Ancient Greece and the Development of Hellenism

We look to history to understand the modern world. In figuring out our past, we can move forward with a better understanding of our present and our future. Ancient Greece is the perfect place to travel back in time. It was the starting point of higher education as we know it. So what made the Ancient Greeks so wise? What was it about their curiosity that lit the torch for the rest of the world to follow suit? This was a time when life and everything that surrounded it was questioned--from the arts to the sciences and everything in between. Although there were many brilliant minds of ancient times, the most dramatic surge in the pursuit of knowledge came with the development of the Hellenistic culture.

The Ancient Greek World

The best way to describe the Ancient Greek world is that it was inspiring. It was innovative. It was a great time to hear and be heard, see and be seen. People were bouncing ideas off of one another, testing out theories, and trying to prove or disprove what they had just thought up. Ancient Greece was the birthplace of philosophy, literally, “the love of wisdom”. Although many of their experiences were explained by way of mythology, the Greeks were now starting to believe that there was actual scientific and logical or rational thought behind the stories. Various types of thinkers were created, different schools of thought were born, and the greats like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were all on the cutting-edge of reason, about to leave their permanent marks that would forever change history.

What is Hellenism?

Hellenism can best be described as the period of time in Ancient Greece between the conquests of Alexander the Great until the death of Constantine. This was a very controversial time in history as it influenced both Christianity and Judaism. Within Christianity, it opened up the door to discussion and reflection, which some believed should not have happened. On the other hand, Hellenism reinforced Judaism’s understanding of God’s nature. This radical shift in the study of faith led people to want to know more. Belief systems were questioned which ultimately led to the demise of Greek independence and the eventual rise of the Roman Empire.

Because the world constantly evolves, the development of Hellenism was bound to happen. Great minds were constantly emerging bringing expertise in many fields to the table. As that happened, the topics in question became more contentious which led to debates and disagreements. Ultimately, it became a time when the exploration of the arts, theater, philosophy, science, mathematics, and music thrived. Yet, that kind of fervor also led to its demise. Some have said that while this was a time of great progression, it could also be dubbed the age of degeneration. Ancient Greece will forever hold the key to how the world changed, one thought at a time.

Bibliography

Bowker, John. “Hellenism.” The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997.

Green, Peter. Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Age. (London: Orion, 2008) 17.

Kreis, Steven. "Lecture 8: Greek Thought: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle." Lecture 8: Greek Thought: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Web. Nov. 2009. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.