Ancient Greek PhilosophyAncient Greek Philosophyand Scholarshipand Scholarship

Lecture 7September 23, 2009

HIST 101 History of World Civilizations to 1550University of Montevallo, Fall 2009

Adjunct Instructor Jill Cooley

The Classical Period, 478 to 338 BC

Lecture 7: OutlineLecture 7: OutlineGreek

Scholarship in the Archaic Period◦ Thales of Miletus◦ Democritus and

the AtomistsGreek Philosophy

◦ Socrates◦ Plato◦ Aristotle

Classical Period◦ Athens and

Sparta◦ The Delian

League◦ Athenian Empire◦ Peloponnesian

War◦ Philip of

Macedonia

Lecture 7: Key TermsLecture 7: Key TermsThales of MiletusDemocritus of

AbderaAtomistsSocratesPlatoPlato’s RepublicAristotleAthenian DemocracyClisthenesMetic

Spartan MilitarismLycurgusXenophobicHelotsThe Delian LeagueAthenian EmpirePericlesThe Peloponnesian

WarPhilip of Macedonia

From Gods to ThinkingFrom Gods to Thinking Used gods to explain things (ex. The sun…) Easy way

to explain things they didn’t understand During Archaic Period, people started to seek non-

divine reasons to explain the world, Thales (from Miletus) “What is the world made out of?” He observed & reasoned. Thales believed water was the primary element. Water comes in many forms… Methods are important, first to observe & reason

This started a culture that the gods aren’t always in control, that there are natural processes

Others followed: Democritus (atom smallest particle of existence, arrangement determined physical appearance (fixed internal atomic structure))

Classic PeriodClassic Period Greek philosophers continue to be concerned & question

the natural world & processes New level of thought: begin to apply rational approach to

question human institutions (politics, economics) Socrates (lived 469-399BC)- during his time the

Peloponnesian War is going on/political crisis, Athens & Sparta are fighting; Athens loses creating political chaos. Believed in internal truths & through reason we can discover more, idealistic, supported the virtue of the polis. Methods of dialectics “continuous questioning…” This method challenged people & also maddened some. Height of Athenian Democracy, both rich & poor had participation in government. Didn’t like democracy, just the polis. He believed that democracy allowed the uninformed to make important decisions. People felt he was undermining Athens, and Socrates is put on trial…died in 399BC after given the choice to leave or drink poison.

PlatoPlato Student of Socrates, similar way of instruction. Known for his dialogs, philosophical discussions,

agreed with Socrates in many ways (thoughts on polis, democracy is a bad idea), believed he/she should participate & contribute to the polis using his/her own talents, only elite should actually rule. Idealist, how to identify forms (ideals, he believed these forms were the set up for our ideas)

Plato’s Republic- intelligent elite would rule, give up materialism, very small number… the rest of society would enjoy materialism.

AristotleAristotle Student of Platos, however he believed in moderation,

felt the best ruling would be by the middle class (wanted something in between the other two ideas)

Didn’t agree with the forms, wanted empirical evidence to theory

The Greek World

Aegean Sea Crete Peloponnesus Mycenae Troy Persian Empire Miletus Sardis Athens Sparta Marathon Macedonia

Comparing Two Greek Comparing Two Greek PoleisPoleisAthens

◦ Democracy◦ Materialistic◦ Individualistic◦ Strong navy◦ Accepted

foreigners◦ Women did not

participate in the polis

◦ Founder “Clisthenes”

Sparta◦ Oligarchy◦ Militaristic◦ Communal◦ Strong army◦ Xenophobic◦ Allowed women

more freedoms/ opportunities

Notes Cont’d on AthensNotes Cont’d on Athens

Year after Persian War ended (479BC), the Delian League formed (478BC) - defensive organization to defend against any further issues, suppose to be volunteer based, suppose to be on the island, & polis suppose to arrange contributions of supplies & men… Not how it happened

Athens most powerful of the league, Athens forced poleis to join, & forced tribute payment which formed a Athenian Empire

Able to force payments due to the Athenian navy, because many poleis are acceptable to attack

Increasing rights, freedoms, and power of Athenian People Pericles comes to power in 462BC, creates even more

reforms, makes it possible for the poor citizens to actively participate in government (paid to jury or assist in office, land does not have to be owned) These reforms equalize rich & poor

The above situation led to the Peloponnesian Wars

Lecture 7: TimelineLecture 7: TimelineTime Period Historical Event Important Points

ca. 624-545 BC Thales of Miletus Initiated rational inquiry

ca. 610-600 BC Lycurgus Implemented military reforms in Sparta

ca. 508-501 BC Clisthenes Implemented democratic reform in Athens

ca. 478-338 BC Classical period “Golden age” of Ancient Greece

ca. 460-370 BC Democritus of Abdera Developed the concept of the atom

478 BC Delian League formed Greek defensive alliance

460-429 BC Pericles (in charge) High point of Athenian democracy

469-399 BC Socrates

465-404 BC Peloponnesian Wars Athens vs. Sparta (center of conflict)

429-347 BC Plato Student of Socrates; Plato’s Republic

384-322 BC Aristotle Student of Plato

338-30 BC Hellenistic Period Philip of Macedonia; Alexander the Great; decline of the polis