The Influence of Classical Greece and Rome on The Modern World

The Classical Era of Greece and Rome was a time of war and conflict, but it was also a time of great political and cultural achievement.

One of the Greeks biggest contribution to the modern world, a system known as demokratia, or “rule by the people.” The ideology of democracy was founded when Cleisthenes’, an Athenian nobleman, had overthrown the last of the autocratic tyrants and created the new system of citizen self-governing. In this democratic system, a male who was over the age of 18 was able to join an assembly (ekklesia), who were the governing body of Athens. Other legislators were randomly chosen, no elections would yet take place. Each official on this assembly were sworn to act “according to the laws what is best for the people.”

In Athens, juries had 500 people on them, as they sat in a big theater and listened to the accuser make a speech, then the defendant, like in today's time. When the speeches were over, and witnesses were called, the people of the jury would then vote if the accused were innocent or guilty. Once the person was considered guilty, then the accuser and the defendant would make a speech about which punishment they thought would be acceptable, and the jury would vote again. Much like the majority vote in modern society, whichever punishment got the most votes would be carried out. This system is the reason that Socrates was sentenced to death.

In Roman society, the ideas of a Senate come to be. The Roman Senate started it’s life as an advisory council, filled with patricians. It had become a much more powerful and major player in politics and government in the last two centuries of the republic. Romans who could serve on the senate had to be a citizen 25 or over, with military and administrative experience, could become quaestors, which is the lowest position able to be held in government at the time. The role of the Senate is the same as the one now. They would either approve or veto laws that seemed unethical in their society. Despite not having the power of creating laws, the Senate still held large authority in Roman politics. It was the official body that sent and received ambassadors on behalf of the city, appointed officials, declare war and negotiate peace, and appropriated funds for various projects.

Along with the political side of the ancient civilizations, there was also the art of the stage, also known as theatre. The origins of Greek theatre came from the followers of Dionysus, the god of fertility and wine. They would tell the stories of Greek myth by dance and song in choral form. In the 6th century BC, a priest of Dionysus, by the name Thespis (where we get the modern day word Thespian, meaning “stage actor”), introduced a new idea which can be considered the “birth of theatre.” He created the dialogue between two actors on stage, and in effect, became the first actor.

776 BC in Olympia, Greece, was the site of the first ever Olympics. They were created as an honoring to the God Zeus, and were staged every four years. The games were linked to religious festivals of the cult of Zeus. Some of the sporting events are ones even done in today’s time, with running and jumping being the main two. There was also wrestling, discus throwing, boxing, and equestrian events. There was also an event called Pankration, which was a more primitive form of a mix between martial arts, wrestling, and boxing. It was considered one of the toughest sports and the Greeks believed that it was founded by Theseus when he defeated the Minotaur in the labyrinth in their mythology.

The Greeks and Romans have influenced our modern world with significant influence.