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It's really sad that the author feels the need to be so defensive.

Apparently the idea that ancient Europeans, "Oldest Dead White European Males", had a massive contribution to culture is somehow considered wrong and offensive today.

I hope that the author is overreacting and not responding to a real intellectual retardation prevalent in academia.

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There are some areas in academia (esp. among Lit. Crit. and cultural studies types) where the term DWEM (dead white european male) is used to criticize the traditional canon as a kind of cultural chauvinism. I studied Classics where that sentiment was not popular, and it wasn't something historians cared much about. I did have some really disturbing conversations with hard-core feminists and black studies students where they radically misunderstood what they thought they were criticizing, so it's a thing in some domains. There are some people who really think that the ideas of the birthplace of constitutional democratic governance are at the root of authoritarianism and imperialism. The tendency to diminish the accomplishment of the Greeks was much more a thing in popularizing literature (things like Black Athena) than serious academic work. So it depends a lot on the department (and the prof.), and on the type of work they were doing. Oldest Dead White European Males was also the title of a book by Bernard Knox explaining the relevance, originality, and significance of the Greeks.

If you're interested, look up Mary Beard. She is extremely knowledgeable on ancient Rome without the sexist attitude. I've spoken to her a few times, she's a lovely woman who I hold in high regard. Mary did a wonderful series on BCC called "Meet The Romans". A very insightful review. Go Mary!!

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