Roman and Greek Legacy

Overview

This lecture reviews the major legacies of the ancient Romans and Greeks, traces the transition of power in Western civilization after Rome's fall, and highlights key developments leading up to the Renaissance.

Roman & Greek Legacy

• Romans and Greeks passed down crucial values, laws, and inventions to Western civilization.
• Both civilizations believed in divine law and natural law, which guided their legal systems.
• Roman values included perseverance, honor, servant leadership, patriotism, and large-scale ambition.
• Their political models influenced later republics and democracies, though Rome transitioned to empire.
• Roman engineering achievements included the Colosseum, aqueducts, and extensive road systems.
• Periods of peace and stability (Pax Romana) allowed for advancement and cultural flourishing.
• Western tradition considers Rome and Greece both an example and a warning for future societies.

Stages of Civilization & Influential Figures

• Toynbee's five stages: genesis, growth, times of trouble, universal state, and disintegration apply to both Greece and Rome.
• Notable historical clusters: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Alexander the Great (Greece); Julius Caesar, Cicero, Augustus (Rome); similar groupings in the Reformation and among American Founding Fathers.

After Rome: Inheritors of the West

• After Rome's collapse, power dispersed among Germanic tribes, Byzantines, and Islamic empires.
• Germanic tribes (Goths, Vandals, Huns) dominated the West but lacked cultural achievements.
• Byzantines preserved Roman law (Corpus Juris Civilis) and Greek/Roman learning, spreading it further east.
• Byzantines halted early Muslim advances into Eastern Europe.
• Muslims conquered North Africa and parts of Spain, influencing western civilization.

The "Dark Ages" & Preservation of Knowledge

• The "Dark Ages" describe a period when post-Rome civilizations could not match Greek/Roman achievements.
• Boethius bridged Greek and Latin scholarship, translating key works and influencing Christian thought.
• Monasteries preserved and copied ancient texts, maintaining Western intellectual traditions.
• Irish monasteries, influenced by St. Patrick, played a crucial role in saving classical knowledge.

The Rise of the Church & Charlemagne

• Charlemagne united much of Western Europe and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor, marking church influence in politics.
• The Holy Roman Empire had limited unity and was more symbolic than functional.
• The church eventually launched the Crusades, a debated response to Muslim advances.

The Great Schism (1054)

• The split between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy was due to language, cultural, and theological differences.
• Key controversies included papal authority and the "Filioque" clause in the Nicene Creed.

Key Events: England & Law

• Battle of Hastings (1066): Norman conquest integrated French culture and set the stage for the English language.
• Magna Carta (1215): Limited monarchy, affirmed rights, promoted rule of law over king, and is a precursor to later democratic documents.

The Black Death and the Renaissance

• The Black Death (14th century) killed up to 60% of Europe's population, profoundly impacting society.
• The resulting reflection on life helped spark the Renaissance and renewed interest in classical antiquity.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Divine Law — Law believed to come from a higher, spiritual authority.
• Natural Law — Universal moral principles believed to be inherent in nature.
• Corpus Juris Civilis — Justinian's code of laws, foundational for European legal systems.
• Pax Romana — Period of relative peace and stability across the Roman Empire.
• Holy Roman Empire — Medieval political entity in Europe, symbolic successor to Rome.
• Great Schism — 1054 split between Western (Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) Christianity.
• Magna Carta — English charter limiting royal power, foundational to constitutional law.
• Black Death — Bubonic plague epidemic that devastated Europe in the 14th century.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Reflect on the legacies of the Greeks and Romans and how they influence modern Western values.
• Prepare for Part 2: Renaissance, Scientific Revolution, Reformation, Enlightenment, and modern events.
• Suggested: Further reading on Magna Carta, Boethius, and the Great Schism for deeper understanding.