Western Civilization DBQ

The classical Greeks contributed to, and influenced Western Civilization in several ways. For example, the classical Greeks contributed in many ways in the areas of the arts, both in visual pictures and physical sculptures. They also advanced greatly in both mathematics and science, most notably geometry and medical sciences. As well as this, they influenced Western Civilization through their philosophical thoughts and studies. While all of these contributions are significant to Western Civilization, the most important contribution is the development of a democratic government.

First of all, the classical Greeks contributed and influenced Western Civilization most directly through their invention of democratic government. This is perhaps

An example of visual arts can be seen not just in their paintings, but in their theater plays. Theater is portrayed in Document 6, an excerpt from Sophocles’ play, “Antigone.” According to the Document, the play is about Antigone, who “defies the king’s orders and buries her brother, who was killed while leading a rebellion.” This clearly shows a strong example of art, as the Greeks are performing in unique plays that they created. Their theater has influenced Western Civilization immensely - even today in the United States, theater is very popular. Many people travel to Broadway to witness a performance from actors, just as the Greeks might have done. Also, Greek theater may have sparked the idea for one of the largest sources of entertainment in the Western world; motion picture films. The live theater plays evolved into a movie, which people could watch at any time they wanted. Besides Greeks contributed theater to Western Civilization, they also contributed physical art. This type of art includes sculptures and architecture, both of which can be seen plentifully throughout the Western world. One of the most significant examples is seen in Document 7. This document includes two pictures portraying a Greek temple, the Parthenon. The Greeks certainly contributed columns to the Western world, as seen in the picture. Many buildings today have columns

The Greeks made lasting contributions in the fields of both, specifically geometry and medical sciences. This is shown in Document 4, where an excerpt of one of Euclid’s geometrical theorems is presented. The Document states, “Proposition 15, THEOREM: If two straight lines cut one another, the vertical, or opposite, angles shall be congruent (equal).” This is just one of many of Euclid’s propositions, showing how the Greeks developed the basis for the geometry we have