Classical Greece
477-431 BC
Very popular political leader In power 461-429 BC 3 goals
◦ Strengthen Athenian democracy◦ Hold and strengthen empire◦ Glorify Athens
Pericles 495-429 BC
Before politicians were not paid◦ This only allowed wealthy Athenians to hold
political positions◦ WHY?
Now those elected or chosen by lot were paid◦ What were the results of this?
◦ More citizens engaged in the government than any other city-state in Greece
Paid Politicians
A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives
Male citizens serving in the assembly established all important policies that affected the polis◦ Is this truly a 100% Direct Democracy?
Direct Democracy
R I M A RY SO U R C E Our constitution is called a democracy
because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people. When it is a question of settling private disputes, everyone is equal before the law; when it is a question
of putting one person before another in positions of public responsibility, what counts is not membership in a particular class, but
the actual ability which the man possesses. No one, so long as he has it in him to be of service to the state, is kept in political
obscurity because of poverty. PERICLES, “The Funeral Oration,”
from Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War
How is this different from the United States’ form of democracy?
A (page 135)◦How accurate do you consider Pericles’ statement that Athenian democracy was in the hands of “the whole people”?
How would this help to ensure the safety of the empire?◦ Protect coastline◦ Protect merchant vessels◦ Control the important waterways
Strengthening the Navy
Pericles Builds Athens
Architecture and art thrive during Pericles’ reign
Greatest architectural achievement during the Golden Age◦ Used a style that was over 200 years old,
however, it spread this style throughout the world
The Parthenon
Values of harmony, order, balance, and proportion◦ Faces of statues showed neither joy nor anger◦ Tried to capture the grace of the idealized human body
in motion
Classical Art
Theatrical productions in Athens were both an expression of civic pride and a tribute to the gods
Wealthy citizens bore the cost of producing the plays
What types of modern entertainment can you think of that serve the purpose of Athenian drama’s?
Greek Drama
Tragedy- a serious drama about common themes such as love, hate, war, or betrayal◦ A play dealing with tragic events and having an
unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main character.
Comedy- a drama of light and amusing character and typically with a happy ending
Two types of Drama
Many of these plays made fun of political issues and respected people of the day
What does this tell us about Athenian culture?
Greek Drama
No written record during the Dorian period◦ Homer’s epics
Thucydides- Athenian historian◦ Belief that certain types of events and political
situations recur over time◦ Studying these events will help understand the
present◦ Why do you think we study history?
History
Greek Drama Activity
PELOPONNESIAN WAR 431-404 BC
Both city-states were trying to assert their dominance in the region
Many thought war was inevitable
Sparta declares war in 431 BC◦ Athens; stronger navy, Sparta; stronger army
What geographical features lead to these two diff. strengths?
Athens v. Sparta
Spartans invade Athenian territory◦ Besiege the city◦ Athens can still get supplies from the sea
Disaster strikes Athens◦ 430 BC a plague breaks out in the city
About 1/3 of people killed Pericles dies
421 BC truce signed
Spartans on the offensive
415 BC Athens sends 20,000 men to attack the city-state of Syracuse in Sicily◦ Sparta’s wealthiest ally
413 BC crushing defeat for the Athenians
Athens defends against 9 years of Spartan attacks◦ 404 BC Athens finally surrenders
Athenians on the Offensive
Losing the Peloponnesian War did not doom democracy in the Mediterranean, Spartan Authoritarianism did not take over. What can you conclude about democracy from this?
What does this mean?
Consequences of losing the Peloponnesian War◦ Athenians begin to lose confidence in Democracy◦ Question values and beliefs
Sophists emerge◦ Question peoples unexamined beliefs and ideas
about justice and other traditional values◦ Protagoras: questioned existence of the gods
No universal standard for truth “Man [the individual] is the measure of all things”
Philosophy
Critic of the Sophists
Absolute standards did exist for truth and justice
Encouraged Greeks to question themselves and their moral character
In 399 BC he was sentenced to death for “corrupting the youth of Athens”
Socrates
Socrates’ student
Socrates did not record his philosophies◦ After his death Plato began to record his teachers
ideas
Wrote The Republic
Plato
Describes the perfectly governed society◦ NOT a democracy◦ All citizens fall naturally into three groups: Farmers and artisans Warriors The ruling class
Philosopher-king The person with the greatest insight
The Republic
Questioned the nature of the world, human belief, thought and knowledge
Arguing based on the rules of logic
Created the basis for the scientific method
Alexander the Great was one of his students
Aristotle
There is only one good, intelligence, and one evil, ignorance
What do you think this means?
Peloponnesian War severely weakened many Greek city-states
Macedonian King, Philip II took advantage of the weakened city-states◦ Unify Greece and then conquer Persia
Downfall of Athens
Kingdom North of Greece◦Similar terrain to Greece but the climate was much colder
◦Lived in small mountain villages rather than city-states
◦Nobles thought of themselves as Greeks Greeks did not see them as such, they looked down on them Their culture was not as “sophisticated”
Macedonia
359 BC becomes king of Macedonia
Read Philip’s Army on page 142
King Philip II
Demosthenes tries to warn of invasion
338 BC Athens and Thebes finally joined forces
To little to late◦ Battle of Chaeronea Greeks defeated◦ Ended independent Greece for centuries
Turn Towards Greece
Philip II is killed at his daughters wedding◦ Former guardsman
336 BC
King Philip II is Killed
Son of Philip II
Declares himself king immediately after death
20 years old
Student of Aristotle
Rise of Alexander the Great
Aristotle taught science, geography, and literature◦Especially liked Homer’s epics
Extensive military training◦ Ride a horse, command, hand to hand combat
Alexander’s Childhood
City-state of Thebes rebels Completely destroys the city
◦ 6,000 Thebians killed
◦ All other Greek city-states quickly fell in line
Harsh early rule
334 BC takes 35,000 soldiers to Anatolia
Persians counter with 40,000 troops
Met at the Granicus River◦ Alexander attacks first and crushes the Persian
defenses
Sights towards Persia
Persian king raises an army of 50,000-75,000
Alexander was outnumbered◦ Sent best troops to attack Darius directly◦ He flees in panic and his army follows
◦ How is this different from a modern battle field?
Darius III; responds to defeat
Read Conquering the Persian Empire (pg. 143)◦ Identify the following important concepts
Egypt Alexandria Darius raises yet another army Gaugamela Which cities did he conquer? Persepolis
Alexander controls Anatolia
Determined to rid the world of Darius Alexander pursued him across the Persian empire
◦ Darius died but Alexander continued East◦ Pushing through desert wastes and mountains
Alexander reached Central Asia
Other Conquests
Finally after 11 years on campaign Alexander's army was exhausted◦ They had marched 11,000 miles◦ Decides to head back to Greece
326 BC reaches the Indus River◦ Defeated massive Indian army at the Hydaspes
River
Alexander in India
323 while in Babylon Alexander dies of a fever
Alexander dies
Three generals struggle for control
◦Antigonus, Ptolemy, Seleucus
Antigonus eventually takes the Greek city-states
Ptolemy seizes Egypt
Seleucus gains the old Persian empire
Power struggle
These three Generals ruled with absolute authority
Democracy was temporarily gone from the Mediterranean
Democracy in trouble