By "classical" it is meant the time from the fifth century B.C. in the Mediterranean area, particularly Greece and Italy.

Classical rhetoric is important because it established the basic theories of persuasion that were taught until this century. These theories still hold true today, and we can become better, more persuasive communicators if we adhere to the best of them. If you stop and think about it for a minute, you will note that the most influential and powerful people in our society are good communicators. Politicians who make our laws are generally excellent speakers. People whom you admire are often good communicators. Hitler was a good speaker who was able to control a large military by virtue of his power to persuade. Christ was a person who was able to persuade with sermons. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were adept speakers. In short, communication is power. The teachers who established rhetoric as an art knew this well and were able to observe and esta

The effect of speech upon the condition of the soul is comparable to the power of drugs over the nature of bodies. For just as different drugs dispel different secretions from the body, and some bring an end to disease and others to life, so also in the case of speeches, some distress, others delight, some cause fear, and others make hearers bold, and some drug and bewitch the soul with a kind of evil persuasion. If she was persuaded by speech she did not do wrong but was unfortunate.

In total I think that Gorgias kept himself well abreast of the major topics and current news of the day. He had general knowledge of the humanities and sciences. He also knew what the majorities opinion concerning these matters were and was able to comment on anything he was asked. He was persuasive in these commentaries because of his poetic style and large vocabulary. In today's society, he would make an outstanding lawyer or professional commentator, however, I don't think he represents the style of today's orators. First, there are far more forums of entertainment today then there was then, hence, public speaking and debating are not valued as high entertainment anymore. Second, the sciences and humanities have become highly advanced and diversified. Gorgias might not be able to have carnal knowledge about everything in modern society. Gorgias would serve to be less effective in today's times. During Athenian's days, however, Gorgias was a force to be reckoned with. Today, the only person who can get away with lengthy speeches that say very little is the President of the United States. Perhaps if Gorgias were alive today he would make a fine living as a presidential speech writer.

In B.C.. 427, when already advanced in years, Gorgias came to Athens on an embassy from his native city, to implore aid against the Syracusans. He was successful in the object of his mission, and immediately returned home; but he soon came back to Athens, which he made his headquarters, traveling through Greece, like the other sophists, and winning much popularity and profit from a large number of disciples. He declined to assume the name of sophist, preferring that of rhetorician. He professed not to teach virtue, but the art of persuasion. In other words, he wanted to give his disciples such absolute readiness in speaking, that they should be able to convince their hearers independently of any knowledge of the subject. He did not f

Some common words found in the essay are:
War Gorgias, Zeno Zeno, Gorgias Athens, Sicily Throughout, Athens Greece, Italy Classical, Whereas Sophists, Nature Non-existent, Luther King, , art persuasion, spoken persuasion, speaker audience, rhetoric art, concerned truth, power speech, wandering teachers, protagoras gorgias,
Approximate Word count = 1631
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)