Human Heritage: A World HistoryChapter 11: Cultural ContributionsCultural ContributionsThe Greeks made many contributions to the arts and sciences of Western civilization. A great deal of this came about because of what the Greeks believed about their gods. They saw their gods as the source of all power. The Greeks believed they could honor their gods by imitating them. This meant being the best they could be in everything they did. The result was the "Golden Age" of Greek culture, the focus of Chapter 11. Section 1 introduces the Olympian gods and goddesses and explains how the Greeks honored them in athletics and theatrical tragedies and comedies. Section 2 explains the importance the Greeks gave to "philosophia"—the ability to learn and reason. It focuses on the ways that Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and other Greek thinkers influenced the development of Western civilization. A chart lists many Greek scientists and describes their accomplishments in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, geography, and medicine. |  |
