Historians have long considered ancient Greece to be one of the most influential societies on modern life. Ancient Greece has inspired the modern world in five major areas: theater, government, philosophy, art, and architecture. Theater flourished in Greece, particularly Athens, between c. 550 BC and ca. 220 BC In the beginning, theatrical performances were part of Dionysia, a festival held in honor of the god Dionysus. The plot of the plays has always been inspired by Greek mythology, a theme that is still widespread today. Many modern plays and films have been directly based on or incorporated elements of Greek mythology or just mythology in general. Each play had a chorus, although its size and importance varied. The choir was used to provide background and summary information to the audience. The chorus is still used in modern musicals to provide interpretation of the mental and emotional states of the main characters. The chorus is also a precursor to the narrator. Three theatrical genres – tragedy, comedy, and satirical drama – began to emerge in ancient Greece. These three genres, although altered over time, still exist in modern theatre. Tragedies in ancient Greece were plays that showed human misery and suffering. This genre has remained essentially unchanged over time and has inspired many famous playwrights including William Shakespeare. Ancient Greek comedy began as political satire, a theme that is still evident in television programs such as The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and Saturday Night Live. Over time the theme of satire in Greek theater became more general, and specific public figures were generally not satirized. Playwrights focused on creating stock characters (easily recognizable characters) who ... middle of paper ... cratic philosophers, such as Anaximenes – who conducted the first scientific experiment – ​​also influenced the development of Western science and mathematics. The theories and experiments they conducted provided a foundation upon which others could expand later in history. If they had not created these theories, our modern knowledge of science and mathematics would be more limited than it is now. Greek art has had a profound effect on artists throughout the centuries. The style of Greek paintings and sculptures has been imitated over the centuries by some of the most famous artists, such as Michelangelo. All modern art can trace its origins to ancient Greek art. Western art and sculpture derives from the Romans, who had a deep respect for Greek art and often copied their styles. Alexander the Great's conquests gave rise to Greco-Buddhist art, which also had influence in Japan.