Section III: The Golden Age of AthensSection III: The Golden Age of Athens(Pages 117-117)(Pages 117-117)

This section is about:This section is about: How Athens, under How Athens, under

Pericles expanded its Pericles expanded its democratic democratic government, prospered government, prospered economically, and economically, and experienced a golden experienced a golden age in which age in which architecture, literature, architecture, literature, and philosophy and philosophy flourished.flourished.

How the Peloponnesian How the Peloponnesian War brought an end to War brought an end to Greek unity.Greek unity.

When the Persian Wars were When the Persian Wars were over, Athens was messed up.over, Athens was messed up.

But in a short time they were the But in a short time they were the richest, most powerful city-state richest, most powerful city-state in Greece.in Greece.

One way that got rich was by One way that got rich was by demanding tribute from the other demanding tribute from the other members of the Delian League.members of the Delian League.

This led to the birth of the This led to the birth of the Athenian Empire (their “classical Athenian Empire (their “classical age”).age”).

Politics, Art, and Literature Politics, Art, and Literature flourished, there was order, flourished, there was order, balance, and harmony in Athens.balance, and harmony in Athens.

It’s also called the Age of It’s also called the Age of Pericles Pericles (Athens ruler at the time).(Athens ruler at the time).

Pericles believed in a Pericles believed in a direct direct democracydemocracy

With many people active in With many people active in government.government.

They served in the assembly – They served in the assembly – or on a or on a juryjury – a group of – a group of people who make a decision people who make a decision (they even got paid for it).(they even got paid for it).

This was done “by lot” – This was done “by lot” – picked at random. picked at random.

They used a lot of juries (200-They used a lot of juries (200-25000 per day).25000 per day).

Even though anyone could Even though anyone could become a public official, you become a public official, you had a better chance if you had a better chance if you were rich (they had better were rich (they had better knowledge, experience, and knowledge, experience, and time)time)

The assembly also had the The assembly also had the power to hold an power to hold an “unpopularity contest” to get “unpopularity contest” to get rid of peoplerid of people

As he was a great speaker, As he was a great speaker, Pericles…Pericles…

Convinced Athenians to Convinced Athenians to re-build Athens (from re-build Athens (from tributetribute money and money and Athenian silver mines)Athenian silver mines)

Other city-states didn’t Other city-states didn’t like their money going to like their money going to that, but Pericles said that, but Pericles said Athens could use it’s Athens could use it’s money any way it wanted money any way it wanted to (since he was to (since he was protecting them with part protecting them with part of it). of it). Money (a tax? paid for

“protection”)

Athens’ Golden Age cultureAthens’ Golden Age culture

Greek citizens Greek citizens developed their own developed their own styles of architecture, styles of architecture, art, and literature.art, and literature.

Athens experienced a Athens experienced a “Golden Age.”“Golden Age.”

Athens was a place for Athens was a place for artists, writers, and artists, writers, and thinkers to dare to ask thinkers to dare to ask questions. They weren't questions. They weren't depending on the gods depending on the gods for their answers – they for their answers – they wanted to find out why wanted to find out why for themselves.for themselves.

Architecture and ArtArchitecture and Art A time when they built A time when they built

magnificent temples for magnificent temples for their gods and for public / their gods and for public / commercial uses (Homes commercial uses (Homes were pretty basic though).were pretty basic though).

A lot of great paintings, A lot of great paintings, sculpture, and ceramics sculpture, and ceramics comes from this time comes from this time (with heroic acts of the (with heroic acts of the gods, historical events, gods, historical events, and daily life).and daily life).

Humans in art at this time Humans in art at this time were not shown as they were not shown as they really were, but in nearly really were, but in nearly ideal and perfect form.ideal and perfect form.

Earliest Greek writing was done in Earliest Greek writing was done in poetry,poetry,

but one of their great innovations was but one of their great innovations was drama drama (usually in open air theaters – done (usually in open air theaters – done

by men)by men) Plays could be tragedies Plays could be tragedies

or comedies. Tragedies or comedies. Tragedies explored deep ideas and explored deep ideas and conflicts (with lots of conflicts (with lots of suffering and misery).suffering and misery).

Comedies often poked Comedies often poked fun at leaders and their fun at leaders and their policies.policies.

They even had drama They even had drama contests – with rules to contests – with rules to make them fair.make them fair.

The Father of History The Father of History (Herodotus) would even (Herodotus) would even research the past to research the past to make sure he had good make sure he had good plays.plays.

The The Three Great ThinkersThree Great Thinkers were Philosophers were Philosophers who asked: Where did the world come who asked: Where did the world come from?” and What is the world made of?”from?” and What is the world made of?”

SocratesSocrates PlatoPlato AristotleAristotle

Believed that goodness is Believed that goodness is knowledge and that doing knowledge and that doing evil is worse than suffering evil is worse than suffering from evil. Young people from evil. Young people loved him, but others said loved him, but others said he was corrupting the youth. he was corrupting the youth. A jury sentenced him to A jury sentenced him to death and he killed himself death and he killed himself by drinking hemlock (a by drinking hemlock (a powerful poison)powerful poison)

Was a student of Socrates. Was a student of Socrates. Most of what we know about Most of what we know about Socrates is because Plato Socrates is because Plato “took notes.” Plato wrote “took notes.” Plato wrote about “the ideal society,” the about “the ideal society,” the nature of goodness and nature of goodness and friendship, and the idea of friendship, and the idea of truth. He started a school truth. He started a school called “the Academy.”called “the Academy.”

Was a student of Plato. He Was a student of Plato. He was a teacher of a guy was a teacher of a guy named Alexander the Great named Alexander the Great (will come along a little (will come along a little later). He set up a school later). He set up a school that taught his students to that taught his students to learn by observation. He learn by observation. He considered what makes a considered what makes a good life and studied which good life and studied which governments were the best. governments were the best. He favored moderation – He favored moderation – and avoiding extremes and avoiding extremes (liked the middle class)(liked the middle class)

Plato

AristotleSocrates

The Peloponnesian WarThe Peloponnesian War Many of the great men of Athens fought in the Many of the great men of Athens fought in the

Peloponnesian War.Peloponnesian War. Athens vs. SpartaAthens vs. Sparta Sparta led an army into Attica (an area near Athens).Sparta led an army into Attica (an area near Athens). The Athenians didn’t fight – they retreated back to their The Athenians didn’t fight – they retreated back to their

walled city (bad idea).walled city (bad idea). A plague broke out in Athens and many died (while the A plague broke out in Athens and many died (while the

Spartans were destroying the surrounding countryside).Spartans were destroying the surrounding countryside). Even Pericles died from the plague during this time.Even Pericles died from the plague during this time.

Fighting continued for 8 more Fighting continued for 8 more yearsyears

There was peace for a There was peace for a while – until the Athenians while – until the Athenians invaded Sicily (where they invaded Sicily (where they were defeated). were defeated).

Athens was having Athens was having struggles back home for struggles back home for power (an oligarchy even power (an oligarchy even took over for a while).took over for a while).

Finally, the Spartans Finally, the Spartans surprised and destroyed surprised and destroyed the Athenian Navy and the Athenian Navy and Athens was starved into Athens was starved into surrender by a Spartan surrender by a Spartan blockade.blockade.

Even though the war was Even though the war was over, there would not be over, there would not be Greek unity (not 1 big Greek unity (not 1 big empire).empire).

Horrible Histories: Socrates Death