The Classical World

The Classical World Essay, Research Paper

The Classical World

The Classical World made many contributions to the development of science,

literature, and ethics. These contributions have influenced the modern world

today. Many mathematicians, astronomers, and scientists contributed to the

development of many of the luxuries we enjoy today. Homer, author of The Iliad

and The Odyssey, made contributions to the field of literature through his

writing. In the field of ethics, many philosophers from the Classical World

contributed to the standards, values, and principles of our society today. Some

of the major contributions from the Classical World is in the field of science.

Mathematicians, astronomers, and scientists made important contributions

that formed the basic element of science. From this basic element came the

luxuries we enjoy today. Pythagoras, a mathematician, proved “the relationship

between the legs and the hypotenuse of a right triangle.”1 From this, he

derived the Pythagorean Theorem. This contribution mainly influenced

architecture and geometry today. Equally, Eratosthenes also influenced

architecture and geometry. He developed a method of determining the

circumference of the Earth by using geometry. Developed by Archimedes, the

Archimedes Principle contributes greatly to the field of science. The principle

states that “a body immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal the weight

of the fluid displaced by the body.”2 The Archimedes Principle influenced the

development of the boat and submarine. The Classical World also contributed to

the field of literature.

Literature has come a long way from the Classical World since its

development by many authors and playwrights of this time period. Homer, author

of The Iliad and The Odyssey, affected prose and poetry through his writing of

Homeric poems. Sophocles, a playwright, “presented many changes in Greek

Drama.”3 These changes led to the development of more actors in a play and the

addition of more scenery. Accordingly, these changes have influenced modern day

movies in that they have more actors. Since the Classical World contributed to

the fields of science and literature, it also helped develop the fields of

ethics.

The standards, values, and principles of a society were also contributed by

various philosophers of the Classical World. Pythagoras founded the

“Rosicrucian Fellowship,” a religious and philosophical school. One of the

three main rules of this school was, “No eating beans or meat,” which most

likely influenced the idea of the modern day vegetarian. Wanting people to

think for themselves, Socrates did not want the people of his time to “imitate

their elders.”4 To Socrates, “people should depend on reason and logic to guide

their lives.” 4 These beliefs have contributed to the development of ethics.

Also these beliefs have influenced the basic thinking and making decisions of

man. In these three fields, the Classical World made many contributions.

The Classical World made many contributions to the fields of science,

literature, and ethics. These contributions, in many ways, influenced the

modern world. Mathematicians, astronomers, and scientists like Pythagoras,

Eratosthenes, and Archimedes contributed to the field of science and

influenced the modern world greatly. Contributing in the field of literature,

Homer and Sophocles have affected prose, poetry, and Drama through their

literary works. Philosophers have changed our views on different matters such as

alternatives to eating. The contributions from the Classical World developed and

influenced the way we view science, literature and Drama, and ethics in today’s

society.