Ancient Greek Contributions To Western Civilization

What does it mean to contribute? By dictionary definition contribute means give in order to help achieve or provide something. Contribute is exactly what the Ancient Greeks did. The Ancient Greeks works have greatly contributed to the development of the Western Civilization. The Ancient Greeks works in mathematics contributed to the development of Western civilizations developments in mathematics. The Ancient Greeks development in the government system democracy is a very important contribution to the Western civilization as democracy is their system of government. The Ancient Greek philosophers developed philosophies that have integrated themselves into the Western civilization. The Ancient Greeks developments are very important to Western

civilization. The Ancient Greeks contributed theories of mathematics, philosophies of life, and structures of government to Western civilization.
The Ancient Greek mathematicians Pythagoras and Euclid’s theories of mathematics are still used in Western civilizations mathematics. The Ancient Greek mathematician Euclid made a very important mathematical development, which was the development of geometry. Euclid wrote a book called Euclid Elements that included many mathematical definitions and propositions. Euclid’s book Euclid Elements on geometry is still considered a relevant mathematical book. Western schools teach geometry in their schools. The Western civilizations geometry curriculum and textbooks are based off that of Euclid’s book. Another very important mathematical theorem that was developed by the Ancient Greeks was the Pythagorean theorem. The Pythagorean theorem was based off of the findings of the Greek scholar Pythagoras. Pythagoras’s theorem is also used in the Western civilizations math curriculum. In conclusion the Ancient Greek scholars Pythagoras and Euclid’s mathematical developments were very important contributions to the Western Civilization.
Greeks contribution to the government system democracy has greatly effected Western civilization, as democracy is their form of government.

Pericles was a primary contributor to the development of democracy. Pericles introduced direct democracy to the Greek city-state Athens. While the Western civilization does not have a direct democracy but a representative democracy. Athens had one of the most democratic government of all time. The Athenian democracy was also the first government to introduce the idea of citizens having the ability to bring up legal charges. Athens also developed a written code of laws that based on the fact that all were equal under law. While their laws might have been a little outrageous it is still a contribution as the Western civilization has many written laws and their foundation is equality to all. Another contribution is the idea that citizens could propose laws. An Athenian leader named Cleisthenes came up with the idea. In Western civilization all citizens are allowed to submit laws called a bill then the bill will go through a governmental process and if agreed upon becomes a law. In conclusion the Ancient Greeks contributed numerous governmental ideals to the Western Civilization and is arguable one of their most important contribution to all

society.
Philosophies developed by Greek philosophers were contributed to Western civilization.

One of the most renowned Greek philosophers was Socrates. There is not much known about Socrates’ personal life. Socrates primary philosophy was that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates lived by this philosophy; Socrates questioned traditional ways of Athenian thought. Socrates also challenged people to question political and social truths. Socrates questioning ultimately led to his demise. Socrates ability to intellectually and humorously challenge the traditional ways of life way admired by many Athenians, but how every coin has a back Socrates also made many enemies in the Athenian people as they felt he threatened their ways of life. Socrates was ultimately executed. This philosophy of questioning everything is heavily involved in Western civilization. This philosophy of having the ability to question freely is even stated in Western civilization. The first American Constitutional Amendment included that “ no law… prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech.” The ability to have the freedom of speech was a huge step in the development of giving Americans the ability to question government and political decisions and legally cannot be

prosecuted.
America even goes to the extreme of giving American the ability to shut down the government stated in the Declaration of Independence “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” This demonstrates how important Socrates philosophy of “the unexamined life” was very influential on Western civilization. In conclusion Ancient Greek philosophies were a very important contribution to Western Civilization.
The Ancient Greeks contributed theories of mathematics, philosophies of life, and structures of government to Western civilization. One primary contribution Western civilization gained from the Ancient Greeks was their mathematical developments. Euclid’s book on Geometry and Pythagoras’s theorem are important in Western civilizations school mathematics curriculum. One of the most important things the Ancient Greeks contributed to Western civilization was democracy. Western civilizations democracy is their most important value. Socrates philosophy that “the unexamined life is not worth living” shaped Western civilization in many ways. As they made sure that citizen could not be convicted for questioning the government. So what does it mean to contribute? Contribute means give in order to help achieve or provide something. Contribute is exactly what the Ancient Greeks did. The Ancient Greeks contributes were given to achieve the Western civilization.