Current European culture would not exist without the legacy of Classical Culture. Classical culture can be defined as the uses, customs, culture and art that the Greeks and Romans left us.
The Greco-Latin institutions left an open door to what would be the future of Europe and of the history of mankind. The world at that time was divided into two groups: Greeks and Vikings. That is why classical antiquity has lasted until today, leaving a unique legacy.
What is the heritage that classical culture has left us?
Philosophy, science or democracy have their origins in this historical period.
- Democracy. El demos It was the town and cracy means power in Greek. The Greeks were aware that the power should be in the people and therefore decisions should be taken in common. Equality and rights are born in part from these Greek ideas.
- La philosophy Far from myths or religion, he tried to explain everything that happened in the world. For this reason, the Greeks began to wonder about the origin of life and the role of the human being in our days.
- La science wants to give a reasonable answer to everything that happens. Therefore, mathematics, astronomy and medicine were important sciences in ancient Greece.
- The most advanced art in history emerged during the Classical Era. No other civilization has been able to advance so much in this regard.
- El language, Greek words survive to this day in almost all European languages.
- The sport they created the olympics in honor of the gods and the spirit of overcoming is still latent in our culture.
- The law "ubi societas ibi ius", where there is society there is law. People's rights are born here and many of the current European Laws are based on Greece.
- The Latin the language spoken by the Romans and the language that spread to the rest of Europe.
- Engineering of bridges, aqueducts, temples and buildings that are still standing to this day.
- Literature would not be understandable not to speak of "The Aeneid" or "The art of loving" being great works of Greco-Latin literature.
- La religion Christianity is introduced by the Romans and is later divided into the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant religions.
- Classical culture has brought a wide variety of knowledge on different subjects to humanity.
Types of Classical Culture
If you were thinking of studying classical culture you should know that there are different types and that in each of them a different part of this culture is studied.
classical greek culture
Athens, Corinth, Thebes or Sparta were part of the classical Greek culture. In the heart of the Mediterranean, these cities were born where democracy began to develop. The contributions they gave to history can be talked about democracy, philosophy or the creation of the Olympics.
classical roman culture
roman culture develops as the result of interaction between the Greeks and the Romans. Both cultures developed in the same part of the world and contributed considerably to the culture and art that later developed in Rome.
Among the most interesting contributions of classical Roman culture to humanity can we talk about the latin alphabet, law, literature and the creation of architecture.
classical Greco-Roman culture
When the Romans conquered Greece, a symbiosis was created between both cultures during a period of classical history where, above all, Important changes were made to many of the stories and beliefs that the Greeks had. In fact, the Greek gods were renamed by Roman names.
Although the romans were polytheists Initially, the name change was due to a change in the way of thinking of the Romans compared to what the Greeks had been doing.
classical mesoamerican culture
In the second century BC in Mexico or in Central America great architectural works could be found and above all, the great advances in agricultural techniques that were developed in part thanks to the technological knowledge they had were due to this time.
classical culture in the renaissance
Due to scientific advancement in the Renaissance, new arts and knowledge were developed based on the discoveries of classical culture. Great authors like Rousseau or great artists like Da Vinci and Donatello quenched their thirst with the knowledge left by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Constructions during this stage of history were based in part on classical architecture. After the obscurantism of the previous period, the renaissance came as a breath of fresh air for European society.
How to learn more about classical culture?
The western world may be imperceptible to most people, but the influence comes from the ancient world and this is indisputable. The Greek and Roman civilization has been the basis of what we know today as Europe.
It is interesting at this point to reflect on the legacy that the Greeks and Romans have left us. Since even Castilian has its bases in two languages such as Greek and Latin.
Classical culture has brought a lot of knowledge to our lives, but also knowing the origin of that culture can help us reflect and question our current customs and culture.
Something you can do to acquire more knowledge is to know the past well. You can learn more about classical culture through the internet, consulting different encyclopedias, watching documentaries or taking online courses. The sources can be infinite but only you have the power to choose the sources from which you want to be nourished to continue acquiring knowledge.
Don't keep waiting and expand your knowledge right now! With determination and perseverance there are no limits.