How Does War Influence Ancient Greek Culture

No matter where in the world you go, or what civilization’s history you explore, there is always some form of war or conflict to be found. These wars work to shape the cultures of the people involved. Of all of the civilizations impacted by war, one of the most well known is Ancient Greece. Much of what we know of Ancient Greece today is about the wars they experienced and the wake these wars left behind. In Greek culture, war shapes their stories, religion, ideals, and civilizations. Much of the culture of Ancient Greece relied on oral tradition, as it was how stories and life lessons were passed down from generation to generation. Most of these stories held some aspect of war, either in the main plot or setting. The Homeric Epics, some of the most famous and highly regarded stories to come from Ancient Greece, are set either in war or in its wake. To quote G.B. Cobbold,

At the fall of the Mycenaean empire, a new group of people emerged, ready to reshape Greece with bloodshed. These people, called the Dorians, excelled at war with advanced iron weaponry, yet while they revolutionized warfare they suppressed culture. A mix of seclusion and wars between Dorian settlements led to a complete pause of cultural advancement which is now referred to as the Dark Ages. Even writing and record keeping was forgotten. Similarly, Sparta’s single-minded focus on war ensured that very little cultural development happened in their civilization. Although unmatched in war, their training for soldiers was so rigorous it left very little time for teaching about anything other than war, leaving most Spartans illiterate and culturally inept. In the words of Cobbold, “Spartan life was, well, spartan: it produced no great art or literature, but it was stable and uncomplicated” Their singleminded focus on war lead to a culture that focused on nothing but