Contributions and Legacy
The Ancient Greeks have had a very large impact on our 21st century lives. Their contributions in many different areas including literature, government, math, medicine & the body, architecture, plants & animals, theater & sports, astronomy, and geography continue to change the way we live.
Modern Language and Literature Did you know that some English words we use today have Greek roots? We wouldn’t have vocabulary or even the alphabet without them. Some of the language and historical books used today were created by the Ancient Greeks. Homer, a Greek author and poet, created two very famous books that are very well-known today. Have you ever heard about the Iliad or the Odyssey? These books have contributed greatly to American literature, and have inspired many other authors and poets in their writing. A variety of Greece’s achievements in Language and Literature can be seen throughout our 21st century lives. Modern Government Ancient Greece believed in democracy. In fact, one of the most famous city-states (Athens) was run by a democracy. However, another city-state, Sparta, was an oligarchy. Because of the variety of government types used, Greece is responsible for changing the way governments around the world work. The United States may have a democracy, but England has a monarchy, while countries in the Middle East are being controlled by tyranny. Greece started the different government types, and these governments are used everywhere. Not only is Greece the reason for our government (the United States) being a democracy, but Greece also started the court system. Juries first began during the time of Ancient Greece, and we use juries in our trials daily. The Greek trials have influenced our own, and we continue to make changes to our court system to make it as fair as possible. Modern Medicine and Body Ancient Greece’s knowledge about medicine and the human body were very simple, compared to our phenomenal doctors and hospitals today, but Greece did contribute to our health care. They believed that god and goddess controlled natural events, including health and sickness. The citizens believed that by being sick, the gods were punishing them for doing something wrong. The Greeks also weren't allowed to cut people open, because it would offend the gods. Several centuries after Hippocrates, medical students were able to name and describe the organs. They learned the brain was the center of the nervous system. The four bodily humors were blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. The Ancient Greeks had a lot of connections with us getting where we are today. Did you know that all doctors take an oath when they become a doctor. This oath states that they will keep the patient alive, will keep the patient files kept a secret and not opened and shared to the public, and to be honest. This oath was inspired by Hippocrates. We both know that the brain controls the body and that heart was the organ that pumped blood through the body. Now the doctors are able to name and describe the different organs in the body. |
Modern Language and Literature
Did you know that some English words we use today have Greek roots? We wouldn’t have vocabulary or even the alphabet without them. Some of the language and historical books used today were created by the Ancient Greeks. Homer, a Greek author and poet, created two very famous books that are very well-known today. Have you ever heard about the Iliad or the Odyssey? These books have contributed greatly to American literature, and have inspired many other authors and poets in their writing. A variety of Greece’s achievements in Language and Literature can be seen throughout our 21st century lives. |