THE GREEK CIVILIZATION

Ancient Greek civilization is the period

following Mycenaean civilization, which
ended about 1200 BCE, to the death
of Alexander the Great, in 323 BCE. It was a
period of political, philosophical, artistic, and
scientific achievements that formed
a legacy with unparalleled influence on
Western civilization.
 THE GREEK CIVILIZATION
The Ancient Greeks were extremely interested in learning about the world
around them. Philosophers developed theories about astronomy, mathematics,
biology, geography, and much more. The discoveries and inventions of the Ancient
Greeks laid the foundation for modern science and technology.
GREEK INVENTIONS THAT
CHANGED THE WORLD
PAP SMEAR
• George Papanikolaou – a veteran of
Greece’s medical corps created
the cervical screening method. This test
detects the cervical changes before cancer
actually develops.
• This, in turn, enabled the doctors to treat it
early and hence, it became curable.
• The introduction of the Pap smear test
reduced the deaths due to cervical cancer
by almost 70% over the last 50 years.
Thus, Greece has gifted the world
incredible inventions even in the field of
medicine.
WATER MILL
• Water mills were a revolutionary invention
and have been used all over the world for the
purpose of metal shaping, agriculture and, most
importantly, milling. To mill means to grind
grain.

• This in turn led to the production of edible food

staples like rice, cereals, pulses, flour, and so
on. Ever since its invention, the water mill has
seen a number of adaptations, which have
enabled people to use it to mill different raw
materials. These mills are still used in many
parts of the world and serve a similar function.
ALARM CLOCK
• One of the most commonly used gadgets these
days is the alarm clock, and it too had its
origins in ancient Greece.

• The Hellenistic engineer and inventor

Ctesibius (285–222 BC) fitted his clepsydras
or water clock with a dial and pointer to
indicate the time, and added an elaborate
alarm system which involved pebbles
dropping on to a gong, or the blowing of a
trumpet by forcing bell jars down into water
and taking the compressed air through a
beating reed at pre-set times. 
ODOMETER
• One of the most widely used instruments in
the present day, the odometer, measures the
distance traveled by a vehicle such as a
bicycle or automobile. Even though modern
odometers are digital, not so long ago they
were more mechanical, slowly evolving into
electro-mechanical with the rise of
technology. This omnipresent instrument was
also being used in ancient Greece.
SOME OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS

Cartography
Archimedes Screw
Basis of Geometry
Earliest Practice of Medicine
 CONCLUSION
Without a doubt, Greek society inspired the achievements that shaped the foundation
of ancient Western civilization. They were daring enough to go in directions no other
civilization had ventured into before.

They went on to accomplish great feats in the arts, philosophy, science, architecture,

and many more. Although some of their ideas may have been discarded over time,
many of the ancient Greeks’ discoveries and inventions are still used today.

The major discovery that the sun is in the center of the solar system was once ignored,
but later rediscovered and agreed upon. From cannons to plumbing, urban planning,
wheelbarrows, showers, lighthouses, canals and many more, ancient Greek inventions
and discoveries are numerous and widespread. A single list cannot do them justice.