Greek ideals and influences

I can see much of what the Greek culture and influence into our own Western civilization and identity as a society.  It's genius and interesting how Greek people were able to become to be such prosperous scholars and achieve to be great writers throughout their Hellenistic Kingdom.  The Greek philosophies including the sense of the word democracy still lives in our American ideans and form of government today.  The Greeks also introduced the term "citizenship" to its people -- "equality for all people" (Strayer).  These origins of democracy allows us to understand that there must've been a shift in government (from the past) and with that said, freedom came about.  The new way of thinking branched out of an authoritarian style government into a civilization that included people's ideas to form this kind of government.  I can see how much of our freedom came about this kind of education/philosophy and transformation in thinking.  I believe this was so because it shows how much Greeks valued human life.  I also come to understand how this era emphasizes on a humanistic civilization, shaping its society into a better place to live.  And a higher concern for its people-->humankind.  The Greek people show us that they were capable of producing advanced works in art, literature, and even written intellectual ideas in philosophy.  These Greek ideals and culture makes this part of civilization strong throughout the world because it still lives on in people's education and lives today.