The Greeks used the Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea to introduce their culture to the lands surrounding these seas (“The Rise of Greek Civilization”). Greece used the sea to create colonies in Southern Italy, Sicily, and Asia Minor (“Ancient Greece”). Classic Greek Culture even influenced the Roman Empire (“Ancient Greece”). The Roman Empire then carried Greek Culture to the Mediterranean area and Europe (“Ancient Greece”). Since Greek Culture was carried to Europe, Greek Culture is considered the beginning of Western Civilization (“Ancient Greece”). Since European citizens populated the United States in the late sixteen hundreds, it can be said that Greek Culture influenced the United States.
Greece used the sea for its merchant trade during the 7th Century (“Ancient Greece”). Such trade allowed Greece to both import ideas and products from other cultures and to export Greek ideas and goods. Importing ideas and products helps a culture to expand its own knowledge and ideas.
The subject areas that Greece influenced include math, astronomy, art, architecture, religion, and mythology (“Ancient Greece”). Their ideas in these subjects are the foundation of Western Culture as it is known today (Ancient Greece”). Utilizing the sea allowed Greece to share its knowledge with other cultures and become a major influence in the world. It is almost impossible to imagine what the world would be like without the influence of the Greek Culture. Without utilizing the sea, Greece would have just remained several small islands in the Mediterranean Sea. I wonder if the ancient Greeks knew how far into the future their influence would last.
Works Cited
“Ancient Greece.” Wikipedia. 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2011.
“The Rise of Greek Civilization.” Prentice Hall. n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2011.
