How Can the Ancient Greeks Best Be Defined?
Ancient Greece can best be defined as a civilization in which strong government, regionalism, and inequality are all evident. One could see how regionalism was part of the Ancient Greeks’ culture from the way they believed and acted like they were better than non-Greeks or the way that the city-states interacted with each other. Within each of the city-states were different beliefs and ways of living. Women in Ancient Greece were not treated equally to men. Regionalism, advanced government, and inequality were all important factors to the culture of Ancient Greece
In Ancient Greece, there was vast inequality. There was inequality between men and women as well as between all the men. There were slaves, aristocrats, and all the social classes in between. Men had all the power and authority while the women had none. As Aristotle, the most respected Athenian philosopher said, “let it be her aim to obey her husband.” This statement shows that Ancient Greek women were considered inferior to the Ancient Greek men. Slavery was widely accepted in Ancient Greece. Slaves were used to fight some city-states’s battles, to harvest crops, and to be domestic servants. Most slaves looked just like the city-states’ common people, so their enslavement was not due to racial discrimination. Often, when an enemy was conquered, their citizens were captured and used as slaves.
The city-states of Ancient Greece had governments that were far ahead of their time. The Greeks were the ones who first invented and used the form of government called a Democracy (more specifically, Athenians were the first to have a democratic government). Ancient Greece had many city-states; each having their own government. Even with so many different forms of government, Greece was the largest growing empire of its time. Another aspect of the government that shows how advanced the ancient Greeks were their armies. They had very strong military forces that won battles and conquered enemies, gaining new land for their city-states. This is how the Greek Empire expanded so widely.
Ancient Greece is also defined by their regionalistic qualities. These qualities show how the Greek city-states interacted with each other as well as how the Greeks as a whole interacted with other civilizations and societies. Some city-states had alliances while others were rivals. Most city-states, though, were friendly and hospitable to visitors from other poleis. There was lots of trade between poleis also; each city-state’s exports were unique to them because of their location and skills. For example, a city-state by the ocean would most likely export fish and other goods from the sea while a city-state located in a river valley would probably export agricultural goods like crops. So trade was another way city-states interacted. The Ancient Greeks were friendly with non-Greeks, but looked down on them, believing that Greeks were the best race and all other people were inferior. Though usually friendly, there were still many wars fought between Greeks and non-Greeks such as the Persian War. These wars were generally fought over land.
Regionalistic qualities, a strong government, and inequality were all major factors in Ancient Greece’s culture. The Ancient Greeks displayed regionalism when they came together and fought the non-Greeks, whom they called barbarians. The city states fought battles against each other as well. Women did not have nearly as many rights as men in Ancient Greece, showing the presence of inequality. It is clear that Ancient Greece can best be defined as a civilization in which strong government, regionalism, and inequality are all evident.
In Ancient Greece, there was vast inequality. There was inequality between men and women as well as between all the men. There were slaves, aristocrats, and all the social classes in between. Men had all the power and authority while the women had none. As Aristotle, the most respected Athenian philosopher said, “let it be her aim to obey her husband.” This statement shows that Ancient Greek women were considered inferior to the Ancient Greek men. Slavery was widely accepted in Ancient Greece. Slaves were used to fight some city-states’s battles, to harvest crops, and to be domestic servants. Most slaves looked just like the city-states’ common people, so their enslavement was not due to racial discrimination. Often, when an enemy was conquered, their citizens were captured and used as slaves.
The city-states of Ancient Greece had governments that were far ahead of their time. The Greeks were the ones who first invented and used the form of government called a Democracy (more specifically, Athenians were the first to have a democratic government). Ancient Greece had many city-states; each having their own government. Even with so many different forms of government, Greece was the largest growing empire of its time. Another aspect of the government that shows how advanced the ancient Greeks were their armies. They had very strong military forces that won battles and conquered enemies, gaining new land for their city-states. This is how the Greek Empire expanded so widely.
Ancient Greece is also defined by their regionalistic qualities. These qualities show how the Greek city-states interacted with each other as well as how the Greeks as a whole interacted with other civilizations and societies. Some city-states had alliances while others were rivals. Most city-states, though, were friendly and hospitable to visitors from other poleis. There was lots of trade between poleis also; each city-state’s exports were unique to them because of their location and skills. For example, a city-state by the ocean would most likely export fish and other goods from the sea while a city-state located in a river valley would probably export agricultural goods like crops. So trade was another way city-states interacted. The Ancient Greeks were friendly with non-Greeks, but looked down on them, believing that Greeks were the best race and all other people were inferior. Though usually friendly, there were still many wars fought between Greeks and non-Greeks such as the Persian War. These wars were generally fought over land.
Regionalistic qualities, a strong government, and inequality were all major factors in Ancient Greece’s culture. The Ancient Greeks displayed regionalism when they came together and fought the non-Greeks, whom they called barbarians. The city states fought battles against each other as well. Women did not have nearly as many rights as men in Ancient Greece, showing the presence of inequality. It is clear that Ancient Greece can best be defined as a civilization in which strong government, regionalism, and inequality are all evident.