The Historical Roots of Modern Western Thought: A Study of the Evolution of Thought from Greece to the Middle Ages

الجذور التاريخية للفكر الغربي الحديث: دراسة في تطور الفكر من اليونان إلى العصور الوسطى

Abstract

This study aims to examine the historical background that paved the way for the emergence of modern Western thought by analyzing the major intellectual phases that preceded it, from the Greek period through the Roman era to the Middle Ages. The study highlights the contributions of these periods in shaping the epistemological structure of Western thought, including the foundation of philosophical thinking, the development of legal and political systems, and the formulation of the relationship between reason and faith. It further explains how these cumulative developments prepared the ground for the rise of modern thought based on reason and the scientific method. The research adopts a historical-analytical approach, drawing on classical philosophical sources and contemporary studies. The significance of this study lies in demonstrating that modern Western thought did not emerge in isolation but is the result of a gradual historical evolution shaped by the interaction of philosophical, practical, and religious elements.