Influence of Ancient Greek Culture on Modern Civilization

This article discusses the influence of Ancient Greek culture on modern civilization and explores the origins, main battles, and outcomes of the Persian wars. It highlights the impact of the wars on Greek city-states and the rise of Athens during its Golden Age.

Modern civilization is different from the Archaic Greece, although, Ancient Greek caste
a shadow in this modern world. The Ancient Greek culture, lifestyle and civics influence the
expansion of the modern society. “According to the Cartledge, 90 percent of Greek Citizens
lived in the countryside and don’t labeled as Urban”1 Ancient Greek was combination of city-
states. The Greek s and Persian fought wars from 492-449 BCE. But the Persian wars were
steamed from the Ionian Revolt. When Persian conquered the Ionian in 499 BCE. But the
Persian’s launched two intense invasions against the Persia during the 490 and 479. In the
upcoming paragraphs, I will discuss the origins, the main wars and the outcome of the Persian
wars.
Origin of the war
The origin of this war stemmed from the from the Ionian revolt, which started in 499
BCE. The Ionian’s become part of the Persian empire in 546 BCE. But after the several
years ,Ionian’s break his bond with the Persians and started the revolt; with the help of Greeks.
“at first this began as a small involvement in the revolt. But, later this become serious. “The
Athenians and Eritrean formed collaboration with Milesian, to attack on the Persian capital
Sardis”2. When Athenians, Milesian and Eritrean forces did a surprise attack on Sardis, in which
they set city on the fire. This revolt was totally unsuccessful. But king of Persia( Darius), become
angry . According to the Herodotus, the king of Persia ordered his servants, “to remind him to
get the revenge from the Athenians, every-day before the dinner.
Battle between Persian and Greeks
The first battle of the Persians was in 490 BCE. It is also called a battle of Marathon. The king of
Persia (Darius). “According to George Cawkwell, Darius sent his troops to Greece, at each
1 Paul Cartledge, Ancient Greek (Great Britain: Oxford University Press, 2009), 3.
2 Philip De Souza, the Greek and the Persian war (New York: Routledge, 2012),15

Greek Island and demanding “earth (cawkwell 2005) (lazenby 2004) and water, the Persians
don’t want to get revenge they want the incorporation of the Greek people”3. The Greeks send
their ten generals to battle against the Persians. The Athenians came victorious, only because of
their military strategies.
The Outcomes of the war:
After the great win over the Persian and Persian Empire was destroyed and removed from the
Greek tertiary. This loss from Greeks resulted as the end of the Greek empire. Also, Ionian got
their Freedom. In the Hellenistic world, the results of this war cause great chaos in Greek;
because now there are two dominate city-sates. Due to the some harsh actions of the Spartan
leader Pausanias. For example, this led to separation of many Greek states from Sparta. As a
outcome, Sparta was excelled from the Delian league and Athens got control of the Delian
league.
In addition to this, Athens astonishing Golden Age started in the 478 BCE and remained
for the Fifty years. This was time period, when Greek flourished in the Fields of culture, science
and politics; which was integral part of the Greek. Under the Rule of Pericles: he was a good
statesman and Aristocrat. He supports the “vote based system”. In the Golden Age; art become
an integral part of Greek society and besides art moved to Archaic to classical. Greek become
famous around the world and because Greek artist look after more about the style and posture of
the statue or painting.
Moreover, Sparta and Athens become as the two most dominant city-states in Ancient
Greece. According to the Thucydides, “the Athenians got all of credits for the victory and so the
3 George Cawkwell, The Greek Wars(New York: OUP Oxford,2005) 87-88

Spartans were fear from the emerging power (Athens)”4. The Delian league was association of
Greek city states, which was leading Athenians to set free the eastern Greek from the Persian
rule. However, a large number of the city-states were associated with the union; a large part of
the money of the Delian league was used by the Athenians to praise them. as well, they were not
the leaders of the league, so they formed their own league named Peloponnesian league. This
resulted as a increasing there conflicts more and which broke war, which led to the devastation
of Athenians Golden Age.
However, the Golden age comes to end with the start of Peloponnesian war. Peloponnesian
league came into existence, when Sparta announced war on Athens in 431 BCE and ended in the
43, when Athens surrounded. Sparta started disrespecting the Athens and which did not last-long.
Ancient Greek was mixture different government, societies and traditions..the only cause behind
this war is that, Athens got all credit for devastating the Persians in the Persian war ; and this
further increased tension’s between the two city-states. “The Kerkyra and Poteidaia were peace
agreement between Sparta and Greece, but this peace broke out when Sparta did a attack on the
Poteidaia5
The war started when Athens forced an exchange ban on Megara, a partner of Sparta. They
wouldn't give any Spartan member a chance to exchange any ports having a place with the
Delian League. All ports were controlled by the Delian league;means, members who were with
Sparta does not have any control over the Ports. The Megarians followed the rules of the ban .
Pericle’s main cause in this ban was to weaken the Spartan’s from war. Although, these
agreements did not stop Sparta to announce the war on Athens.
4 J. F. Lazenby, the Peloponnesian war: a military study ( New York: Routledge, 2004), 14
5Anton Powell, Athens and Sparta : Constructing Greek Political and Social History from 478 BC (London and New
York, Routledge,2001), 121.

The Peloponnesian war left Athens devastated; the land devastated, there was food
shortage. Thucydides (an Athenian general), he plays an important role in providing the details
of the war. "Nobody could have speculated that the conflict would achieve Pericle’s defeat, the
finish of the Fifty Years [Don Nardo, pg. 80]. This war exposed the capacity and significance of
Athens, and lest helpless against any remote invasion.
The end of the Peloponnesian War, the Athenian’s were looking to remake the city-state. People
were looking for the new rule, which will explain the reasons behind the war. In ancient Greek,
people were believes that rationality and science were a similar part of study. The three
most well known scholars of ancient Greek Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.
The Greek philosophy has influenced much of the western society. Ancient Greek philosophy;
mainly Hellenistic age , there was four philosophically schools. Greek philosophers was trying to
improve society.
Conclusion:
The events that happened in the Golden Age of Athens keep and keeping others. although a great
many people don't understand it, the greater part of what is underestimated, can be recognized to
the Athenians. Regardless of the way that Athens Golden age was more than 2000 years ago, the
majority of its achievements cannot be ignored.

Bibliography
Cartledge, Paul. Ancient Greek. Great Britain: Ocford University Press, 2009.
Cawkwell, George. The Greek Wars. New York: OUP Oxford, 2005.
Lazenby, J.F. The Peloponnesian War. New York: Routledge, 2004.
Powell, Anton. "Contructing Greek Political and Social History From BC." (Routledge) 2001: 121.
Souza, Philip de. The Greek and The Persian War. New York: Routledge, 2012.