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But we thank Ancient Greece for far more than that.  Our system of laws and government is largely based on the Greek example, and in particular the concept of democratic participation in government.  Trial by jury is from Greece, as is the concept of a defense attorney (Roman law lacked a defense attorney - note how Jesus did not have an attorney at His trial during the Passion).  Greece established democracy for the first time in history.  Our language, too, is due to the Greek adoption of an alphabet.  The Greeks invented the study of history, so this course is indebted to the Greeks!

But we thank Ancient Greece for far more than that.  Our system of laws and government is largely based on the Greek example, and in particular the concept of democratic participation in government.  Trial by jury is from Greece, as is the concept of a defense attorney (Roman law lacked a defense attorney - note how Jesus did not have an attorney at His trial during the Passion).  Greece established democracy for the first time in history.  Our language, too, is due to the Greek adoption of an alphabet.  The Greeks invented the study of history, so this course is indebted to the Greeks!

Historians also credit ancient Greece for its tremendous achievements in the fields of science, philosophy and art.  The concept of truth began to acquire meaning in ancient Greece, as did freedom and knowledge.  The concept of moderation illustrated by the “Golden Mean” (whereby the whole is to the larger part as the larger part is to the smaller part, or (a+b)/a = a/b) and the design of ancient Greek buildings like the Parthenon using the Golden Mean in its dimensions were influential.  The Parthenon (built in 438 B.C. to honor the goddess Athena) is impressive.  It embodies the Golden Mean, which also  occurs in many living creatures and has fascinated mathematicians ever since; for those interested in math, the Fibonacci sequence is a manifestation of the golden mean.  A full-sized replica of the Parthenon sits in Nashville, Tennessee.

Historians also credit ancient Greece for its tremendous achievements in the fields of science, philosophy and art.  The concept of truth began to acquire meaning in ancient Greece, as did freedom and knowledge.  The concept of moderation illustrated by the "Golden Mean" (whereby the whole is to the larger part as the larger part is to the smaller part, or (a+b)/a = a/b) and the design of ancient Greek buildings like the Parthenon using the Golden Mean in its dimensions were influential as architecture.  The Parthenon (built in 438 B.C. to honor the goddess Athena) is impressive.  It embodies the Golden Mean, which also  occurs in many living creatures and has fascinated mathematicians ever since; for those interested in math, the Fibonacci sequence is a manifestation of the golden mean.  A full-sized replica of the Parthenon sits in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Greek and Hebrew approaches to knowledge were very different.  The Greeks emphasized spatial relationships, benefiting from the discovery of geometry by Euclid.  The Hebrews rarely discuss spatial aspects of history in the Old Testament, and instead focus on their relationship with Yahweh that has no spatial elements.  In addition, the Hebrews were inspired by one God, while the Hellenistic Greeks worshipped many gods and permitted many religions including Cynicism, Epicureanism and Stoicism.

The Greek and Hebrew approaches to knowledge were very different.  The Greeks emphasized spatial relationships, benefiting from the discovery of geometry by the Greek Euclid.  The Hebrews rarely discuss spatial aspects of history in the Old Testament, and instead focus on their relationship with Yahweh that has no spatial elements.  Note that the Hebrews were inspired by one God, while the Hellenistic Greeks worshiped many gods and permitted many religions including Cynicism, Epicureanism and Stoicism.

Many historians credit the Greeks for “humanism”, by which they mean the Greek emphasis on reason, ethics and rational thinking rather than religion.  But the Greeks did not choose to reject religion the way that modern humanists do.  Instead, the Greeks advanced knowledge without exposure to Christianity.

Many historians credit the Greeks for "humanism", by which historians mean the Greek emphasis on reason, ethics and rational thinking rather than religion.  But the Greeks did not choose to reject religion the way that modern humanists do.  Instead, the Greeks advanced knowledge as best they could before the advent of Christianity.

Greek plays remain famous to this day.  There were two types: the tragedy and the comedy.  In a Greek tragedy, the main character has a flaw (such as arrogance) that causes him to fail.  Playwrights of tragedies included Euripides (“Medea”) and Sophocles (“Antigone” and “Oedipus Rex”).  The comedies consisted of humor and satire, and the leading playwright was Aristophanes (“Lysistrata”).

Greek plays remain famous to this day.  There were two types: the tragedy and the comedy.  In a Greek tragedy, the main character has a flaw (such as arrogance) that causes him to fail.  Playwrights of tragedies included Euripides ("Medea") and Sophocles ("Antigone" and "Oedipus Rex").  The comedies consisted of humor and satire, and the leading playwright was Aristophanes ("Lysistrata").

Not everything in Ancient Greece was great.  It was polytheistic, worshipping many gods like Zeus and Hercules.  The Greek gods were superhuman, but not divine.  The Greek gods cared little about ethics or morality, and were the least influential aspect of the Greek culture.  At most, this tradition of polytheism inspired some colorful literature and art.  At its worst, it inspired silly rituals.  For example, ceremonies known as “oracles” in which priests tried to predict the future by looking at the internal body parts of animal sacrifices—a process called “divination”.

Not everything in Ancient Greece was great.  It was polytheistic, worshiping many gods like Zeus and Hercules.  The Greek gods were superhuman, but not divine.  The Greek gods cared little about ethics or morality, and were the least influential aspect of the Greek culture.  At most, this tradition of polytheism inspired some colorful literature and art.  At its worst, it inspired silly rituals.  For example, ceremonies known as "oracles" in which priests tried to predict the future by looking at the internal body parts of animal sacrifices — a crude process called "divination".

The Greeks are not known for being very practical, but they did invent some useful devices.  They are credited with inventing soap, the shower, central heating, the alarm clock (built by Plato to signal to his students that it is time to enter the Academy), the odometer, floating bridges, the lever, the anchor, bricks, the catapult and even chewing gum.

The Greeks are not known for being as practical as the later Romans, but the Greeks did invent some useful devices.  They are credited with inventing soap, the shower, central heating, the alarm clock (built by Plato to signal to his students that it is time to enter the Academy!), the odometer, floating bridges, the lever, the anchor, bricks, the catapult and even chewing gum.

== Other Ancient Peoples ==

== Other Ancient Peoples ==