Classicism Essay

The classical periods of many of the great world civilizations were the golden ages of those civilizations. However, just because a civilization’s classical age has passed does not mean that the ideas, institutions, and art have passed as well. On the contrary, the effect from the classical periods of many great civilizations is still with the present civilization. The ideas, institutions, and art that has endured from these civilizations is no accident; the ideas, institutions, and art have had an influence on civilizations up to and including the present day. The meaning for classicism can be described as “defining and long-lasting civilizational patterns shaped by belief systems.” Hitchens includes both philosophies and religions in belief systems as both were part of classical civilizations. Hitchen elaborates on the importance of belief systems as ethics is a foundational part of a belief system. She connects a well-ordered society with cultural achievement; this then leads to a civilization’s Golden Age. This high point in a civilization’s history was

Rome was different in many ways from Greece which reflected the practicality of the Romans. Rome distinguished itself “by its belief in law-imperial law, God’s law and church law-and by its Christian belief in human love and forgiveness.” The classical period of the Romans began around 500 B.C.E and ended around 500 A.D. Early Rome was a republic, with a general body of law called the Twelve Tables. Hitchens traces the Roman emphasis on law from its origins to the development of the idea of universal law. The Romans were also influenced by Judaism and Christianity which spread from the eastern province of Judea. Canon law of the Catholic Church drew upon the message of Jesus and used Roman law as its foundation to help the Church to govern. The emphasis placed by the Romans on law can bee seen in its institutions and