Classical heritage and its influence

How did Greek philosophy influence later thinking? What types of literature did the Greeks create? The ancient Greeks made great achievements in philosophy, literature, art, and architecture that influenced the development of later cultures and ideas. Greek Achievements

By working through series of questions, Socrates thought people could discover basic nature of life Method of learning through questions called the Socratic method Socratic Method Socrates believed philosophers could learn what made good people, societies by asking questions Started with basic questions, like “What is truth?” Socrates followed up with more questions Socrates interested in broad concepts of human life—truth, justice, virtue Asking Questions Philosophy of Socrates

Theory of Government Philosophers most qualified to make good decisions Did not support Athenian democracy in which all men could take part Plato wanted to make philosopher’s education more formal Founded the Academy, which in Plato’s lifetime became most important site for Greek philosophers to do their work Plato One of Socrates’ students, became great philosopher in own right Left behind great number of writings that record ideas on wide variety of topics, from nature of truth to ideal form of government The Republic argues that government should be led by philosophers

Aristotle was among students who studied at the Academy More concerned with nature of world that surrounded him Tried to apply philosophical principles to every kind of knowledge The Third Philosopher Aristotle

Inferring New Facts Aristotle also helped develop field of logic, process of making inferences Example: birds have feathers, lay eggs; owls have feathers, lay eggs; therefore, owl must be a type of bird Emphasis on Reason and Logic Emphasis on reason, logic Reason, clear and ordered thinking; use reason to learn about world Observe carefully, think rationally about what one has seen

Literature as Mimesis Aristotle (384 – 322 BCE) In his Poetics Aristotle laid some of the ground rules of what good literature should look like. He has become an authority of literary theory. Though a student of Plato, Aristotle differed from him on the fundamental issue of objective and subjective approaches. Aristotle criticizes orators who write exclusively from the intellect, rather than from the heart, praising the way Greek dramatists make their characters speak, especially in Sophocles, Oedipus Rex, and Antigone. Composers writing in the Aristotelian tradition appeal to our emotions and satisfy our psychological needs

These two works became basis for the Greek education system. Other Greek literature remains, with a great many works still popular today. Greeks excelled in poetry—both epics and other forms—history, and drama. Most famous works are some of earliest Epic poems of great events and heroes The Iliad and the Odyssey, attributed to poet Homer, tell stories of Trojan War Homer’s Epics Greek Literature Iliad tells story of last year of war, two heroes—Achilles and Hector Odyssey tells story of heroes from the war, with Odysseus who was forced to wander the sea Iliad and Odyssey

Other Forms of Poetry Greeks wrote many types of poetry besides epics Hesiod wrote descriptive poetry about works of gods, lives of peasants Greeks also created lyric poetry –Named after the lyre, musical instrument often played to accompany reading of poems –Lyric poems do not tell stories, but deal with emotions, desires Lyric poets –Sappho, one of few Greek women to gain fame as writer; dealt with daily life, marriage, love –Pindar, late 500s, early 400s; poems commemorated public events, like Olympic Games

While the Greeks wrote histories to preserve the past, they created a new form of writing for entertainment—drama, the art of playwriting. Earliest dramas part of festivals Dionysus, god of wine and celebration Group of actors called a chorus Recited stories Athenian Roots Dramas became more complex Individual actors took on roles of specific characters in stories Two distinct forms of dramas developed, tragedy and comedy Development Drama

Distinct Forms Many comedies were satires, plays written to expose flaws of society Aristophanes greatest Greek comedy writer Plays poke fun at aspects of Athenian society, from government to treatment of women Comedies Focused on hardships faced by Greek heroes Three great writers –Aeschylus, Greek myths –Sophocles, suffering people brought on selves –Euripides, tragedy brought on by chance, behavior Tragedies

Among fields for which Greeks best known Greek authors wrote about and analyzed own past First major Greek historian, Herodotus Lived in Greece during wars with Persia; described battles and public debates in The Histories Thucydides lived during Peloponnesian War, wrote about it Included primary sources, like speeches he heard delivered Looked at sources critically, ignored unreliable, irrelevant ones Primary Sources Another early historian, Xenophon fought in Persia after Persian Wars Concentrated less on sources, debates, more on describing famous men; had less critical style Work has helped us learn what life was like in 300s BC Greece Describing Famous Men History

Beauty Athenians enjoyed beauty, both written and visual Expressed love of written beauty through literature; visual beauty through architecture, art Enhancements To enhance appearance of buildings, added fine works of art, painted and sculpted Grandest buildings built on acropolis, at city’s center Architecture Athenians wanted their city to be most beautiful in Greece Built magnificent temples, theatres, public buildings Parthenon Most magnificent on acropolis Massive temple to Athena Begun by Pericles, 447 BC Took 14 years to build Greek Architecture and Art

Human Forms Greek sculptors among finest world has ever known Particularly adept at sculpting human form; studied people at rest, moving Tried to re-create what they saw, paid particular attention to muscles Roman Copies Few original works remain; most copies made a few hundred years later Roman artists made many copies of greatest Greek statues Many copies survived even after original statues destroyed Lifelike, Not Realistic Greeks wanted statues to look lifelike, active, not necessarily realistic Portrayed subjects as physically perfect, without blemishes, imperfections Greek statues almost all depict figures of great beauty, grace Sculpture

Larger Paintings Little evidence of larger works; written sources say Greeks created murals in many public buildings Often included scenes from Iliad, Odyssey; showed aftermath of battles, rather than battle itself Themes similar to tragic drama popular with Athenians Painting Only a few original Greek paintings survive Best preserved are paintings on vases, plates, other vessels Scenes from everyday life, or from myths, legends Most use only red, black; still convey movement, depth