Final answer:
Ancient Greece and Rome profoundly influenced Western civilization in various domains, including culture, architecture, language, government, and intellectual life, primarily through the transmission of Greek ideas to Rome and later to the rest of Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
Much of what we know about ancient Greece and Rome is due to their lasting impact on various aspects of modern Western civilization. The societies of ancient Greece, particularly in Athens, directly influenced culture, intellectual life, mathematics, philosophy, and the concept of democracy and republicanism in Europe and the Middle East. Similarly, elements of early Roman culture were shaped by Greek ideas, and the Roman Empire transmitted Greek culture further as it expanded.
The Roman Republic was founded on principles adopted from the Greeks, emphasizing citizen participation in governance. The Latin language of the Romans gave rise to the Romance languages, and Roman culture spread throughout the empire. Greek architectural styles, literary sources, and intellectual achievements had a profound effect on Roman society, which in turn influenced the Western world.
During the Byzantine era and especially with the advent of the Italian Renaissance, Greek and Roman knowledge, preserved in the eastern half of the former Roman Empire, was brought to Western Europe. This transmission of knowledge included important literary and philosophical works that shaped European thought and culture.