in the USA at Florida International University, and did his graduate work at the Maryland Institute College of Art...
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...Introduction Ancient Greece was the birthplace of western civilization. It’s culture is the embodiment of the ideals which are pursued even today. The richness of Greek mythology inspired artists from the middle ages to modernity, with motives of myth occurring sporadically throughout history. Starting from the middle ages, when Christian and ancient traditions started to mix together, forming the basis of modern western culture, Greek myth has been in the centre of interest. It is intriguing to note that Roman mythology is not as potent as Greek in modern art. Ovid’s Metamorphoses was the most influential text in the Middle ages, and it served as inspiration to writers, painters, musicians and other artists. However, Christianity did not accept ancient myths in their true, religious meaning. Myths were used to paint symbols, allegories and allusions to contemporary issues, mainly religious. Mythical beings and heroes were fitted – in a sense, into a medieval Catholic frame (Von Hendy, 2). Homer’s Iliad is probably the most frequently read of all the Greek myths. It tells the story of Troy, and its fall to Greek armies led by king Agamemnon. The war began when Paris, a young Trojan prince took Helen, the wife of Menelaus and ran with her. This led to a great war, which resulted in the destruction of Troy. This epic work has been a source of endless inspiration for artists throughout the ages. Since the beginning of Renaissance, and the rebirth of classical spirit in Europe...
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...wealth and power. The arts, literature, and drama thrived. The Classical Period made world changing discoveries in medicine, mathematics, physics, and astronomy. The city of Athens, one of the most powerful and influential cities in the Classical period introduced the world to Democracy and has shaped today’s western governments. Some of the philosophers of the Classical Period have become the most well known philosophers know to man today and have had influence on Western thought and civilization. To this day the teachings of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle are still pondered today. Classical art focused mainly on five forms: architecture, sculpture, pottery, painting, and music. Ancient Greece was dominated by religion. This resulted in the temples being big and beautiful. The Classical period brought change in the style of sculptures. The Greeks believed in humanism and their art displayed this. The Greeks took great pride in the importance of the individual in society in the forms of art, philosophy and government. The Greek artists developed their style to depict real people. They began to use a realistic approach of figures. Sculptures were perfectly formed figures without flaws, and looked upon as a form of beauty. This was a time of natural beauty focusing on earthy things instead of the mythological world. Man became the focus in daily life through Democratic politics in the new culture....
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...The people of ancient Greece lived nearly 4,000 years ago. Yet even today, their culture impacts our lives! We received many gifts from the ancient Greeks. Ancient Greek Inventions are in fact the original concepts of some of our most well known products, to this day. Those original concepts have just taken on a more modern form. OLYMPICS: The first Olympics games are usually given the start year of 776 BCE, but they probably began even sooner. The ancient Greeks loved competitions of all sorts, especially sporting competitions. The Olympics were not the onlycompetition games held in ancient Greece, but they were the most popular. The Greeks took the Olympic games quite seriously. Nearly all the ancient Greek cities sent teams to participate in the ancient Greek Olympics. If two or more Greek city-states happen to be at war with each other when the game date arrived, war was halted for the duration of the games. Everyone wanted their city-state to win! Sciences Greece has importantly influenced the Western science in many ways. The Ancient Greeks especially contributed many things to the scientific world, from medicine to astronomy. The most famous ancient Greek scientists and their work are briefly described below. Thales of Miletus (640-610 to ca 548-545 BC) had travelled widely in quest of knowledge, visiting Crete, Phoenicia, and Egypt. Ηe brought Phoenician navigational techniques into Miletus. Thales is also said to have tried to revise the calendar. He also...
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...ancient Greek myths because they influenced the ancient Greeks’ daily life and developed a sense of community within each city state. The people of ancient Greece believed that the diverse range of deities within Greek mythology influenced and controlled life on Earth, which made all aspects of life dependent on the attitudes of the gods. Each deity possessed specific desirable traits making them admired by the ancient Greeks. However, the gods also showed moral weakness to represent how it is natural to be influenced by temptation. It is interesting that the most powerful individuals in the universe were given flaws, which made each god and goddess more relatable. Mythology was intertwined...
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...The Influence of Music on Self and Society - Values in Music in Eastern and Western Cultures David Eaton July, 2003 Throughout history the unspoken but highly evocative language of music has exerted powerful influences on individuals and societies alike. Felix Mendelssohn once remarked that music is more specific about what it expresses than words written about those expressions could ever be. That music has the power to express, convey and illicit powerful emotions is without question, however the issue of music's moral and ethical power, and how that power affects individuals and societies, is one that receives too little attention in our post-modern world. Ancient cultures held strong beliefs in the moral and ethical power of music and as such it was imperative for artists within those cultures to exercise a certain moral and ethical responsibility in their creative endeavors. As a professional musician for over thirty years I concur with that premise and it is primarily from the axiological, rather than a theoretical or aesthetic viewpoint that I approach this discourse. The responsibility of artists to the social environment in which they live and work is something that I have always had strong sentiments. As we now find ourselves beginning a new millennium, questions with regards to music's origins, its spiritual, religious and mystical properties, its moral and ethical power, its transcendent qualities, the role of the arts and artists and the importance of art in general...
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...Spyrakos 211685500 GMK 1000: Elementary Modern Greek Professor Themis Aravossitas Wednesday, April 15th 2015 What is Greece?: Significance of Music within the Ancient Greek Culture Abstract: What is Greece? This questions can be answered in a variety of areas. The history of music in Greece plays a significant role in the history of the country. Because music played a integral role in the daily lives of the Ancient Greek citizens, it is evident that music has played a role in shaping the culture into what it is today. We live in a society where we are completely devoted and immersed in music. Whether it be a simple tune we hear on a radio or the hustle of city life, music is all around us. The way we react to music, is very similar to how music was in the ancient Greek times. Music allowed the citizens to express emotion, to worship, to prepare for sporting events, to mourn, to celebrate, and in essence to be happy. Music was their special gift from the gods, and they did everything in their power to make sure the gods understood their appreciation. They honored music and created an artistry that stands as a guiding role in, not only the history of the Greek culture, but also a significant role in the history of music in general. What is Greece? This question can be explored in many different areas. From a political aspect to the beautiful geography, Greece offers a wide range of history and culture that one cannot pass on learning about. The...
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...other era. From the introduction of new colors and architectural evolution, this type of art seems to introduce a whole new world and tells us a lot about the history of that era. The Classical and Medieval West period emerged in the 5th century B.C.E to the Rome’s fall in the 5th century C.E. This period’s history includes the rise of Christianity where a majority of the art from both Eastern and Western Europe prevailed as well as the Roman rule of Europe. Greek artists in this era were particularly interested in the human body, in its most ideal, perfect form. They strived on perfecting this creation which they regarded as the highest creation of nature. Painters during this time were better known for their art work than Greek sculptors, which I found interesting because the Greek sculptures I have found to be one of the most beautiful displays of art about this era; however, in hindsight, it seems the sculptures prevailed because many of the wall paintings of this era did not survive. One of the more well-known pottery painters of this era was Euphronios. His terracotta piece Euphronios Krater tells a story from Homer’s Odyssey and was in the Metropolitan Museum of Art for many years until the integrity of how it was exported was compromised and questioned and the Metropolitan was forced to return it. An interesting thing about the Greeks is that they honored achievement by creating beautiful,...
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...homosexuality and same-sex relationships. Unfortunately, it seems that this is one of those arguments that keeps us from moving forward. What frustrates me the most about the whole argument is how unnecessary—and ridiculously riddled with misconceptions and outright insulting fabrications—it is. Homosexuality seems to be too difficult a concept for our society to accept, but it is too real, and too ancient, an issue to deny. My purpose for writing this paper is to address one of the myths about homosexuality, and in doing so make a vital point about the biggest misconception that exists on the subject. In a society where each consecutive generation pushes the boundaries of social norms and acceptable behavior further outside of polite society’s comfort zone, fads and rebellions are commonplace. Often homosexuality gets lumped in with these fleeting trends and is seen as something transitory, something that will go away if denied acceptance long enough. On the contrary, homosexuality is not something new or impermanent. Rather it is a concept, a fact of life, which has been with us since the earliest recorded histories of man. In this essay I will show how ancient societies—the ancestors of everyone in this great country—reacted to the presence of homosexuality. I will explain how all of these diverse peoples, all over the globe, recorded in their histories and their art not only the presence of homosexuality in their societies, but also their acceptance of...
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...Chinese Periodization in Light of Economic Developments by Paul Halsall, http://www.mastep.sjsu.edu/history_of_tech/chinese_chronology.htm China, Technology and Change, an article by Lynda Shaffer, from the World History Bulletin, Fall/Winter, 1986/87, http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/shaffer.html China's Gifts to the West by Professor Derk Bodde, for the Committee on Asiatic Studies in American Education Reprinted with permission in China: A Teaching Workbook, Asia for Educators, Columbia University, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/song/readings/inventions_gifts.htm Part 2 - Science and Technology in China Science in China has a long history and developed quite independently of Western science. Needham (1993) has researched widely on the development of science and technologies in China, the effect of culture, and the transference of these principles, unacknowledged, to the West. The Chinese contribution to Western science is particularly interesting because it serves as a center of controversy about the roots of Western science. According to traditional Western scientists, the roots of science and the scientific method is in Greece and Greek thought. There is a tendency among scientists to claim that not only modern science, but science in general, was characteristic of European thought. The accompanying argument in that all...
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