GRECO-LATIN CULTURE: ORIGIN, CHARACTERISTICS, INFLUENCE - HISTORY - 2025

The Greco - Roman culture, or Greco - Roman antiquity refers to the mix of knowledge, ideas, traditions and customs that were formed from the merger of the Greek and Roman peoples.

This fusion took place from the 2nd century BC. C., when the Romans conquered Greece and began to assimilate its culture. The educated caste of the Romans learned Greek, and began to interact with the newly subjugated culture.

It was not simply a simple copy of the Greek and Hellenistic models. Roman artists, philosophers and writers adapted them for their particular purposes, creating their own style.

Among other cultural areas, the Romans adopted much of his philosophy. Stoicism, the philosophy of the Greek master Zeno, was especially influential. It fostered virtue, duty, moderation, and endurance.

Likewise, the Romans found inspiration in the literary works of the Greeks. Its writers used Roman themes and ideas, while following Greek forms and patterns.

Greco-Latin culture was the starting point of the Western cultural tradition. If it were not for this fusion of Roman ideals and Greek development, the Western world as it is known today would not exist.

Origin

Greek-Hellenistic culture

Greco-Latin culture owes a part of its birth to ancient Greece. The birth of this civilization is located from the XIII century BC. C.

Its first stage (Antiquity) ended around 600 AD. C., giving way to the High Middle Ages, Mycenaean Greece and the urban Greek polis (city-states). Then the period of classical Greece followed (from the 5th to the 4th century BC).

Due to the conquests of Alexander the Great of Macedon, Hellenistic civilization flourished from Central Asia to the western end of the Mediterranean Sea. The Hellenistic period came to an end with the arrival of the Roman Empire.

Mix of Greek and Roman culture

On the Roman side, according to tradition, this culture began in 753 BC. C. with the founding of the city of Rome by Romulus, its first king. Later, several reigns followed until 509 a. C., when the Republic was born.

Under the Republic, Rome began a phase of expansion that led to the conquest of vast territories. In the middle of the 2nd century BC. C. Rome reigned in the whole Mediterranean.

After being defeated at the Battle of Corinth (146 BC), Greece became a protectorate of Rome. The city of Byzantium (later baptized as Constantinople) became a Roman capital.

So, the Greek and Roman intellectuals began to mix. The Homer epics inspired Virgil, and Seneca began to write in a Greek style. This was the awakening of the Greco-Latin culture.

characteristics

Religion

In Greco-Latin culture they believed in the existence of many gods. The intervention of these gods in the daily life of humans was constant. This caused friendships or enmities between them and mortals.

Entertainment

In its time, this culture developed forms of mass entertainment as a means of keeping its citizens busy. They had facilities where fights, sporting events and plays were staged.

Arts

The Greco-Latin culture developed a concept of balanced and harmonious beauty. All his works sought proportion and perfection. This characteristic was appreciated, especially, in sculpture and architecture.

Sciences

They were very advanced in the scientific branch. Their vision of this area was methodical and systematic. As a result of Greek influence, they stopped applying myth and began to explain reality using reason.

Economy

The economy of the Greco-Latin culture was based on the exploitation of slaves and the wealth of their subsoil. They also cultivated the land (vine, wheat and olive tree) and practiced raising livestock (cows, sheep and pigs).

Thanks to their maritime fleet, they practiced trade, selling their products and handicrafts in distant places. In addition, they exploited salt, which was used to preserve food and as a means of payment.

Influence of Greco-Latin culture in the Hispanic world

The legacy of Greco-Latin culture forms the foundation on which the framework of Western culture has been built. Its framework has made possible the construction and development projects of many nations in the world.

Press

The first newspaper was created in 59 BC. C. by order of Julius Caesar. It was called Acta Diurna Romana and it shared daily minutes of the news, public business and information on social and political events.

This Acta Diurna was carved in stone or metal and was exhibited in the Forum of Rome. Scribes were often commissioned to make copies to send to important dignitaries.

Today, the written press allows the sharing of important information on social and political events. This contribution to written communication changed the world forever.

The Republic and its legal system

Although the Roman Republic only lasted from 509 BC. C. until 27 a. C., founded the foundations for many of the current legislative structures and for modern democracy.

In fact, in most democratic countries, their laws are evolved variants of the original Roman law. So this is possibly one of the greatest Roman contributions to the modern world.

Citizenship concept

In the city of Athens, the condition to participate in politics was to be 20 years old, and to have been born in Athens. In Rome, additionally, it was essential that every citizen be registered on the census lists.

Over time citizenship was no longer strictly linked to birth. The Romans came to grant citizenship to foreigners who had performed services to Rome.

Philosophy

Greek philosophy was the foundation of all later speculation in Western philosophy. All the hypotheses raised by the ancient Greeks gave life to various theories of modern science

Even many of his moral ideas were incorporated into the doctrines of the Christian religion. Likewise, the political thought of the Greek philosophers has maintained its influence throughout history.

Language

The language of the Romans, Latin, continued to be the language for transmitting knowledge in the West until long after the fall of Rome. And it was the official language of the Roman Catholic Church in the 20th century.

Furthermore, Latin was adopted by different peoples and developed into French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian. These languages ​​are called Romance languages ​​because of their common Roman heritage.

References

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2. Tijdvakken. (s / f). Dissemination of Greco-Roman culture and the confrontation with the Germanic culture. Taken from tijdvakken.nl.
3. Ancient-Greece. (s / f). Greek History. Taken from ancient-greece.org.
4. Holland, T. (2010, November 8). Rome: Emperors and poets. Taken from theguardian.com.
5. Features (2017). Roman civilization. Taken from caracteristicas.co.
6. Illumine Training. (2017, January 6). Roman Contributions to the Modern World - What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us ?. Taken from.illumine.co.uk
7. Vargas, AD (s / f). Contributions of the Greek culture. Taken from academia.edu/.