Greek Culture Greek Culture Classical Greece is the source from which many of the characteristic elements of Western culture derive, and therefore it makes sense to examine this culture.
Epic poetry goes back to Homer, that is, to the earliest period of preserved Greek literature.
But most literary work comes from Athens. In particular, the Fifth century in Athens was the scene for the development of many literary genres. The writing of history begins with Herodotus and Thucydides. Modern philosophy goes back to the fourth-century authors Plato and Aristotle, though they have a number of important predecessors. Many of the forms of Western art and architecture we owe to the Greeks.