The classical period refers to the historical moment of the maximum apogee of creations and intellectual , artistic and literary manifestations of the Greco-Roman culture in the Ancient Age , located between the 8th century BC to the 2nd century AD.
The classical period is framed in the geographical space corresponding to the place where the Greco-Roman civilization developed, that is, the Mediterranean basin and the Near East , and which, thanks to the idealization of the purity of its intellectual and cultural concept, exercised marked influence on the organization of future Western culture .
This period is characterized by the presence of monarchies and a social elite dominated by dukes and nobles , who were in charge of patronizing and serving as mentors for the brilliant musicians of the time, usually of low financial resources.
The cultural legacy of the classical period has been imperishable, it has continuously inspired the later stages of history , from the Middle Ages , the Renaissance , Classicism , the Neoclassicism of the Modern Age and is preserved until our time, hence the classic name .
See also: Hellenistic Period .
Historical period
Rome became an empire in the 1st century BC
- Classic Greece. It corresponds to the period between the 5th and 4th centuries BC (500 – 338 BC).
- Start. Fall of the tyranny of Athens (500 BC).
- Highlight moment. Pericles century (Mid 5th century BC)
- Final. Death of Alexander the Great (323 BC).
- Classic Rome. It corresponds to the period between the 5th and 2nd centuries BC
- Start. Overthrow of the Roman monarchy (509 BC).
- Highlight moment. The Roman republic was transformed into the Roman Empire 1st century BC
- Final. Decline of the Roman Empire 3rd century AD
Mythology in the classical period
Greek and Roman mythology have the same deities.
Although the names of the Greek gods are different from those of the Roman gods , both mythologies converge on the same deities, after adapting the Greek religion to the Roman religion.
Democracy in the classical period
This period was characterized by the political evolution of most Greek cities towards democracy , laying the foundations of what is known as Athenian democracy . In 510 a. C., the Spartan troops supported the Athenian nobles against Hipias, son of Pisístrato, Cleómenes I, king of Sparta, putting an end to the tyranny of Sparta. The citizens were grouped into ten tribes, according to the locality and not by birth or wealth, Cleisthenes, was elected first archon by the popular sectors (508 BC).
Philosophy of the classical period
In the classical period philosophers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle stand out.
At the level of thought, the Greeks were not content with the religious justifications of reality , they sought a rational explanation of human nature, for which they conceived Philosophy , one of the most valuable intellectual contributions to humanity. Excelling the school of the sophists, with figures such as Socrates , Gorgias, Xenophanes, Protagoras, Parmenides, Democritus, Empedocles, Anaxagoras, Plato and Aristotle .
Classical period architecture
Roman architecture adopted the three Greek styles Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.
The Greco-Roman architectural expression is undoubtedly one of the most impressive proofs of the majesty of these civilizations. Many of those works survive to this day.
- Greek architecture. The most popular architectural forms of Greek culture are its temples, public buildings, also open-air theaters , public squares, mausoleums, stadiums, which reflected the sense of harmony and proportion, in three characteristic Doric, Ionic and Corinthian styles ; causing wide effect in the later western architecture.
- Roman Architecture. The architecture of Rome emerged from the Greek and is characterized by the solidity and grandeur of its works, such as temples, pantheons, triumphal arches, coliseums, basilicas, bridges, aqueducts, amphitheaters, circuses, forums; he adopted the three Greek styles Doric, Ionic and Corinthian, in addition to the Etruscan.
Classical period sculpture
Greek sculpture expressed great admiration for the human body.
- Greek sculpture. Known as severe style , it encompasses a wide variety of genres: bronze sculpture , stelae, architectural reliefs . Mirón, Phidias and Policleto stood out as sculptors. Sculpture was the art that most expressed admiration for the human body , the culminating work is the series of the works of Hercules.
- Roman sculpture. Since Greek sculpture is a constant reference to Roman sculpture, the most important Latin contribution to this art is the portrait due to its great realism, expressiveness and detail. The landscape relief also stands out.
Classical period literature
- Greek Literature . Deployment of theater and poetry as more developed genres. Writers of tragedies, such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides; in comedy Aristophenes; and poets like Pindar, Homer and Hesiod. Among the most popular works are The Iliad and The Odyssey. As main representatives of the genre of oratory are Lísias, Isocrates, Esquínes and Demosthenes.
- Roman Literature. Greek literature is traditionally present in all Latin literature, he made novel contributions with fable and rhetoric.
Classical music
Mozart’s works were usually composed for piano.
The music classic is inspired by the ideal of beauty and symmetry of the Greek and Roman art of the V and IV centuries before Christ , where nature and perfection is the protagonist. Harmony, balance are present there, not exaggerating and preferring aesthetics over unnecessary distraction. Nor is it strange to discover sounds of nature in many of the compositions.
Sonatas are representative pieces of music from the classical period . In them the melodies are structured by mutually related sections or stages. An opening , a development and a conclusion . It seems very simple and it is that forceful. Some examples are: Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, Patética and Pastoral by the same author. Most are written and made for piano, as is the case with Mozart, in E flat, A major, C major, and so on.
The sciences of the classical period
Pythagoras established the foundations of geometry.
The sciences had a predominant heyday in classical Greek civilization . The Greeks dared to seek rational answers to the phenomena of nature, moving away from mythological or supernatural concepts. Thales of Mileto is considered the first scientist in history; Pythagoras established the foundations of geometry; Hippocrates is described as the creator of scientific medicine; Archimedes discovered the theory of the displacement of bodies.
Olympic games in the classical period
They knew their maximum splendor in classical Greek times, they were a series of sports competitions held in honor of the God Zeus , by delegates from the cities of ancient Greece and represented a religious, social and cultural manifestation.
Roman law
Roman law laid the foundations of current law.
It was the legal system that governed Roman citizens and that in turn laid the foundations of current law , both in the private aspect, as well as public and administrative criminal law. The compilation of the institutions, general principles and provisions of Roman Law in the Corpus Juris Civilis was sponsored by Emperor Justinian.
