How Did The Greeks Influence Society

Abstract The Greek culture supported philosophers and scientists who were far beyond their times. By encouraging these individuals to expand both their thinking and their exploring, Greece is credited with some very profound discoveries and inventions that we find monumental in the way we function in modern day society. From aspirin to the water mill, Greeks explored and developed the areas of medicine, biology, astrology, and science. Ancient Greek inventions are in fact the original concepts of some of our most popular and appreciated products.

Influence of the Greeks: Innovative Thinkers

He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past. -George Orwell
The
The Greek mathematician, Archimedes, is credited with inventing celestial spheres in the form of a model that are the foundation for what is today called a planetarium. A planetarium is a geocentric model of the solar system that shows the positions of the sun, moon, and planets as viewed from the earth at various times. The positions of the heavenly bodies may be indicated through the relative positions of small spheres representing the bodies, as was achieved in Archimedes' planetarium. Modern planetariums project images of the heavenly bodies onto a large hemisphere in whose interior observers are situated. It is thought Archimedes created a mechanical model which shows the motions of the sun, moon, and planets as viewed from the earth. Cicero writes that Archimedes must have been "endowed with greater genius that one would imagine it possible for a human being to possess" to be able to build such an unprecedented device (Deans,
Hippocrates was a physician who founded a clinical approach to medicine. He promoted cleanliness as an aid against disease. Also, he was one of the first physicians to believe that diseases are a result of environmental factors rather than supernatural ones. He had a very strict view of the ethics of medicine. He went so far as to create an oath that to this day physicians at the start of their medical career must take. This is known as the Hippocratic Oath. When taking this oath, the participant obligates himself to use his best ability and judgment in treating people and to save lives while rejecting medicine or advice that might lead to death (Green, 1990). Hippocrates also left historical records of pain relief treatments, including the use of powder made from the bark and leaves of the willow tree to help heal headaches, pains and fevers. Today, this powder is called Aspirin. Hippocrates explored the use of many common plants: hellebore, garlic, mercurialis, celery, leek, flax, anise, beet, and cabbage among others. Some of his ancient texts are even considered a series of reports that are put together like a clinical folder. Thus, the research he found in his era, has become useful in modern medicine (Touwaide,