History Fact Finder | Eras and Their Highlights - Which Classical Greeks Influenced Western Civilization?

Which classical Greeks influenced Western civilization?

The classical Greeks influenced Western civilization by making numerous contributions in such diverse areas as science, medicine, philosophy, art, literature, architecture, engineering, mathematics, music, drama, language, and politics. For example, the Greek philosophers Socrates (c. 470–399 B.C.), Plato (c. 428–348 or 347 B.C.), and Aristotle (384–322 B.C.) inquired into the nature of the universe. The major Greek poets were Homer (ninth–eighth? century B.C.), who wrote epics (long narrative poems), and Sappho (c. 610–580 B.C.), who was famous for her love poems. Dramatists included Aeschylus (525–456 B.C.), Sophocles (c. 496–406 B.C.), and Euripides (c. 484–406 B.C.); writers of comic plays were Aristophanes (c. 450–388 B.C.) and Menander (342–292 B.C.). The classical Greeks also excelled at speaking. Among the great orators were...

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass