Classics

Classics, also known as classical studies or ancient Greek and Roman studies, is the study of classical antiquity. In the Western world, classics traditionally refers to the study of ancient Greek and Roman literature and their original languages, Ancient Greek and Latin. This field also includes the study of Greco-Roman philosophy, history, archaeology, anthropology, architecture, art, mythology, and society.

Important figures in classics include Homer, the legendary Greek author of the Iliad and Odyssey, Cicero, the Roman statesman considered the master of Latin prose, Aristotle, the Greek philosopher who shaped Western science for centuries, and Virgil, usually considered to be the greatest Roman poet.

In Western civilization, the study of ancient Greek and Roman classics has been considered the foundation of the humanities and has traditionally been a central part of elite higher education. It helps people today understand the ideas, culture, and history that have influenced much of the modern world.

Etymology

The word classics comes from a Latin word meaning "belonging to the highest class." Originally, it described the top class of people in ancient Rome. Later, around the 2nd century AD, it began to mean writers of the highest quality. By the 6th century AD, it also referred to students at a school. Today, "classics" can mean either great literature or standard books studied in a curriculum.

History

In the Middle Ages, classics and education were closely connected. Students learned to copy older classical works, and Latin was the main language for learning and culture across Europe.

The Renaissance brought a new interest in studying ancient Greek and Roman books and history. This period saw the revival of classical styles and the return of Greek language studies in Western Europe, starting in Italy and spreading across the continent.

Later periods, like the 18th and 19th centuries, continued to value classical ideas, though their importance in schools changed over time. By the 20th century, classics became less common in some places, but they are still studied in many parts of Europe today.

Subdisciplines

One of the most notable characteristics of the modern study of classics is the diversity of the field. Although traditionally focused on ancient Greece and Rome, the study now encompasses the entire ancient Mediterranean world, thus expanding the studies to Northern Africa and parts of the Middle East.

Philology

Further information: Philology

Philology is the study of language preserved in written sources; classical philology is thus concerned with understanding any texts from the classical period written in the classical languages of Latin and Greek. The roots of classical philology lie in the Renaissance, as humanist intellectuals attempted to return to the Latin of the classical period, especially of Cicero.

Archaeology

Main article: Classical archaeology

Classical archaeology is the oldest branch of archaeology, with its roots going back to J. J. Winckelmann's work on Herculaneum in the 1760s. It was not until the last decades of the 19th century, however, that classical archaeology became part of the tradition of Western classical scholarship.

Art history

Main article: Art history

Some art historians focus their study on the development of art in the classical world. Indeed, the art and architecture of ancient Rome and Greece is very well regarded and remains at the heart of much of our art today. For example, ancient Greek architecture gave us the classical orders: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. The Parthenon is still the architectural symbol of the classical world.

Ancient history

With philology, archaeology, and art history, scholars seek understanding of the history and culture of a civilization, through critical study of the extant literary and physical artefacts, in order to compose and establish a continual historic narrative of the Ancient World and its peoples.

Philosophy

Main article: Ancient philosophy

The English word philosophy comes from the Greek word φιλοσοφία, meaning "love of wisdom", probably coined by Pythagoras. Along with the word itself, the discipline of philosophy as we know it today has its roots in ancient Greek thought.

Reception studies

Main article: Classical reception studies

Another discipline within the classics is "reception studies", which developed in the 1960s at the University of Konstanz. Reception studies is concerned with how students of classical texts have understood and interpreted them.

Classical Greece

Main articles: Ancient Greece, Outline of ancient Greece, and Timeline of ancient Greece

Ancient Greece was a civilization that lasted from the Archaic period, beginning in the eighth century BC, to the Roman conquest of Greece in 146 BC. The Classical period, during the fifth and fourth centuries BC, is often seen as the height of Greek civilization. This period began with the Persian invasions of Greece and ended with the death of Alexander the Great. Classical Greek culture greatly influenced the Roman Empire and helped shape Western civilization.

Main articles: Ancient Greek, Mycenaean Greek language, and Koine Greek

Ancient Greek was the language spoken during the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods of ancient Greece. It was the language of famous writers, historians, and philosophers. Many English words come from Ancient Greek, and it is still studied today. The language evolved over time, with different dialects in various regions.

Main article: Ancient Greek literature

The earliest surviving Greek literature includes epic poems like Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, composed in the eighth century BC. Greek drama began in ancient Greece, with the first surviving tragedy being The Persians by Aeschylus from 472 BC. Comedy also developed, with Aristophanes being one of the most famous writers of ancient Greek comedy.

Main articles: Greek mythology and Religion in ancient Greece

Greek mythology includes stories about gods, heroes, and the world, which were important to the religion of ancient Greece. People worshipped many gods, such as Zeus, Poseidon, and Athena, and each city often had its own way of honoring these deities.

Main article: Ancient Greek philosophy

Ancient Greek philosophy began in the 6th century BC with thinkers like Thales of Miletus. Famous philosophers include Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. They explored many ideas, including how people should live, the nature of the world, and how to think logically. Their ideas continued to influence later thinkers even after Greece became part of the Roman Empire.

Classical Rome

Main articles: Ancient Rome and Culture of ancient Rome

The language of ancient Rome was Latin, which belonged to the Italic family of languages. Latin literature began around 240 BC with plays adapted from Greek works. Famous Latin writers include poets like Virgil, Horace, and Ovid, as well as historians such as Julius Caesar.

According to legend, Rome was founded in 753 BC, though settlements existed there much earlier. The city started as a monarchy and later became a republic. Rome grew in power, expanding its influence across Italy and eventually throughout the Mediterranean, facing and overcoming many challenges along the way.

Legacy of the classical world

The ancient languages of Latin and Greek have shaped many modern languages and words we use today. Latin, once the main language for important documents and science, helped create the Romance languages like French, Spanish, and Italian. Even today, Latin is important in studying European culture.

The ideas and art from ancient Rome and Greece also inspired many later empires and artists. For example, buildings and books from the Middle Ages and later times often copied classical styles. Famous writers like James Joyce also used classical stories in their work.