The Lasting Legacy of Ancient Greek Leaders and Philosophers (2024)

When you read the word “ancient,” you likely think of something old and outdated. But you may be surprised to hear that many of the ideas and institutions that came from ancient Greece still exist today. We have the ancient Greeks to thank for things like present-day democracy, libraries, the modern alphabet, and even zoology.

Here are some notable Greek figures—from philosophers to mathematicians and scientists—and how they have shaped the world we know today.

Socrates

Socrates was one of the most prominentancient Greek philosophers. Socrates spent the majority of his life asking questions, always in search of the truth. He is responsible for developing what is known as the Socratic method, a technique still used by professors in law schools today. Instead of lecturing the students, professors will ask them a series of thought-provoking questions. These questions help the students think critically, and they are meant to elicit underlying presumptions and ideas that could be influencing the way a student views a case. Socrates engaged his students in this same fashion. He did not leave any written record of his life or ideas, so most of what we know about Socrates was written by one of his students, Plato.

Plato

Thanks to Plato, we know a lot about Socrates. Nevertheless, Plato made his own important contributions. Born around 427 B.C.E., Plato influenced Western philosophy by developing several of its many branches: epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics. Plato was also a prominent writer. One of his most famous writings is the Republic. In the Republic, Plato examines justice, its role in our world, and its relationship to happiness, themes familiar to the founding fathers of the United States. Plato is also famous for being the teacher of another important philosopher, Aristotle.

Aristotle

Aristotle is still considered one of the greatest thinkers in the areas of politics, psychology, and ethics. Like Plato, Aristotle was a prolific writer. He wrote an estimated 200 works during his lifetime; 31 of them are still admired and studied today. Aristotle thought a lot about the meaning of life and about living a moral life. Immensely curious, he also studied animals and sought to classify them into different groups, laying the foundation for zoology today. Through his writing about the soul and its properties, Aristotle laid the foundation for modern psychology. He was also called on to tutor King Philip II of Macedon’s son, Alexander, who would later come to be known as Alexander “the Great.”

While the great philosophers are well known, there were many other great Greek political and military leaders who had an impact on the world.

Alexander the Great

Born to notable military leader King Philip II, Alexander III of Macedon proved early on that he was destined for greatness. At a young age, Alexander learned to fight and ride, famously taming the wild horse Bucephalus at age 12. Only a few years later, at age 18, Alexander got his first chance to fight in a war and helped defeat the Sacred Band of Thebes during the Battle of Chaeronea. Soon he took over the throne his father once held and continued to prove himself a strong and able military mind. Alexander eventually created an empire stretching from Macedon across the entire Middle East to the frontiers of India. By 323 B.C.E., Alexander ruled over an enormous amount of land a feat that caused historians to give him the nickname Alexander “the Great.”

Pericles

At the other end of ancient Greece was another strong leader working to grow the city of Athens. His name was Pericles. Pericles was born over 100 years before Alexander the Great, but he had a similar background. He came from a prominent family in Athens and had a war hero for a father. Pericles did much to help the culture of Athens flourish. Consistently surrounded by the arts, one of the first things he did was to sponsor the playwright Aeschylus. He also helped fund the building of the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena that still stands today. Soon Pericles made his way into politics and was eventually elected as one of Athens’ leading generals. Like Alexander, Pericles was military minded and led many successful military campaigns. As a statesman, he contributed in many ways to what is considered the golden age of the city of Athens.

These philosophers and the Greek military and political leaders left their mark on both ancient Greece and the present-day Western world, but there were also famous mathematicians and scientists whose work and ideas are still popular today.

Pythagoras

If you’ve ever tried to find the area of a right triangle, you’ve likely had to use something called the Pythagorean theorem, which is named after the mathematician Pythagoras. This theorem is one of the biggest contributions that Pythagoras made to mathematics. Pythagoras used numbers and mathematics to seek meaning in life. He even created a religious order in which the members focused on philosophy and math in order to find personal salvation.

Hippocrates

Modern medicine has been heavily influenced by the work of Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician. The methods attributed to Hippocrates are compiled in 60 medical books known as the Hippocratic corpus. It is from these books that we have learned what was done in Hippocratic medicine. This practice of medicine included adopting a healthy diet and engaging in physical exercise—ideas still espoused to the public today. The corpus also included information about the importance of recording case histories and treatments, another practice essential to modern medicine. Hippocrates is best known for the wisdom contained in the Hippocratic oath, modern versions of which still govern the ethical principles by which new doctors promise to observe when practicing medicine.

Though these prominent Greeks lived centuries before us, they have left a brilliant legacy. By building on their hard work and great ideas, we’ve been able to establish the thriving world we live in today.

The Lasting Legacy of Ancient Greek Leaders and Philosophers (2024)

FAQs

What is the lasting legacy of Greek philosophy? ›

In philosophy, the Greeks initiated al most all its major fields—metaphysics, logic, the philosophy of language, the theory of knowledge; ethics, political philosophy, and (though to a much more restricted degree) the philosophy of art.

What was the legacy of the ancient Greeks? ›

The Greeks made important contributions to philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. Literature and theatre was an important aspect of Greek culture and influenced modern drama. The Greeks were known for their sophisticated sculpture and architecture.

What is considered Greece's lasting legacy? ›

Ancient Greek politics, philosophy, art and scientific achievements greatly influenced Western civilizations today. One example of their legacy is the Olympic Games.

Who left a lasting legacy in philosophical thinking in ancient Greece? ›

Socrates was one of the most prominent ancient Greek philosophers. Socrates spent the majority of his life asking questions, always in search of the truth. He is responsible for developing what is known as the Socratic method, a technique still used by professors in law schools today.

Which of the following is a legacy of ancient Greece? ›

The Legacy of Ancient Greece: An Overview

Greek civilization made many advances in fields from philosophy and science; to art and architecture, education in sport and mathematics, and especially in theater and government, many of which have continued on to this day or been instrumental in further cultural development.

What is considered a Greek legacy? ›

A legacy is a potential new member who is the sister, daughter, or granddaughter of an alumnae sorority member. Being a legacy does NOT guarantee membership into a sorority. Some chapters may consider other relations as well such as aunt, cousin, or step/half family.

What are the five Legacies of Greece? ›

Ancient Greece is remembered for developing democracy, inventing Western philosophy, and realistic art, developing theatre like comedy and tragedy, the Olympic Games, inventing pi, and the Pythagoras theorem.

What is the legacy of ancient Greek literature? ›

The ancient Greeks pioneered, developed, and in fact, named many familiar genre of World literature: epic, lyric, and pastoral poetry, tragic and comic drama, prose history, philosophy, and the novel all have deep roots in the literature of ancient Greece.

How did ancient Greek philosophy influence us today? ›

Modern philosophers and educators still employ the patterns of thinking and exploration established by ancient Greek philosophers, such as the application of logic to questions of thought and engaging in debate to better convey philosophical ideas.

What is the Greek philosophy of leadership? ›

The Greeks believe leadership is reserved for the few chosen, by a divine power to control, manage and direct the life, future, fortunes and aspirations of the unchosen.

What is the lasting legacy of Socrates? ›

The Socratic legacy is in turning critical thought quite directly in the direction of humanity, human morality and virtue and the idea of a good life for a human. Socrates' theory of the soul and its virtue and the use of reasoning in the service of virtue were lasting contributions to humanity.

What legacy did ancient Greece leave behind in terms of government? ›

Greek legacy:

They gave us: DEMOCRACY - A form of government where the people elect (vote) for who they want to represent them.

How does ancient Greece still impact the world today? ›

The Greeks pretty much invented modern mathematics, sculpture, philosophy, science and even medicine. And they used some of their new knowledge to make inventions like the water wheel, the alarm clock, the catapult and even, the vending machine!

Why were the philosophers of ancient Greece important? ›

In short, not only did ancient Greek philosophy pave the way for the Western intellectual tradition, including modern science, but it also shook cultural foundations in its own time.

What lasting effect have Greek philosophers had on world history? ›

Greek philosophy has had a profound influence on Western thought and culture. Many of the foundations of modern Western philosophy, such as the idea of logical reasoning and the concept of democracy, can be traced back to the ancient Greeks.

What was special about Greek philosophy? ›

Ancient Greek thinkers debated over questions of justice, virtue, knowledge, and truth. They also developed ideas governing governments and social relationships, as well as theories of human nature influencing our modern thinkers today.

What was the lasting impact of the ancient Greeks? ›

The Greeks pretty much invented modern mathematics, sculpture, philosophy, science and even medicine. And they used some of their new knowledge to make inventions like the water wheel, the alarm clock, the catapult and even, the vending machine!

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