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| An example of an Ancient Greek mathmatics question |
Columns of Ancient Greece
Wednesday, 4 June 2014
Ancient Greek Mathmatics and Science
Hi guys! Here is our last legacy, on Ancient Greek Mathmatics and Science. We have a lot to thank the Ancient Greeks for!
The Greeks have produced or made great advancements in mathematics which are being used today. Euclid was known for the basic rules and terms of geometry. While Pythagoras was famous for his theorem a2 + b2=c2 for a right triangle. Pythagoras also came up with a value of pie to calculate the circumference of a circle which is incredibly important. Archimedes discovered the physical law of displacement. This is when an object moves the same volume of water as the object which is placed inside it. Archimedes also used levers and pulleys to move heavy objects which inspired us. He launched a fully loaded ship all by himself. Archimedes also invented the Archimedes screw, which holds water up from rivers for the irrigation of fields. In addition to discoveries in math and physics, he invented weapons to help the Greeks in the Roman invasion. One of those weapons was the famous catapult. In 21 B.C.E. the Romans captured his city and killed him. In ancient Greece they weren’t a fan of equations or algebra but instead they were more focused on geometry, and used geometric methods to solve problems you might use in algebra. They were also very interested in proving that certain mathematical ideas were true. So they spent a lot of time using geometry to prove that things were always true, even though people like the Egyptians and Babylonians (for example) already knew they were right most of the time. I guess you can say that Greek people are very interesting!
The Greeks have produced or made great advancements in mathematics which are being used today. Euclid was known for the basic rules and terms of geometry. While Pythagoras was famous for his theorem a2 + b2=c2 for a right triangle. Pythagoras also came up with a value of pie to calculate the circumference of a circle which is incredibly important. Archimedes discovered the physical law of displacement. This is when an object moves the same volume of water as the object which is placed inside it. Archimedes also used levers and pulleys to move heavy objects which inspired us. He launched a fully loaded ship all by himself. Archimedes also invented the Archimedes screw, which holds water up from rivers for the irrigation of fields. In addition to discoveries in math and physics, he invented weapons to help the Greeks in the Roman invasion. One of those weapons was the famous catapult. In 21 B.C.E. the Romans captured his city and killed him. In ancient Greece they weren’t a fan of equations or algebra but instead they were more focused on geometry, and used geometric methods to solve problems you might use in algebra. They were also very interested in proving that certain mathematical ideas were true. So they spent a lot of time using geometry to prove that things were always true, even though people like the Egyptians and Babylonians (for example) already knew they were right most of the time. I guess you can say that Greek people are very interesting!
Sports, Fitness and the Olympics
Hey guys. Here's our post on Sports and Fitness in Ancient Greece. Hope you enjoy!
In Ancient Greece, being fit was very important. Having a healthy mind, body and weight meant you were higher up on the social structure. Being fit meant that you could play sports better than others. Ancient Greeks took sports very important and competitively. Woman did not play many sports; instead they did more housework. The Greeks created the Olympics; it was originally made for only the Greek men. Although we do not know just when the Games were first played, the earliest recorded Olympic competition occurred in 776 B.C. It had only one event, the one-stade (approximately 630-foot or 192-meter) race, which was won by a cook named Coroebus. This was the start of the first Olympiad, the four-year period by which the Greeks recorded their history. They eventually created more events such as wrestling, running, discus and javelin. One event that I thought that was really cool and is semi similar to horseback riding, was chariot racing; a cart pulled by horses. Winning athletes were heroes who put their hometowns on the map. One young Athenian defended his political reputation by mentioning how he entered seven chariots in the Olympic chariot-race. This high number of entries made both the aristocrat and Athens look very wealthy and powerful. The Olympics were a one-day event until they were extended three to five days. All events were held at the Olympia stadium in Greece. The Olympics were held every four years and nobody could wait until they started again! Now-a-days, people from all across the world take part in the Olympics every two years; alternating with the winter and summer Olympic games.
In Ancient Greece, being fit was very important. Having a healthy mind, body and weight meant you were higher up on the social structure. Being fit meant that you could play sports better than others. Ancient Greeks took sports very important and competitively. Woman did not play many sports; instead they did more housework. The Greeks created the Olympics; it was originally made for only the Greek men. Although we do not know just when the Games were first played, the earliest recorded Olympic competition occurred in 776 B.C. It had only one event, the one-stade (approximately 630-foot or 192-meter) race, which was won by a cook named Coroebus. This was the start of the first Olympiad, the four-year period by which the Greeks recorded their history. They eventually created more events such as wrestling, running, discus and javelin. One event that I thought that was really cool and is semi similar to horseback riding, was chariot racing; a cart pulled by horses. Winning athletes were heroes who put their hometowns on the map. One young Athenian defended his political reputation by mentioning how he entered seven chariots in the Olympic chariot-race. This high number of entries made both the aristocrat and Athens look very wealthy and powerful. The Olympics were a one-day event until they were extended three to five days. All events were held at the Olympia stadium in Greece. The Olympics were held every four years and nobody could wait until they started again! Now-a-days, people from all across the world take part in the Olympics every two years; alternating with the winter and summer Olympic games.
The Hippocratic Oath
I swear by Apollo the physician, and Asclepius, and Hygieia and Panacea and all the gods and goddesses as my witnesses, that, according to my ability and judgement, I will keep this Oath and this contract:
To hold him who taught me this art equally dear to me as my parents, to be a partner in life with him, and to fulfill his needs when required; to look upon his offspring as equals to my own siblings, and to teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or contract; and that by the set rules, lectures, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to students bound by this contract and having sworn this Oath to the law of medicine, but to no others.
I will use those dietary regimens which will benefit my patients according to my greatest ability and judgement, and I will do no harm or injustice to them.
I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.
In purity and according to divine law will I carry out my life and my art.
I will not use the knife, even upon those suffering from stones, but I will leave this to those who are trained in this craft.
Into whatever homes I go, I will enter them for the benefit of the sick, avoiding any voluntary act of impropriety or corruption, including the seduction of women or men, whether they are free men or slaves.
Whatever I see or hear in the lives of my patients, whether in connection with my professional practice or not, which ought not to be spoken of outside, I will keep secret, as considering all such things to be private.
So long as I maintain this Oath faithfully and without corruption, may it be granted to me to partake of life fully and the practice of my art, gaining the respect of all men for all time. However, should I transgress this Oath and violate it, may the opposite be my fate.
Ancient Greek Medicine
Medicine in ancient Greece was very different from today because people thought that illness came as a punishment from the gods, until Hippocrates the physician came up with the theory that illness did not come from the gods and could be cured. So, during war, injured soldiers did not pray but was tended to by a doctor. Hippocrates is still a part of medicine today, because today all doctors must take part in something called the “Hippocratic Oath”. We will write down the full Hippocratic Oath in our next post!
Tuesday, 3 June 2014
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