Key Terms Democracy Parthenon Socrates Pythagoras Aim: How did Ancient Greek achievements contribute to modern civilizations? Key Terms Democracy Parthenon Socrates Pythagoras Coach Smith
A classical civilization is a civilization that has given the world important ideas and inventions that people still use today. Coach Smith
Ancient Greek civilization is considered a classical civilization. Coach Smith
Athenian Democracy The ancient Greek city-state of Athens developed the first democratic government. A democracy is a system of government where citizens participate in government. Only free men born in Athens could be citizens. Women, slaves, and foreigners could not vote. Coach Smith
The ancient Athenians were the first people to use voting as a form of participation in government. Coach Smith
Architecture The Greeks built temples with beautiful columns. Greek architecture still influences people today. Many government buildings in the United States are modeled after Greek temples. Coach Smith
The Parthenon was a Greek temple to the goddess, Athena. Notice the use of columns. Coach Smith
The U.S. Supreme Court building is clearly influenced by the Parthenon. Coach Smith
Classical Greek Philosophy The ancient Greeks were the first students of philosophy. They wanted to know the meaning of life and how people should live. Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle still influence people today. Socrates encouraged people to think for themselves and to ask questions. Coach Smith
Socrates was a great Greek philosopher. He was tried and found guilty of corrupting the youth of Athens. For encouraging people to ask questions, he was forced to commit suicide. Coach Smith
The Greek Mathematicians The ancient Greeks also made advances in mathematics. Pythagoras, Euclid, and Archimedes were important Greek mathematicians. The Pythagorean theorem examines the relationship between the three sides of a right triangle. Coach Smith
The ancient Greeks gave us many important mathematical theorems. Coach Smith
The Legacy of Classical Greece A legacy is defined as something handed down from the past. The ancient Greeks have passed down many important ideas and inventions to our modern world. Democracy, the use of columns, mathematical ideas, and philosophies are just a few of the ideas passed down to modern people from the ancient Greeks.. Coach Smith
The ancient Greeks were the first people to perform plays and write comedies and dramas. Coach Smith
Questions for Reflection: Define legacy. List two important contributions of the ancient Greeks to the modern world. How do Greek ideas concerning government still influence us today? How do Greek ideas concerning architecture still influence us today? Why is ancient Greece considered a classical civilization? Coach Smith