Classic Period (Europe)

We explain what is the classic Greco -Roman period and the arts in which it stood out. In addition, its innovations in science and characteristics.

What is the classic period?

The term “classic period” or “classical seniority” is used to refer to The time when there were Greek and Roman civilizations. It does not correspond to an exact period of time, but rather to an era of splendor of the cultural creations of these civilizations that, with the passage of time, were constituted as fundamental references of current western culture.

The classic period integrates the history of Greek and Roman civilizations, which They inhabited the Mediterranean basin and the next East. Orientatively, the classic period can be chronologically divided according to the predominance of one or another civilization: ancient Greece (500-323 a. C.), Hellenistic period (323-31 BC), Antigua Rome (31 BC. c.-476 d. C).

See also: Hellenistic period

Temporary location of the classic period

Classical Greece

Corresponds to the period between the 5th centuries

• Fall of tyranny of Athens (500 BC).
• Periculture century (mid -V ac century)
• Conquests of Alexander the Great (336 AC).

Hellenistic period

Corresponds to the period between the fourth and centuries. C.

• Conquests of Alexander the Great (323 BC)
• Cultural Promotion in the big cities of Antioch, Alexandria and Pergamo (5th and 1st centuries C.)
• Roman conquest of Egypt (31 BC)

Ancient Rome

Corresponds to the period between the I ac and II d. C.

• Expansion of the Roman Republic (century AC).
• Transformation of the Republican System into the Roman Empire (I ac and i d. C.)
• Political crisis, Christianization and disintegration of the empire (III-V DC centuries

Politics in the classic period

There are different political elements of the classic period that became a cultural legacy for later Western civilizations.

In ancient Greece, Each polis maintained its political independence And he had his own government system. Sparta, for example, established an aristocratic government that incorporated different magistrates. However, the most important political reference of this period is Athens, which developed, for the first time in history, a democratic government system.

Athenian democracy organized its institutions in order to include and promote the direct participation of its citizens in government decision making. Citizens were male of legal age, born in the city, children of father and mother Athenian. To achieve the participation of so many individuals, the Athenians organized a system that combined the celebration of mass assemblies, voting, the use of magistrates temporarily and the activity of individual politicians.

Another important development for later Western cultures occurred in Roman civilization. The Roman State regulated relations between citizens through precise texts. Over time, the notion of “right.” The different legal norms, laws and principles were coded in writing and were constituted in what is currently known as “Roman Law.” This way of legislating is a fundamental history of law and modern legislation.

Cultural features of the classic period

Religion and mythology in the classic period

Mythology was constituted as a fundamental element of the different cultures of the classic period. During the archaic period (800-500 BC) and the classical era (500-323 a. C.) of the Greek civilization, the oral stories that were transmitted from generation to generation were collected in a coherent corpus of writings on the history and genealogy of the pantheon of gods and Greek heroes.

During the Hellenistic period, with the expansion of Greek culture through the territories of the next East and Egypt, There was a fusion and combination of the cult of some Greek gods with other local deities.

In ancient Rome, Original archaic cults were also influenced by Greek mythology. With time and territorial expansion, the different Roman divinities were assimilated to different referents of Greek mythology.

In guidance, the combination of divinities and cults can be identified as follows:

See also: Greek mythology

Philosophy of the classic period

Philosophy has its origin in Greek civilization. He was born in the seventh century BC. C., and had its boom during v a. C.

The philosophers questioned the origin of life and the functioning of the world. Argued that through rational thinking, which includes the observation and the reflectionyou could know and understand the nature of things. Among the most important philosophers of classical Greece, are Plato and Aristotle.

On the other hand, Following philosophical thinking different specific disciplines were developed that focused on the different aspects of the world.

Roman philosophers were influenced by their Greek background. The main philosophical current of Greek origin that the Romans took was stoicism. The Stoics linked philosophical thinking with ethics and believed that through reason and understanding they could find peace and virtue. Among the Roman stoic thinkers were Seneca, Epícto and Marco Aurelio.

On the other hand, Some thinkers took another philosophical current of ancient Greece: epicureanism. Epicurean philosophers sought practical happiness and defended hedonism, as enjoying physical pleasures. Filisco and Lucrecio were epicurean Roman exponents. However, they had a limited reach.

Classic period architecture

The architectural works of the Greek and Roman civilizations became a fundamental legacy of the western architecture of later periods.

• Greek architecture. The most popular architectural forms of the Greek culture are their temples, public buildings, outdoor theaters, public squares, mausoleums and stadiums, among others. Greek architecture was inspired by the principles of harmony and proportion. He had three well -marked styles that followed in time: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian.
• Roman architecture. The Romans developed their own style, influenced both by Greek and Etruscan architecture. Of the Etruscan style, the Romans took two fundamental elements of their architecture: the arch and the vault. On the other hand, the Greeks adopted the design of the columns and the use of statues in the temples and civil buildings. In general, the Roman style is characterized by the solidity and monumentality of their works: they built temples, pantheons, triumphal arches, coliseums, basilicas, bridges, aqueducts, amphitheatros, circuses, and forums.

Art in the classic period

The Greek and Roman civilizations encouraged the development of the different arts. During the rise of Greek civilization, some cities, such as Athens, Thebes and Sparta, became cultural centers for artistic promotion.

During the Hellenistic period, the cities of Antioch, Alexandria and Pergamo replaced in importance to the previous ones and represented a style of their time, in which the Greek influence was exalted while combining with local elements of the eastern culture. The different rulers They promoted the creation of educational institutions, libraries and art schools. In the Hellenistic period, patronage also appeared as a cultural relationship, in which the nobles hired artists and philosophers, and thus contributed to the development of local culture.

The Romans continued the tradition of patronage and contributed, in turn, to the expansion of Greco -Roman culture throughout the empire.

Sculpture

• Greek sculpture. Known as Severe stylecovers a great variety of genres: bronze sculpture, steles, architectural reliefs. They protruded as sculptors Mirón, Fidias and Policleto. The sculpture was the art that expressed the most admiration to the body of the human being, the work culminates is the series of Hercules’ works.
• Roman sculpture. Being the Greek sculpture a constant reference of the Roman, the most important Latin contribution in this art is the portrait due to its great realism, expressiveness and detail. The landscape relief also stands out.

Literature

• Greek literature. Deployment of theater and poetry as more developed genres. Tragedy writers, such as Esquilo, Sophocles and Euripides; of comedy, as Aristófnes; and poetry, such as Píndaro, Homero and Hesiod. Among the most relevant epic works are The Iliad and The Odyssey. As main representatives of the oratory genre are Lísias, Isocrates, Esquínes and Demóstenes.
• Roman literature. In the Roman culture, classic poets and writers such as Virgil, Ovid, Plinio El Young, Seneca, Suetonio and Horacio were highlighted. His works took fundamental elements that allowed him to exalt Roman culture.

The sciences of the classic period

The sciences had great development in Greek and Roman cultures. From the development of Greek philosophy, Rational thinking was constituted as a fundamental element to know and interpret the world. The Greeks dared to look for rational responses to the phenomena of nature moving away from mythological or supernatural concepts.

Such as Miletus is considered the first scientist in history; Pythagoras established the basis of geometry; Hippocrates is qualified as the creator of scientific medicine; Archimedes discovered the theory of displacement of bodies. Other thinkers, such as Heraclitus, Zenón, Anaxagoras, Parmenides or Empédocles, studied more themes related to nature (such as astronomy or botany). In addition, Alcmeón and Hippocrates investigated the human body and developed important advances in medicine.

Continue: History of philosophy

References

• Javier, CP, & Pilar, FU (2015). Ancient History II. The classical world. History of Rome. UNED Editorial.
• García Gual, C. (2007). Introduction to Greek mythology. Editorial Alliance.
• Grimal, P. (1992). “Introduction” in The Mediterranean world in the ancient age: Hellenism and the rise of Rome (pp. 3-20). Twenty -first century editors.
• Pomeroy, Burstein, Donlan & Tolbert (2011). Ancient Greece. Political, social and cultural history. Ed, critic.
• Garnsey, P. and Saller, R. (1991): The Roman Empire. Economy, Society and Culture. Criticism.