“Greek civilization is alive; it moves in every mental breath we breathe; There is so much left that none of us could absorb it all in a single lifetime. The ancient Greeks are known to be one of the greatest and most advanced peoples and left behind a legacy that helped define Western civilization. Cultural diffusion helped spread Greek culture throughout the world, and its effects are still felt today in almost every aspect. Greek culture has greatly affected different aspects of my daily life, including architecture, food, government, inventions, music, religion, and education. Modern architecture in America is greatly influenced by ancient Greek architectural styles, which include columns and decorative elements such as sculptures. . The Parthenon is an excellent example of surviving Greek architecture and inspired buildings such as the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial and the White House, all located in Washington DC. Some of the foods I consume daily have their origins in Greek cuisine. The most distinctive and oldest ingredients in Greek cuisine include olive oil, yogurt, honey, fresh vegetables and meat, all of which are part of my diet. Another important aspect of Greek cuisine is dining out and sharing food with family and friends, called paraia in Greek. Lawrence Durrell, a British poet and novelist, who spent part of his life speaking Greek, eloquently defined the word as "a transcendence of the table to include the conversation, the view, the ambiance and the general spirit of the place ". The concept of paraia is something that is practiced and cherished in my home. The type of government practiced in ancient Greece was democracy. The word democracy comes from the Greek language...... middle of paper ...... rsity. 2000. Internet. December 11, 2011. .Thucydides. “Funeral Oration of Pericles”. The history of the Peloponnesian War. Ware: Wordsworth Editions, 2000. 143. Print. Douglass, Charlene. "Euclid." Open Reference in Mathematics. 2007. Internet. December 10, 2011. .Lahanas, Michael. “Ancient Greek Music and Musical Instruments.” Hellenic. Internet. December 11, 2011. .Siddique, Zainab. “The Impact of Greek Philosophers on Modern Education.” Chowk. July 11, 2005. The web. December 11, 2011. .IbidRamirez, Susan, Peter Stearns and Sam Wineburg. “The spread of Greek culture. » World history: human heritage. Orlando: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2008. 156-57. Print.