The Classic World Essay, Research Paper

The Classical World made many contributions to the development of science,

literature, and ethics. These contributions have influenced the modern world today. Many

mathematicians, astronomers, and scientists contributed to the development of many of the

luxuries we enjoy today. Homer, author of The Iliad and The Odyssey, made contributions

to the field of literature through his writing. In the field of ethics, many philosophers from

the Classical World contributed to the standards, values, and principles of our society

today. Some of the major contributions from the Classical World is in the field of science.

Mathematicians, astronomers, and scientists made important contributions that formed

the basic element of science. From this basic element came the luxuries we enjoy today.

Pythagoras, a mathematician, proved “the relationship between the legs and the

hypotenuse of a right triangle.”1 From this, he derived the Pythagorean Theorem. This

contribution mainly influenced architecture and geometry today. Equally, Eratosthenes

also influenced architecture and geometry. He developed a method of determining the

circumference of the Earth by using geometry. Developed by Archimedes, the Archimedes

Principle contributes greatly to the field of science. The principle states that “a body

immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal the weight of the fluid displaced by the

body.”2 The Archimedes Principle influenced the development of the boat and submarine.

The Classical World also contributed to the field of literature.

Literature has come a long way from the Classical World since its development by

many authors and playwrights of this time period. Homer, author of The Iliad and The

Odyssey, affected prose and poetry through his writing of Homeric poems. Sophocles, a

playwright, “presented many changes in Greek Drama.”3 These changes led to the

development of more actors in a play and the addition of more scenery. Accordingly, these

changes have influenced modern day movies in that they have more actors. Since the

Classical World contributed to the fields of science and literature, it also helped develop

the fields of ethics.

The standards, values, and principles of a society were also contributed by various

philosophers of the Classical World. Pythagoras founded the “Rosicrucian Fellowship,” a

religious and philosophical school. One of the three main rules of this school was, “No

eating beans or meat,” which most likely influenced the idea of the modern day

vegetarian. Wanting people to think for themselves, Socrates did not want the people of

his time to “imitate their elders.”4 To Socrates, “people should depend on reason and logic

to guide their lives.” 4 These beliefs have contributed to the development of ethics. Also

these beliefs have influenced the basic thinking and making decisions of man. In these

three fields, the Classical World made many contributions.

The Classical World made many contributions to the fields of science, literature, and

ethics. These contributions, in many ways, influenced the modern world. Mathematicians,

astronomers, and scientists like Pythagoras, Eratosthenes, and Archimedes contributed to

the field of science and influenced the modern world greatly. Contributing in the field of

literature, Homer and Sophocles have affected prose, poetry, and Drama through their

literary works. Philosophers have changed our views on different matters such as

alternatives to eating. The contributions from the Classical World developed and

influenced the way we view science, literature and Drama, and ethics in today’s society.