Greece today is in economic shambles and a burden on the European Union but their ancestors ruled the world in almost all spheres of life. Ancient Greek civilization represents the beginning of philosophical, political, social, ethical, and scientific advances in society. The ancient Greek people have had an enormous impact on subsequent Western civilizations and it would not be an overstatement to say that some of them had far-reaching influences beyond the Western world.
Be it revolutionary philosophers like Aristotle, Socrates,
and Plato or the earliest of faces of Western literature such as Homer,
Herodotus, and Pericles, the Greek influence on philosophy and literature is
phenomenal. The theories proposed by Archimedes, Euclid, and Pythagoras are still
studied to this day and have laid the foundations of modern science and
mathematics. And one can never dismiss the cultural impact that Alexander the
Great brought about when he invaded nation after nation, bringing them all
under his single rule.
The ancient Greeks’ findings in the areas of astronomy,
geography, and mathematics made them pioneers in the field of science. The
Greeks’ interest in the scientific specification of the physical world can be
seen as far back as the sixth century BC, and they have often been hailed as
the fathers of science, medicine, zoology, and many other areas. A few Greek
inventions from yesteryear are:
The Watermill
Water mills were a revolutionary invention and have been
used all over the world for the purpose of metal shaping, agriculture and, most
importantly, milling. To mill means to grind, and that invariably means to grind
grain. This in turn led to the production of edible food staples like rice,
cereals, pulses, flour, and so on. This useful invention takes
its origins from the earliest known Perachora wheel, created way back in the
third century BC in Greece, most likely invented by the contemporary Greek
engineer Philo of Byzantium.
The Odometer
One of the most widely used instruments in the present day,
the odometer, measures the distance traveled by a vehicle such as a bicycle or
automobile. Even though modern odometers are digital, not so long ago they were
more mechanical. Later they became electro-mechanical with the rise of
technology. This omnipresent instrument was also being used in ancient Greece. Vitruvius
first described the odometer as being used for measuring distance around 27 BC. The
odometer was widely used in the late Hellenistic period and by the Romans for
indicating the distance traveled by a vehicle. It helped revolutionize the
building of roads by accurately measuring distance. The Romans were then able
to carefully mark distances with milestones.
The
Alarm Clock
The ancient Greek philosopher Plato (428–348 BC) was
said to possess a large water clock with an unspecified alarm signal similar to
the sound of a water organ. He used it at night, possibly for signaling the
beginning of his lectures at dawn. But the first alarms used by the ancient
Greeks were nothing like today. The Hellenistic engineer and inventor Ctesibius
(285–222 BC) fitted his clepsydras or water clock with a dial and pointer to
indicate the time, and added an elaborate alarm system which involved pebbles
dropping on to a gong, or the blowing of a trumpet by forcing bell jars down
into water and taking the compressed air through a beating reed at pre-set
times.
Cartography
Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. It
has played an important role in travel and navigation since ancient times. Even
though the earliest known evidence of cartography points towards ancient Babylon
as early as the ninth century BC, the Greeks took what they had at their
disposal and brought cartography into a new light. Anaximander was one of the
first pioneer cartographers to create a map of the world. Born between 611 and
610 BC, he made important contributions to the science of astronomy and
geography.
Olympics
The modern Olympics are one of the greatest sporting
spectacles of the modern age. But when Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the
international Olympic committee, started the first modern Olympics in 1896, he
was inspired by the ancient Olympics that were held in Greece more than 2,700
years ago. According to historical records, the first ancient Olympic Games can
be traced back to 776 BC. They were dedicated to the Olympian gods and were
staged on the plains of Olympia, in the southwest of Greece took place every four years. People from all over the Greek world
came to witness the spectacle. The victors were given olive leaf wreaths or
crowns as prizes.
Western
Medicine
Born in 460 BC, Hippocrates of Cos was an ancient Greek
physician of the Classical age and was considered one of the most outstanding
figures in the history of medicine. He was referred to as the father of Western
medicine in recognition of his lasting contributions to the field and was the
founder of the Hippocratic School of Medicine. He started to collect data and
conduct experiments to show that disease was a natural process; that
the signs and symptoms of a disease were caused by the natural reactions of the
body to the disease process. The most famous of his contributions is the
Hippocratic Oath, which bears his name. It was this document that first
proposed an ethical standard among doctors.
Philosophy
The Greek developed philosophy as a way of understanding
the world around them, without resorting to religion, myth, or magic. In fact
the early Greek philosophers were also scientists who observed and
studied the known world, the earth, seas, mountains, solar system, planetary
motion, and astral phenomena. Their philosophy, based on reasoning and
observation of the known world, played a pivotal role in the shaping of the
Western philosophical tradition. Philosophers like Socrates, Plato,
and Aristotle were such influential philosophers that their studies
were used to teach subsequent ages of Romans and other Western cultures.
Democracy
Although there is evidence that democratic forms of
government, in a broad sense, may have existed in several areas of the world
well before the turn of the fifth century, it is generally believed that the
concepts of democracy and the constitution were created in one particular place
and time – in ancient Athens around 508 BC. For this reason, Athens is regarded
as the birthplace of democracy. This transition from exploitation by the aristocracy
to a political system where all members of society have an equal share of
formal political power had a significant impact on future civilizations.
Birthday Cake
This inseparable, and arguably the best,
part of birthday celebrations has its roots in Ancient Greece. The celebration
of birthdays originated in Ancient Egypt where the people believed
pharaohs became gods when they were crowned. Their coronation, the day they
were “born” as gods, was a day of celebration every year. The Ancient Greeks
adopted the custom and were the ones to add a dessert to the festivities.
Ancient Greek birthday cakes were moon-shaped, to be offered as a tribute to
Artemis, the goddess of the moon. To make the cakes shine like the moon, they
were decorated with lit candles. If you wonder about blowing the candles in
making a wish, that bit was added much later, in 18th century Germany.
Jury
The first records of trial by jury come
from Ancient Greece. During the 5th century BC a jury was established in
Athens. It was massive by today’s standards; a typical jury consisted
of 501 Athenian men, but for major or controversial cases, it could be expanded
to over a thousand members always in an odd number. The jurors were so many in numbers
to prevent any bribery from taking place. Cases were decided by simple
majority rule. After both the defendant and accuser had presented their
arguments, the jury voted by placing a specific disk in a marked urn.
Spa Treatments
Ancient Greeks were the first to come up
with a system of running water and drainage. They were very keen on hygiene, so
it’s only natural that bathing became ritualized. In her book, ‘The Book of
Bath’ Françoise de Bonneville writes that in 6th century BC Greece,
"Bathing was becoming an art – of cleansing sands, hot water, hot air in
dark vaulted "vapor baths", a cooling plunge, a rubdown with aromatic
oils.” Many of these practices are still in use today in spa facilities.
Vending Machines
Among their many great contributions to
the world, the Ancient Greeks also left us the vending machine. However, the
Greeks’ vending machines didn’t dispense candy and snacks but rather holy
water. They were invented by scientist and mathematician Hero of Alexandria c.
10-70 AD, and described in detail in his book 'Pneumatics'. Hero’s
vending machine operated much like the modern version does - you inserted a
coin into a slot, then the coin hits a pan, which was attached to a lever. When
the coin hit, the lever would move, opening a valve, through which the holy
water came out. These vending machines were a way for temples to earn some
money while also helping the people worship.
Umbrellas
The forefathers of modern umbrellas were
invented in Ancient Greece, too. Depictions of umbrellas made of large bones
and wood or plant leaves at the top date back to 4th century BC. These devices
were used to block the sun or rain. Interestingly, it was seen as ‘unmanly’ to
carry an umbrella in Ancient Greece, and Athenian women did so as a sign of
subservience.
Famous people from ancient Greece encompass a diverse array
of figures who significantly shaped the course of history, philosophy,
politics, and warfare. From philosophers like Socrates and Plato, who laid the
foundations of Western thought, to statesmen like Perikles and Solon, who
championed democracy, and iconic generals like Alexander the Great and
Leonidas, whose military prowess left an indelible mark. These luminaries
collectively defined the essence of ancient Greek civilization and continue to
influence modern society.
Concepts like democracy, philosophy, modern medicine,
Olympic games and Jury were first introduced in ancient Greece. Mathematicians
like Euclid, Pythagoras and Archimedes, playwrights like Sophocles and
Euripides, story tellers like Aesop and poets like Homer have made outstanding contributions
in their respective fields to make ancient Greece a fertile playground for
ideas and innovations
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