The Impact of Ancient Greece on the Modern World

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The Impact of Ancient Greece on the Modern World by Mind Map: The Impact of Ancient Greece on the Modern World

1. Architecture

1.1. The architecture in Ancient Greece was designed with tradition in mind.

1.1.1. The famous Parthenon was based on the style and design that had been used for temples for over 200 years before.

1.1.1.1. This is relative, because some of the structures used by the Ancient Greeks are still seen today in more modern buildings. You could even compare the architectural styles to important buildings in Washington D.C. (like the White House)

1.1.1.2. The Parthenon was another example of the balance and proper proportions demonstrated often in architectural masterpieces and so highly valued by the Greeks. (see the Greek Arts)

1.2. The Greeks also built their buildings to represent their gods. The gods were always the center of the most important buildings.

1.3. The sports stadiums built in Greece for their Olympics are much like our own present day stadiums. (see Sports and The Olympics)

1.3.1. The Hippodrome for example.

1.4. Often they were built on hills to symbolize the buildings being close to their gods.

1.5. They invented the slanted roof so that water could flow off of of their houses when it rained and not sit on their roof tops.

1.6. They incorporated statues (often of their gods) into their architecture.

1.6.1. Such as in the Parthenon (see above)

2. Sports and the Olympics

2.1. The Ancient Greeks were the inventors of the Olympics.

2.1.1. Some of the events in Olympics that the Ancient Greeks performed are still performed today.

2.2. The Greeks valued human strength and performance.

2.2.1. The strength of the human body in competition was often depicted in Greek art. (see The Greek Arts)

2.3. More than human strength, competition was valued, which included not only a demonstration of human strengths, but a demonstration of human against human in sport.

2.3.1. This 'competitive spirit' was best demonstrated in the Olympics. (see above)

2.4. They often performed nude to demonstrate the performance of the human body.

2.5. They only had five sports

2.5.1. javelin

2.5.2. sprinting

2.5.3. wrestling

2.5.4. discus

2.5.5. long jump

2.6. They won great respect and wreaths to wear.

2.7. The suspended any war activities to have the Olympics.

3. Mathematics and Philosophy

3.1. Socrates, a well known philosopher, who was feared for his radical beliefs, believed that 'absolute standards did exist for truth and justice.'

3.1.1. "The unexamined life is not worth living." -Socrates

3.1.2. This man is relevant to today, because he encouraged people to question their own character and better themselves.

3.1.3. Socrates was condemned to death for his beliefs. He was killed by a poison called hemlock.

3.2. Plato was a student of Socrates with a very original view of the "perfect government system."

3.2.1. Plato was greatly opposed by Socrates and Aristotle.

3.2.2. He is relevant, because he shows how even back then many different views of the governmental system existed.

3.3. Aristotle was the student of Plato

3.3.1. He invented a method of arguing according to rules of logic, and applied this method to Biology, Psychology, and Physics.

3.3.2. He taught a 13 year old Alexander, son of King Philip of Macedonia, who would be known later as Alexander the Great.

3.4. Euclid was a great mathematician who opened a school of Geometry.

3.4.1. He wrote a book called the Elements, which was a work of 465 geometry propositions that was used until the 1900s.

3.5. Archamedes invented the value of pi.

3.6. Pathagoras was given credit for the Pathagorean theorum.

3.7. Hippocrates created the idea that sickness was natural.

3.7.1. Hippocratic Oath

4. Development of Democracy

4.1. Pericles was a wise and honorable statesman in Athens.

4.1.1. Before the Pericles increased the number of paid officials, only the wealthiest citizens could afford to hold public office, because most of the positions did not pay.

4.2. In consequence with Pericles's decision, Athens had more citizens participating in the government offices than any of the other city-states.

4.2.1. Pericles increased the number of paid public officials in an effort to strengthen their democracy.

4.3. Only certain people were allowed to participate in Democratic activities.

4.3.1. Slaves, women, and those who weren't born in Greece were not allowed to participate.

5. The Greek Arts

5.1. The human physicality was often seen demonstrated in sculptures.

5.1.1. Sculptures often depicted a rather strong male participating in an athletic sport.

5.2. The relative expression of serenity across a human sculpture's face was sought after by artists in the Greek culture.

5.2.1. This is relevant, because this helped set the standard for artists later in history. This is what people expected.

5.3. The Greeks invented drama and built the first theaters.

5.3.1. The Greeks would often put on a performance as a tribute to their gods.

5.3.1.1. Women were not allowed to perform. Men would play the women roles.

5.4. They were the inventors of what is called classical art.

5.4.1. This is because of their value of balance, order, and proportion.

5.5. Epic Poems made plays easier to write since plays were written in verse.