How Is Classical Greece Still Relevant Today

Society and culture in today’s Western world are still influenced by the events and activities of Classical Greece. A few of the ways this can be seen is in architecture, art, governmental structure, and social activities, Classical Greece can be seen to influence who we are and what we do. Though not all of the thoughts and ideas the ancient Greeks followed are still practiced today, many of them live on in some form in today’s Western society. There are similarities and differences in the forms Classical Greece shows up in our society and culture, but by allowing their influence into our lives, we are carrying on some of their histories for future generations to learn about. Much of the architecture in today’s world was influenced by the

“Voting by hand-raising or shouting, banishment by popular vote, and radically direct management of public affairs by average citizens” (Romeo, 2016), are some of the ways that ancient Greece handled their political lives. Many people, in politics or not, would love to have this option for some of the more powerful political citizens who use their power for their own selfish reasons instead of for the betterment of society. However, this would be considered unconstitutional and undemocratic in today’s society. While shouting to be heard over others was used in Sparta for voting, the modern-day way of voting in the U.S. Senate and House is still held by voicing a vote, but the vote can then be contested and force a roll call vote to be taken. Deciding who could vote is similar in today’s society as it was in ancient Greece. All citizens in both societies are allowed to vote; however, in ancient Greece, this only included men 18 years of age and older. In today’s society, this includes men, women, and immigrants, as long as they are legal citizens. (Romeo,

For instance, the Olympic games were born in ancient Greece and we still carry on that tradition today with both the summer and winter Olympics. Another way Classical Greece influences today’s customs and traditions is with religion. Ancient Greece was polytheistic, meaning they believed in many gods and goddesses. Today, there are many different religions that either believe in one true God, multiple gods and goddesses, or even are just more spiritual than religious. Some examples of these religions include Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Wicca, and Catholicism. The social hierarchy in ancient Greece consisted of four classes: upper class (born in Athens), middle class (working class), lower class, and slaves. In the United States where I am from, we no longer have slaves, but we do have the other three classes. However, many people may feel like they are slaves due to life circumstances and poor working conditions. While men were the ones to work and do most of the decision-making in ancient Greece and women were mostly confined to the home and childrearing, in today’s society women have careers just like men do, though they don’t always enjoy the same benefits and pay as men with similar positions. Education in Classical Greece was far different from today’s educational system. For instance, it was mostly the boys who were educated instead of the girls, or they