Greek’s Impact on The West

Have you ever wondered where the concept of

theatre first appeared? Or when and where the system of
ruling democracy was created? Well, both and many more
were created by the Greeks. So how did they impact the
world so drastically?

First off, you might wonder who are the Greeks.

The Greeks or Hellens are an ethnic group and nation that
emerged in the course of 2nd millennium BCE through the
super imposition of a branch of the Indo-Europeans on the
population of the Mediterranean region. They are famous
for their Olympic games, democracy, Meteora, Acropolis,
and etc.……

Because of Greece’s mountainous land, it was never

one united country. Instead, the Greeks lived in separate
city-states, each one having their own government and
culture. This caused the Greeks to not live on a land but
around a sea. Greeks rarely had to travel more than 85
miles to reach the coastline; for example, the Aegean sea,
the Ionian sea, and the neighboring Black sea were
important transportation routes for the Greek people.
These seaways linked most parts of Greece. As the
Greeks became skilled sailors, sea travel connected
Greece with other societies. The Greeks’ lack of resources
and land also caused them to use the sea to conquer other
lands. So by the sea, Greeks came into contact with the
Western world.

Greek city-states had many different forms of

government. In some, a single person, called a king, ruled
in a government called a monarchy. Others adopted
aristocracy; a government ruled by a small group of noble
families, these wealthy families often gained political
power after serving in a king’s military calvary. Later, as
trade expanded, a new class of wealthy merchants and
artisans formed an oligarchy, a government ruled by a few
powerful people, who took power when dissatisfied with
aristocratic rule.

Last but not least, democracy. Greek democracy was a

form of direct democracy, where citizens themselves
participated in making decisions rather than relying solely
on elected representatives. Greek’s democracy introduced
the idea that political power ultimately rests with the
people. Ancient Greek democracy emphasized active
citizen participation in politics. Citizens had the right to
voice their opinions, propose laws, and vote on important
issues. The first known democracy in the world was in
Athens, a powerful Greek city-state. Athenian democracy
developed around the fifth century B.C.E.
This notion of civic engagement and importance of
individual voices in the political process greatly
influenced later democratic systems in the western world.
Democracy is often said to mean ‘rule by the people’ and
is derived from the Greek word ‘demos’, meaning people.

Although ancient Greek democracy did not have a

clear separation of power as seen in modern democratic
systems, the concept of checks and balances emerged in
Greek political thought. The athenian democracy had
various institutions and mechanisms to prevent the
concentration of power in a single individual or group,
such as the council and the courts. These ideas later
influenced the development of the separation of powers
principle in Western political systems.

Laboratories of Western democracy were founded in

Britain’s colonies in Australia from the mid-19 th centuries,
while South America largely created new autocracies.
Before the 20th century, monarchy also existed in Europe.
Although it disappeared after that, despite the Fascism
and communism.

You might wonder what is Fascism and communism,

luckily for you we’ve got the answer. Fascism is an
ultranationalist, authoritarian, far-right political
philosophy, or theory of government, that emerged in the
early twentieth century. Fascism prioritizes the nation
over the individual, who exists to serve the nation. On the
other hand, communism is a theory, or a system of social
organization in which all property is owned by the
community and each person contributes and receives
according to their ability and needs.

Not only were the Greeks excellent in political

matters, they were also great in many forms of art, such
as, architecture, sculpture, painting, pottery, and jewelry
making. They also greatly specialized in theatre, as the
ancient Greeks took their entertainment very seriously
and used drama as a way of investigating the world they
lived in, and what it meant to be human. Greek theatre
influenced Western theatre, where the audience, actors
and a stage, have been adapted to new types of topics
about theatre as well as the plays of comedies, historical
dramas and tragedies, which created great diversity in the
theatre. Theatre in the Western world today can be traced
back to ancient Greece, particularly to the city-state of
Athens, which is often viewed as the cradle of Western
civilization. Early theatre in Greece began as rituals to
honor the Greek gods, particularly Dionysus. From the
early days of story telling to the first performance
honoring Dionysus, we can see how theatre grew from its
Ancient Greek roots into today’s cultural powerhouse.
Elements such as masks, costumes, and music are, of
course aspects of performances that we widely associate
with modern theatrical shows.

Ancient Greek sculpture placed a strong emphasis on

the idealized human form. Sculptures sought to capture
the beauty and harmony of the human body, depicting
figures with balanced proportions and a sense of
naturalism. This focus on the idealized human form had a
lasting impact on Western art, influencing Renaissance,
Neoclassical, and even contemporary artistic traditions.
Sculptor studied the human anatomy and employed
techniques to create lifelike representations of the human
body.
 Ancient Greek architecture defined the proportions,
design elements, and decorative motifs used in buildings.
The three primary orders- Doric, Ionic, Corinthian-
established a standardized system for creating harmonious
and aesthetically pleasing structures. These orders became
fundamental in Western architectural traditions, serving as
a basis for subsequent style such as Roman, Renaissance,
and Neoclassical architecture.

Ancient Greece also had a a profound influence on

Roman art, as the Romans admired and emulated Greek
artistic styles and techniques. Greek sculptures and
architectural forms were often replicated or adapted in
Roman art, contributing to the spread of Greek artistic
traditions throughout the Roman Empire. This
dissemination of Greek art through Roman culture further
solidified its influence on Western artistic traditions.

Ancient Greek’s art has been a cornerstone of art

education in Western societies. Artists and art students
have studied ancient Greek sculptures, architectural
forms, and artistic techniques as part of their training
inspiration . This ongoing study and appreciation of
ancient Greek art ensure its continued influence on
Western artistic traditions.

Greece’s sculptures used the subtractive technique.

Where they carved away material from a block to create
their desired form. They employed chisels, hammers, and
other tools to shape the stone or marble. This technique
allowed for precise detailing an the creation of three-
dimensional sculptures. Greek artists set a high standard
for technical skill and craftsmanship that influenced
Western sculptures for centuries to come.

The concept of contrapposto meaning “counterpose”

was a technique used in Greek sculpture to depict a
naturalistic and lifelike stance. It involved placing the
weight of the body one one leg while the other leg relaxed
, resulting in a subtle shift in posture. This technique
created a sense of movement, balance, and realism in the
sculptures. The use of contrapposto became hallmark of
Western figurative art, inspiring artists from the
Renaissance onwards to capture natural and dynamic
poses.
 It’s artists developed a technique of lost-wax casting
for creating bronze sculptures. This method involved
creating a wax model, encasing it in clay or plaster, and
then melting away the wax to leave a mold. Molten
bronze was poured into the mold, and once cooled, the
mold was broken to reveal the bronze sculpture.
The use of lost-wax casting allowed for the production of
intricate and detailed bronzed sculptures. This technique
was later adopted by the Romans and eventually
reintroduced in the renaissance, contributing to
advancements in bronze sculpture.

While many Ancient Greek paintings have not

survived, it is known that Greek artists used various
painting techniques. They employed encaustic painting,
which involved mixing pigment with hot wax and
applying them to wooden panels. They also used fresco
painting, where pigments were applied to wet plaster
allowing the paint to bond to the surface as it dried. These
painting techniques influenced later Western painting
traditions, particularly in the use of pigments and methods
of application.
 Till this day, Ancient Greek myths and legends,
continue to inspire and influence Western artistic
creations. Some examples are: literature: The works of
Homer, Greek tragedies, written by playwrights such as
Aeschylus, Suphocles, and Euripides, explored themes of
fait, morality, and the human condition. The enduring
themes and complex characters found in these plays have
influenced later playwrights, including William
Shakespeare and countless others.
Visual arts: Greek mythology provided artists with a rich
source of inspiration for creating sculptures depicting
gods, goddesses, and mythical creatures. Scenes from
Greek mythology were also commonly depicted ok
pottery and vases. This tradition influenced the visual
storytelling in later Western art.
Renaissance art: Artists such as Leonardo da Vinci,
Michelangelo, and Raphael drew inspiration from Greek
mythology, incorporating classical themes, motifs, and
idealized forms into their paintings and sculptures.
Literary allusions: Writers through out the centuries
have referenced and alluded to Greek myths in their
works. For example, William Shakespeare, John Milton,
and John Keats.
Symbolism and Allegory: Greek myths often convey
universal themes and archetypal characters, making them
powerful tools for conveying symbolism and allegory.
Artists and writers continue to draw on these myths to
explore timeless themes such as love, power, heroism, and
the struggle between good and evil.
Modern popular culture: Greek mythology has
permeated modern popular culture through various media,
including films, television shows, and video games.
Contemporary artists and creators often use elements
from Greek myths to tell new stories or reinterpret ancient
tales in a modern context.

Ultimately, it's now evident to us that these Greeks

were highly developed in both politics and art. Given how
much of an impact their empire had on neighboring
communities, we can only speculate about how enormous
it was. It's likely that the world would be very different
from what it is today if not for these outstanding leaders
and craftspeople.