The Influence of Ancient Greece on Western Civilization

Amongst their numerous accomplishments, the ancient Greeks are credited with inventing competitive athletics, drama, democracy, oratory, rhetoric, biology, zoology, and the atomic theory. Several ancient Greek concepts have since been applied in civilizations throughout much of Western history. Greek principles in literature and drama, as well as those in art and government, are thus said to have had a continuing impact on people in countless phases of history.

Certain themes in literature and drama originated from Greek authors and are believed to have influenced much of the world. Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey are the first epic poems in recorded history. These poems became popular throughout Mediterranean societies and are said to have caused the Romans to want an epic poem for themselves. Virgil soon wrote the Aeneid primarily because of the success of Homer’s poems (Knox 14). After the cessation of Greek civilization, Greek writings still affected various cultures. The study of Greek classics was a key element of the Renaissance, and ancient Greek writings were used in ideological wars of the Victorian era. Furthermore, reformation leaders in many countries considered Greek literature a favorite study (Knox 15-18). In addition to being credited with advancements in literature, the ancient Greeks are credited with the invention of the first plays. These originated from musical presentations of Greek liturgy at religious festivals. In a similar way, medieval dramas were based on Medieval Latin liturgy (Cahill 122). Usage of a stage and scenic backdrop were additional Greek inventions used by scores of later playwrights. As a whole, Greek literature and drama affected the world in several ways. Therefore, modern society would probably not be what it is today if it were not for the Greek poems, narratives, and plays that have impacted society at numerous time periods.

In addition to affecting literature and drama, the Greeks had an impact on the visual arts throughout much of Western history. Michael Wood says, “During the classical movement of the Greeks in the fifth century B.C. the main themes of western art to come were defined” (Wood et al. X). One of these themes was realism, which included portraying three-dimensions on a two-dimensional surface (Wood et al. X). Another theme of Greek artwork was capturing the human form. These same goals were taken up by subsequent artists, such as Salvador Dali and Henri Matisse (Spurling 76). Greek artists also depicted individuals as higher than nature, which was dissimilar to prior artistic ideals. This change to man being considered “the measure of all things” still exists today in Western artwork (Wood et al. VI). Greek sculptures, plays, and paintings also expressed suffering and downfall. This theme is sometimes used in art today and has been in several post-Greek time periods. Matisse and his contemporaries tried to capture abstract expressions full of emotion, especially pain mixed with wisdom, when they were not trying to paint a flawless human body (Spurling 73). Thus, many major themes in Greek art seem to have been reapplied continuously throughout history. As Wood states, “The images of perfection the Greeks left behind in clay, metal, stone, and paint have remained touchstones for all subsequent forms of Western art” (IX).

The Greeks also influenced society with their democratic government “which stands out as the most widely used form of government in history” (Knox 86-87). Unlike other nations of their time, Greece was normally comfortable with a freedom of discussion that such authors as Homer and Hesiod alluded