The Five Periods And Development Of The Ancient Greek Culture

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Ancient Greece can be divided into five separate periods, each with their own distinct culture. One such period is the Classical Period, where Greek culture not only grew and flourished substantially, but also reached its greatest heights. Before this, however, the Greeks experienced a dark age, where most ideas and cultural advances made in prior ages were lost due to the Mycenaean civil war and the invasion of the Dorian tribe. The Archaic Period followed the Dark Ages, and with it came the return of Greek culture, along with new cultural ideas, such as the beginnings of the development of the distinct naturalistic art style of the Greeks. Despite this, it truly is the Classical Period of Greece that saw the most cultural development. As …show more content…
During this era of Greece, specifically in Periclean Athens, the Parthenon was built. The Parthenon was a temple for the goddess Athena, and was designed by the artist Pheidias and the architect Ictinus to showcase Athenian wealth and power. It is easily one of the most iconic and recognizable buildings in the world, which in itself proves its importance in Greek culture. Not only was it used in ancient times as a place to worship Athena, it is also widely celebrated in modern times, being an essential tourist destination. Another amazing feat of architecture built in Classical Greece was the Acropolis at Athens, upon which the Parthenon was built. The Acropolis was built with the intention of depicting Athens and Athenians as the best in all of Greece. As Athens was the most powerful city-state in Greece at the time, it is fitting that this awe-inspiring architectural accomplishment was built there, serving as a reminder of the beauty of, and the advancements made in Greek, specifically Athenian, culture during the Classical Period. As can be seen by the preceding information, the Classical Period of Greece had the most cultural growth due to its architecture, however another factor that contributed to the cultural development was the work of the great philosophers who lived during the …show more content…
In the Classical Period, several advancements were made that contributed to the development of Greek culture. These advancements include the development of a unique style of art and art techniques, the construction of architecture that would be widely celebrated for centuries to come, and the lives and work of two famous philosophers who would, in a sense, change the way the way the world thought about subjects such as love, justice, or existence itself. Not only did these contributions have a hand in the expansion of Greek culture, but also in cultures and societies that had yet to exist at that point. For example, the art techniques such as foreshortening that the Greeks of the Classical Period first developed are essential in nearly any form of art, and are still used today. There is also the architectural style and techniques that would continue to influence future societies, and philosophical ideas like Plato’s “Good” that influenced Christianity due to its similarities to God. So, developments made in Classical Greece allowed for it to have the most cultural growth of all Greek eras, but also allowed for other societies to develop culturally. Even in modern times, many techniques and ideas that are instrumental in our society truly have their roots in Classical

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