Every classicist will have their own personal definition of classics, but the term “classics” has been almost completely synonymous with the study of Ancient Greece and Rome, encompassing their rich philosophical, historical, linguistic, and cultural veneer. Yet for me, such a definition fails to account for a broader interconnectedness of ancient civilizations. As an innately interdisciplinary field of study, I believe that the field of classics would be better understood as not just a subject limited to one cultural sphere, but rather a perusement of pinnacle human achievements across time and space. The need for a broadening definition of the term is a result of the much-Westernized take this term has taken over the Middle Ages, and also due to the perceived perception of the declining pertinence of such an ancient discipline. The term “classics” neglected the cultures of the oriental that developed during, or even proceeded that of its Western counterparts. By incorporating oriental cultures, people can thus better comprehend the enduring relevance of our past.
The influence of non-Greco-Roman cultures must not be neglected, as they, like the Romans and Greeks, shaped and continue to shape our 21st world. The legal codes of Mesopotamia, such as the Codes of Hammurabi, predate the Roman laws of Justinian and serves as the foundation of many legal reforms in the future. The mathematical foundations of the Maya civilizations in the west contribute to scintillating scientific progress that even the Greeks and Romans themselves were not able to achieve. Expanding classics to incorporate these civilizations could allow humans to better understand the interconnectedness of ancient cultures.
The different approaches to classics have been discussed profusely by recent scholars - classics seems to be an agglomeration of different fascinating areas packaged as one entity. Whether it’s the linguistics of Latin or Greek, the mythology of Egypt, the democracy of Athens, the architecture from Rome, the writings of Homer, or the reigns of Augustus, all of these are studied under the discipline of classics. The modern world gave birth to burgeoning techniques, such as the rise of archeology, comparative linguistics, and global history to tackle this discipline. The rise of these interdisciplinary techniques means that we are no longer to view certain civilizations in isolation, as these approaches emphasize on the exchange of ideas between different cultural groups, allowing for more nuanced and richer scholarships. For example, the study of the Silk Road linking the Romans to the Han Dynasty in China would require the careful scrutiny of both classical Latin sources and medieval Han records. Thus, a broader definition of classics means more accessibility and pertinence in an increasingly connected world.
The study of classics should no longer be confined to Greece and Rome alone. We need to recognize the advancements of different civilizations, and also understand that the increasing interconnectedness of the world demand a new approach to this interdisciplinary study - one that truly reflects the achievements of humankind.