It’s Greek to Me        

            A lot of people don’t realize that Greeks, Archimedes in particular, invented the first machine that combined precise clock-like gears and assembled historical data to predict the movements of Earth’s moon and the planets.  That makes it the first computer.  There is strong belief that when the Roman Empire crushed Greek civilization, advanced Greek mathematical knowledge migrated to the East where it was used in developing the astrolabe.  Later, gear movements similar to those first found in Archimedes’ computer, were adapted and used all over Europe in clocks. 

Consider this formidable heritage, cradled in Greek civilization.  Marvel at the downstream effects of the intellect of one person, Archimedes of Syracuse, killed by a Roman soldier’s broad sword.  A murdered icon of the Greek society that Romans trashed.  Question: throughout history, what has the greatness of empire produced besides vast wealth for small groups of people?  Has it done anything worthwhile?  Has empire, as opposed to civilization, done anything except slow the progress of humanity?  What exactly is the overall human advantage in building a society that is based on the systematic depredation of weaker ones?  Because that’s what empires do. 

            It’s Greek to me—unfathomable.  But there’s one thing we can say with certainty around here.  Today’s modern computer—IS Greek to me—given of Archimedes’ genius, combined with the inventive genius of subsequent generations, given to me in spite of countless intervening great empires.  It is truly Greek to me.  Opa!