Category Archives: Foundations of Western Civilization
Social Stratification of Western Culture
We know political and economic systems of any culture come and go. We have also witnessed how racial identity can be socially created over hundreds of years and then destroyed within a few generations. Just as an empire rises and … Continue reading
Cross-Cultural Contact during the Renaissance
Cross-cultural encounters, during and after the Renaissance, gave Europeans exhilarating possibilities. It allowed them the ability to explore new lands and meet new people. The lands of China, India, The Americas – both north and south – and West Africa … Continue reading
From a Republic to an Empire: Rome
Introduction Romans dismantled the monarchy giving the power to the Senate and Assembly, thus, creating the Republic. Until its demise in 44 BCE, its history would be one of almost constant warfare. They did have a constitution outlining their traditions … Continue reading
Romes Legacy to Westernized Civilization
It is difficult to argue the fact that the Romans were profoundly influenced by the Greeks, who colonized the southern Italian peninsula, transferring their art, literature, philosophy, and religion. Others lived in the area as well, including the Etruscans, Latins, … Continue reading
Democracy initiates ‘Fine Art’
The word democracy means rule by the people, and by the people in ancient Greek times meant one thing, that, male citizens were directly involved in state matters. Democracy developed in Athens as a monarchical rule and eventually became an … Continue reading
Classical Greece
Classical Greece, often referred to as the high point of Greek civilization, is characterized by creativity in the arts, literature, and philosophy (Levack, Muir, Maas, & Veldman, 2007). The central feature of Classical Greece was the emergence of Athens as … Continue reading
Greek and Roman Differences from the Beginning
While much of the early Roman culture was similar to the Greek culture there was one major difference. The Greeks built sacred buildings while the Romans were more practical. The Romans were “among the first to develop city planning on … Continue reading
Early Roman Culture
The Romans, emerging after the Greek civilization on the Italian peninsula, would shape culture and customs in the region especially in regard to language, art, architecture, law, governing process, and traditions. The establishment of Rome and Roman culture has two … Continue reading
Early Greek Culture
The influence of the Greek civilization globally remains one of the most pervasive and important influences politically, scientifically, and artistically in the modern era (Roberts, 1997). Indeed, as historian Jackson Spielvogel asserts, the ancient Greeks represent the “fountain-head of Western … Continue reading
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