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The five "classical" civilizations were India, China, Greece, Rome and, to a lesser extent, the Americas (in what is now Mexico and Central and South America).  We devote this week to what many consider as the greatest civilization ever: classical Greece.  It was the birthplace of democracy and many other insights and advances.  It was ancient Greece that developed the first language powerful enough to express the concepts at the foundation for Christianity and to enable those principles to be spread throughout the world.  Let's begin by looking at language.

The five "classical" civilizations were India, China, Greece, Rome and, to a lesser extent, the Americas (in what is now Mexico and Central and South America).  We devote this week to what many consider as the greatest civilization ever: classical Greece.  It was the birthplace of democracy and many other insights and advances.  It was ancient Greece that developed the first language powerful enough to express the concepts at the foundation for Christianity and to enable those principles to be spread throughout the world.  Let's begin by looking at language.

== Invention of the Western alphabet ==

== Invention of the Western Alphabet ==

Linguistics, which means the study of language, is a fascinating aspect of World history.  A language is essential to the progress and survival of a society - the better the language, the more successful the society is able to become.  Peoples and cultures having only primitive languages could not withstand against peoples and cultures having more powerful languages.  Language expresses and communicates ideas, and facilitates the trade that brings wealth to a civilization.  Observe for yourself how difficult it is, if not impossible, to think about and remember an idea without a term to express it.   

Linguistics, which means the study of language, is a fascinating aspect of World history.  A language is essential to the progress and survival of a society - the better the language, the more successful the society is able to become.  Peoples and cultures having only primitive languages could not withstand against peoples and cultures having more powerful languages.  Language expresses and communicates ideas, and facilitates the trade that brings wealth to a civilization.  Observe for yourself how difficult it is, if not impossible, to think about and remember an idea without a term to express it.   

The Epicureans were founded by Epicurus (341-270 B.C.) in the late fourth century B.C. and did not believe in any divine power.  They did not believe in human ability to know and understand absolute truth, instead teaching that only the senses could be trusted.  They sought pleasure and inner peace, but unfortunately their teachings later led to justification for excess and indulgence.

The Epicureans were founded by Epicurus (341-270 B.C.) in the late fourth century B.C. and did not believe in any divine power.  They did not believe in human ability to know and understand absolute truth, instead teaching that only the senses could be trusted.  They sought pleasure and inner peace, but unfortunately their teachings later led to justification for excess and indulgence.

In contrast, the Stoics — founded by Zeno (333-264 B.C.) in the early third century B.C. — sought to find a sense of divine justice.  They de-emphasized emotion and feelings, teaching that both plain and pleasure should be disregarded.  Instead, cool-headed reason and logic should be used at all times and self-indulgence denied.  

In contrast, the Stoics — founded by Zeno (333-264 B.C.) in the early third century B.C. — sought to find a sense of divine justice.  They de-emphasized emotion and feelings, teaching that both plain and pleasure should be disregarded.  Instead, cool-headed reason and logic should be used at all times with an emphasis on self-discipline.

A note about slavery:  it existed widely in Greece, using both Greeks and non-Greeks (such as Russian slaves and also African slaves purchased from Egypt).  Criminals and people who could not pay their debts were enslaved.  The harshest treatment of slaves was of criminals put to work in the Athenian silver mines.  Slavery has a very ancient history.  It was not until free enterprise was invented and promoted in the British Empire by Adam Smith in 1776 that the world could generate enough wealth and free itself from the scourge of slavery.

A note about slavery:  it existed widely in Greece, using both Greeks and non-Greeks (such as Russian slaves and also African slaves purchased from Egypt).  Criminals and people who could not pay their debts were enslaved.  The harshest treatment of slaves was of criminals put to work in the Athenian silver mines.  Slavery has a very ancient history.  It was not until free enterprise was invented and promoted in the British Empire by Adam Smith in 1776 that the world could generate enough wealth and free itself from the scourge of slavery.