Section III: The Golden Age of Athens
(Pages 117-117)
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This section is about:
How Athens, under
Pericles expanded its
democratic government,
prospered economically,
and experienced a golden
age in which architecture,
literature, and philosophy
flourished.
How the Peloponnesian
War brought an end to
Greek unity.
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When the Persian Wars were over,
Athens was messed up.
But in a short time they were the
richest, most powerful city-state in
Greece.
One way that got rich was by
demanding tribute from the other
members of the Delian League.
This led to the birth of the Athenian
Empire (their “classical age”).
Politics, Art, and Literature flourished,
there was order, balance, and
harmony in Athens.
It’s also called the Age of Pericles
(Athens ruler at the time).
Pericles believed in a direct democracy
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With many people active in
government.
They served in the assembly – or
on a jury – a group of people who
make a decision (they even got
paid for it).
This was done “by lot” – picked at
random.
They used a lot of juries (20025000 per day).
Even though anyone could
become a public official, you had a
better chance if you were rich
(they had better knowledge,
experience, and time)
The assembly also had the power
to hold an “unpopularity contest”
to get rid of people
As he was a great speaker, Pericles…
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Convinced Athenians to rebuild Athens (from tribute
money and Athenian silver
mines)
Other city-states didn’t like
their money going to that, but
Pericles said Athens could use
it’s money any way it wanted
to (since he was protecting
them with part of it).
Money (a tax? paid for “protection”)
Athens’ Golden Age culture
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Greek citizens developed
their own styles of
architecture, art, and
literature.
Athens experienced a
“Golden Age.”
Athens was a place for
artists, writers, and
thinkers to dare to ask
questions. They weren't
depending on the gods
for their answers – they
wanted to find out why
for themselves.
Architecture and Art
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A time when they built
magnificent temples for
their gods and for public /
commercial uses (Homes
were pretty basic though).
A lot of great paintings,
sculpture, and ceramics
comes from this time (with
heroic acts of the gods,
historical events, and daily
life).
Humans in art at this time
were not shown as they
really were, but in nearly
ideal and perfect form.
Earliest Greek writing was done in poetry,
but one of their great innovations was drama
(usually in open air theaters – done by men)
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Plays could be tragedies or
comedies. Tragedies
explored deep ideas and
conflicts (with lots of
suffering and misery).
Comedies often poked fun
at leaders and their
policies.
They even had drama
contests – with rules to
make them fair.
The Father of History
(Herodotus) would even
research the past to make
sure he had good plays.
The Three Great Thinkers were Philosophers
who asked: Where did the world come from?”
and What is the world made of?”
Socrates
Believed that goodness is
knowledge and that doing
evil is worse than suffering
from evil. Young people
loved him, but others said
he was corrupting the youth.
A jury sentenced him to
death and he killed himself
by drinking hemlock (a
powerful poison)
Plato
Was a student of Socrates.
Most of what we know
about Socrates is because
Plato “took notes.” Plato
wrote about “the ideal
society,” the nature of
goodness and friendship,
and the idea of truth. He
started a school called “the
Academy.”
Aristotle
Was a student of Plato. He
was a teacher of a guy
named Alexander the Great
(will come along a little
later). He set up a school
that taught his students to
learn by observation. He
considered what makes a
good life and studied which
governments were the best.
He favored moderation –
and avoiding extremes
(liked the middle class)
Plato
Aristotle
Socrates
The Peloponnesian War
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Many of the great men of Athens fought in the Peloponnesian War.
Athens vs. Sparta
Sparta led an army into Attica (an area near Athens).
The Athenians didn’t fight – they retreated back to their walled city
(bad idea).
A plague broke out in Athens and many died (while the Spartans
were destroying the surrounding countryside).
Even Pericles died from the plague during this time.
Fighting continued for 8 more years
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There was peace for a while –
until the Athenians invaded
Sicily (where they were
defeated).
Athens was having struggles
back home for power (an
oligarchy even took over for a
while).
Finally, the Spartans surprised
and destroyed the Athenian
Navy and Athens was starved
into surrender by a Spartan
blockade.
Even though the war was over,
there would not be Greek unity
(not 1 big empire).
Horrible Histories: Socrates Death