Introduction
The Ancient Near East and Greece were separate civilizations with their cultural customs, religious beliefs, and political philosophies. Famous philosopher Aristotle sheds light on the contrasts between these civilizations. Culture is a key characteristic that sets the Greeks apart from the people of the Ancient Near East.
Aristotle is a significant figure who explained the cultural differences between the Greeks and the Ancient Near East. One of the main contrasts between the Greeks and the ancient Near East lay in their cultures. Aristotle believed that each person has built-in patterns of development, which help a group of people grow towards becoming a fully developed individual of their kind or species.
Patterns of Development
Every person has innate patterns of growth that allow them to mature into fully realized members of their type or species. These patterns apply to communities, cultures, civilizations, and individuals, making them universal. In Aristotle’s view, these patterns of evolution are essential to comprehending the growth and development of many civilizations (Turdiyev).
For instance, according to Aristotle, plants exhibit a growth pattern that enables them to reproduce and flourish (Turdiyev). He saw that plants might grow from a seed into fully developed plants with leaves, stalks, and roots. This development pattern is inherent to the plant and governs its long-term growth and development.
Aristotle applied this idea of developmental patterns to people and communities. He believed that people naturally evolve in a way that enables them to become fully formed members of their respective type or species. Humans develop following this pattern since it is part of their nature, and societies likewise go through stages of evolution (Budin).
Aristotle saw that when civilizations expand and change, they go through many stages of development (Budin). He believed civilizations begin as tiny groups and grow to become larger and more sophisticated over time. Aristotle claimed that civilizations have distinct identities and purposes based on their evolution. For instance, he thought that city-resident states should be able to lead fulfilling lives (Turdiev). He thought a city-state might accomplish this goal by encouraging values like bravery, knowledge, and justice.
Aristotle also thought that a civilization’s or an individual’s growth was not a linear process, another component of his idea of development patterns. Instead, it was a cyclical process, with times of expansion and advancement followed by times of contraction and degradation (Turdiyev). His theory of political regimes, which claimed that civilizations would alternate between good and evil regimes in an unending cycle, is a prime example of how he applied cyclical development.
Culture and Civilizational Development
Culture is essential to a civilization’s growth. Their growth was affected by the different cultural practices of the Ancient Near East and the Greeks. The Ancient Near East emphasized tradition, religion, and hierarchy, whereas the Greeks prized individualism, creativity, and reason. The growth of civilization depends heavily on culture, and it includes all of the precepts, ideals, traditions, and social conventions that influence how individuals think, act, and communicate with one another. A society’s cultural practices may impact everything from its political structures and economic systems to its literature, philosophy, and artistic creations.
A civilization’s culture can also influence the relationships between civilizations. For instance, the cultural traditions of the Greeks and the Ancient Near East differed, affecting how they interacted (Cordova). Due to their emphasis on independence, creativity, and reason, the Greeks were more receptive to new ideas and eager to interact with other civilizations. This sparked the growth of new concepts and inventions, including democracy, philosophy, and science.
The Ancient Near East, on the other hand, was less adaptable and accessible to other civilizations due to its reliance on tradition, religion, and hierarchy. Despite their significant contributions to astronomy and mathematics, they did not enjoy the same degree of intellectual and cultural contact as the Greeks. Additionally, a civilization’s culture can affect its adaptability and resilience to changing conditions.
For instance, due to its complex agricultural techniques and intricate social organization, the Maya civilization in Central America was very flexible and robust. Unfortunately, several circumstances, including deterioration of the environment, conflict, and political instability, ultimately caused their civilization to collapse.In contrast, the ancient Roman civilization’s strong governmental and economic structures and the culture’s focus on order, organization, and pragmatism allowed it to adapt and persist for millennia.
The Greeks encouraged individualism or the notion that people should be self-sufficient and autonomous. Their political and philosophical convictions were clear manifestations of this principle. According to the Greeks, individuals should be allowed to engage in politics freely and have their opinions heard. Ancient thinkers like Plato and Aristotle also believed that people should seek knowledge and truth for their own sake, regardless of society’s expectations.
The Greeks placed a high priority on invention and creativity. They were renowned for their contributions to literature, the arts, and science (Bernal). They were able to explore novel concepts and break down barriers in various disciplines because they valued individualism. The Greeks prioritized reason and held that knowledge should not be based solely on superstition or tradition but on reason and facts (Bernal). Their philosophy and science, which attempted to explain the natural world by observation and logic, were clear examples of this conviction.
Contrarily, the Ancient Near East placed a high priority on tradition and religion. They supported a rigid hierarchy in which people were assigned duties depending on their social standing (Cordova). Religion heavily influenced their civilization, and they believed their gods controlled the natural world.
A civilization’s evolution depends heavily on culture. It affects how people think, act, and communicate, and how a civilization interacts with other civilizations. Knowing a civilization’s culture may help us better understand its accomplishments, advantages, and disadvantages.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Aristotle analyzed the distinctions between Greek culture and that of the Ancient Near East. Each person has inherent developmental patterns that aid in the progression of a group of individuals toward becoming a fully grown member of their kind or species. Aristotle’s theories about developmental trends shed light on the cultural distinctions between the Greeks and the Ancient Near East. These civilizations were shaped by culture, and the Greek principles of individuality, creativity, and reason set them apart from those of the Ancient Near East.
The Ancient Near East was primarily based on tradition, religion, and hierarchy. Knowing these cultural variations helps enhance our understanding of the distinctive contributions made by these civilizations and their influence on the modern world. Modern democracy and scientific thought have been affected by the Greek focus on individuality and reason. In contrast, the Ancient Near East’s religious beliefs and hierarchical structure have impacted modern faiths and social structures.As a result, Aristotle’s perspective on cultural evolution and patterning gives essential knowledge about our modern society’s anthropological and historical foundations.
Works Cited
Bernal, Martin. “The image of Ancient Greece as a tool for colonialism and European hegemony.” The social construction of the past. Routledge, 2020, pp. 119-128.
Budin, Stephanie Lynn. “Fertility and gender in the Ancient Near East.” Sex in Antiquity. Routledge, 2018, 30-49.
Cordova, Carlos E. “The degradation of the ancient near eastern environment.” A Companion to the Ancient Near East, 2020, pp. 65-84.
Turdiev, Bekhruz Sobirovich. “Evolution of ideas and views on the development of democratic society and spiritual renewals.” Scientific and Technical Journal of Namangan Institute of Engineering and Technology, vol. 2, no. 10, 2020, pp. 209-217.
Turdiyev, Bekhruz Sobirovich. “Cultural and educational development of society in the scientific heritage of world philosophers.” Academic research in educational sciences vol. 2, no. 4, 2021, pp. 443-451.