[IDES 141] Survey 1 – Ancient Greece

I chose to research ancient Greece despite it being a mainstream choice, it’s just that I have consumed so much media that has ancient Greek origins; the main one being philosophy. It’s so interesting how so much of today’s society, culture and language stems from Greece.

Greece has had a tremendous influence on western culture as we know it today. A large portion of languages incorporate Latin in some way, and many scientific advancements began with the Greeks pondering about the world around them. Many began writing ballads and poetry, while some took up sculpture and pottery; they began creating for enjoyment rather than for survival which resulted in many societal advancements as well.

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Education began to be shared, even though it looked different depending on your gender and where you lived. Girls were often taught by their mothers and they learned skills that would aid them to be a housewife. On the other hand, boys went out to school and received a more formal curriculum. They were taught arts, mathematics and athletics. However, in Sparta, women got a more structured education and had to stay fit because it was believed that by doing so, they would give birth to strong children.

Another component that I found intriguing and one that I want to learn more about is their fashion. The Greeks preferred simplicity and function above all else, their clothing was mostly oriented around mobility and comfort. The material they used was mainly heavy wool and the way dyed their clothing was with natural resources.

The way clothing was made differed between gender as men went out more, whereas it was more common for women to stay at home. Men wore a light-weight tunic referred to as a chiton and it was often draped over one or both shoulders. Peplos was the name of the tunic worn by women. It was made with a heavier wool material and it was accompanied by buttons or pins to secure the garment. Accessories like hats and shoes were uncommon in daily life, they were mostly reserved for special events. The Greeks found shoes troublesome and many often went their whole life-time barefoot.