Appreciation of the Greek and the Greek civilization

文章主要讲述的作者从学习希腊和希腊文明的的过程中了解到的文化的essay范文。本文主要从作者学习，了解以及各方面的影响，让作者从中升华了解到其文化存在的价值以及历史影响。
In my history learning experience, Greek civilization is probably the most impressive history that I have learned. From the period, the ancient democracy and freedom was practices. Boys and girls were cultivated under strict military education in Sparta. The education which based on the gymnasium training was encouraged in different polis. The ancient Olympics can also date back to this period. I still remember one of the pictures in my history book, people in ancient Greek were in a good shape and girls were equipped with spears, which impress me a lot. I am surprised that democracy burgeoning since 6th BC, and also interested in knowing more about Greek civilization, learning exact situation which contribute to the booming. Thus the reasons above encourage me to choose the book Greek and Greek civilization written by Jacob Burckhardt who was one of the excellent historians of classical and renaissance culture, he stated the ancient Greek culture as an aristocratic world based on a ruthless competition for honor, a competition, in turn, led to a tyrannous state with minimal personal freedoms. During my reading process, it just like detailed lectures which were given by authors, urging me to read more and more. 
After I finish reading the book, the agonal age, the aristocracy, freedom the democracy, were the four key themes which reflect the directions of the period. The agonal age means the gymnastic agon. At that time, people were religious and the basic aim to hold Olympics games was to show respect to the divine god. Besides, they wanted to develop the body to the highest perfection. All the qualified citizens were encouraged to take part in games like foot race, wresting, boxing, throwing the discus or chariot. There were gymnasia even in the most insignificant towns. The agon brook down enmity between tribes and united the whole nations both participants and spectators. However, gymnastics was in itself a popular activity, but in its advanced stage is an aristocratic one. Usually, the freemen’s sons would be handed over to the teacher of gymnastics, and received their entire education from him, only the fairly wealthy could spend their whole life in this way. That is to say, the aristocrat have more easy access to those activities and to some extent gymnastic games are aristocratic activities. Moreover, with the widely participation in the sports and practice in democracy, which promote the sovereign rights of civils, freedom-pursuing spirits of Greek develops a lot. The budding of democracy develops with the chase for freedom. Although different polis took different political system, but in general, democracy was put into practice, especially in Athens which Follows democracy system, which is the earliest attempt to democracy.
When it comes to the exact situation which impacted me, the agon was so popular in people that gymnastic agon came to be held at important funerals, which was a  good way to honor the dead, and a wise way to assemble Greeks to ensure the attendance. It indicates that people love and advocate gymnastic agon at that period so much that the love can even across the life. Moreover, we can infer that gymnastic agon need to assemble and people should work in unity to accomplish the activities. Compared with the custom in my nation today, when the one who I love die, as the member of the dead family, we all in sad emotion, and be sorry for people’s death, we cannot accept to hold large-scale gymnastic agon, and we do not think that it is proper to let events which supposed to be celebrated happen, let alone by holding fierce competition ways like gymnastic agon. On the contrary, people who live together are willing to come consciously to ensure the funeral’s process. At the same time, the relatives will wait in the side, make no noise or comfort the family members of the death while the Greek think gymnastic agon is an honor for the death. Therefore, put me into Greek’s shoes, it seems unreasonable to mesmerize the death in this way, I would refuse to attend the games in the case. But as for the gymnastic agon itself, I am enthusiastic in sports, especially running and tennis. Personally, participating in sports is healthy and can help me to relax, thus I guess I will interested in taking part in those sports at that time, especially in a democracy state like Athen. Generally, cultural differences impress me and we should understand each other instead of misunderstanding.

Finally, both agon and democracy repeat through time to today’s world. Olympic games can date back to the ancient Greek where sports developed as I mentioned above. Even some specific sports like foot racing, wresting are kept and the ritual that carrying the torch around different places to inform people is continuing. Apparently, today’s games are more widely and diverse and focus more on peace and sports itself while people dedicate to a perfect shape and gymnastics are aristocratic activities in ancient Greek. Besides, Greek democracy is the earliest civilization for today’s democracy system which was put into practice toward more detailed aspects, especially in countries like America that stress democracy a lot. As a peek of civilization not only in western countries, Greek civilization set models for today’s life with its great achievement in history. 

51Due网站原创范文除特殊说明外一切图文著作权归51Due所有；未经51Due官方授权谢绝任何用途转载或刊发于媒体。如发生侵犯著作权现象，51Due保留一切法律追诉权。