Ancient Societal Influences

This month, we’re looking back — way back — to explore how ancient societies continue to shape the world we live in today. From the food on our tables to the stories we tell and the beliefs we hold, the roots of modern culture often stretch deep into the past. By examining these ancient influences, we begin to understand not just history, but how history still lives within us.

Ancient societies built the foundations of art, philosophy, religion, and community that continue to inspire modern thought. Their ideas about morality, creativity, and connection ripple across time — influencing what we value, how we express ourselves, and even what we eat. As a society constantly evolving, it’s easy to think of the ancient world as distant. But when we look closer, we see how its legacy continues to guide our everyday lives in subtle yet powerful ways.

This month, each of us is exploring a different piece of that ancient mosaic.

• Shreyaa uncovers how the dishes we enjoy today — from South India’s kanji to East Asian noodles and Italian pasta — are the products of ancient trade routes, migration, and shared innovation.
  
• TMarie dives into the world of Greek mythology, tracing how its themes of heroism, identity, and fate still echo through modern education, literature, and pop culture.
  
• Rose Barry reflects on ancient Egypt’s spiritual legacy, exploring how its religious ideas have influenced modern-day conceptions of faith, divinity, and the afterlife.
  

Together, we’re asking: How much of the ancient world still lives within us?

By examining these roots, we hope to better understand not only where we’ve come from, but also how the past continues to shape the stories — and the selves — we’re creating today.