Final answer:
Greece and Rome have had a lasting impact on Western civilization through cultural, philosophical, political, and educational contributions. The spread of Greek and Roman culture throughout Europe and into North Africa and the Middle East led to a synthesis of cultural traditions and the foundation for modern Western society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Greece and Rome have had a profound impact on the Western Hemisphere, with their legacies deeply ingrained in the foundations of Western civilization. The ancient Greeks, especially in Athens, greatly influenced Western culture, philosophy, politics, and education.
Greek contributions include the concept of democracy, classical dramas, mathematical principles from Pythagoras, as well as philosophical teachings from Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle that are still central to Western thought.
The Roman Republic and the Roman Empire that succeeded it carried Greek ideas further, creating a unified Western civilization concept. The Romans adopted Greek culture and augmented it with remarkable organizational and engineering feats. They also transmitted their language, with Latin evolving into the Romance languages: French, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish.
Roman influence extended beyond Europe to North Africa and the Middle East, where they interacted with and absorbed elements from other cultures such as the Egyptians. This resulted in a rich cultural synthesis visible in art, religion, and language. Overall, the classical civilizations of Ancient Greece and Rome laid the groundwork for modern Western societies, particularly in terms of culture, political institutions, language, and systemic education.