Classical Antiquity, a period spanning from roughly the 8th century BCE to the 6th century CE, encompasses the civilizations of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome and their profound contributions to Western Civilization.
This era began with the rise of the Greek city-states, including Athens and Sparta, where significant advancements were made in philosophy, art, literature, and science. Thinkers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle laid the foundations of Western philosophy, while epic poets like Homer and playwrights like Sophocles enriched Literature and Drama. Experiments in forms of Government, particularly in Athens, set early models for Political Philosophy.
The conquests of Alexander the Great spread Greek culture across a vast empire, initiating the Hellenistic period, which saw the blending of Greek and Eastern influences. Following this, the Roman Republic emerged and later transitioned into the Roman Empire, which at its height controlled much of Europe, North Africa, and The Middle East. Rome made significant contributions to ‣, Engineering, and Architecture, epitomized by enduring structures like The Colosseum and the aqueducts.
Classical Antiquity ended with the decline of the Western Roman Empire, but its legacies in Philosophy, Governance, Literature, Art, and Science profoundly influenced the subsequent development of Western Civilization, laying the groundwork for The Renaissance and modern Western Thought.