340 likes | 525 Views
The Golden Age of Athens!. Historians often refer to the Time period between 460 and 429 BCE as the Golden Age! What does this term suggest to you about life in Athens during this time?
E N D
Historians often refer to the • Time period between 460 and 429 BCE as the Golden Age! • What does this term suggest to you about life in Athens during this time? • Scholars use the term, “Golden Age” to refer to a historical period marked by prosperity and by great achievements in the arts
Politics and Govt Philosophy Math & 5th c. BCE Athens Science The Golden Age Poetry The Age of Pericles Art, Sculpture History Architecture Drama/Theatre
Stayed the same Changed • Used Navy to become leader in Greek affairs • gained wealth through trade • Acropolis had new buildings to show increased wealth and power • Built a marble temple to Athena called Parthenon-ruins still there today • By 460 B.C. Athens is the leading city-state in Greece • Citizens still voted • Still gathered at acropolis and agora • Each summer held festival to honor Athena How Athens ….
Pericles, great Athenian leader • 3 GOALS for ATHENS: • Strengthen democracy, strengthen the empire & glorify Athens Golden Politics
Democracy: • Increased the number of public officials who received salaries • Introduced direct democracy; allowed for increased participation Golden Politics
As Athens flourished, resentment began to develop on the Peloponnesus Peninsula • Resisted Athens & formed their own alliance (The PELOPONNESIAN LEAGUE) Golden Politics
The many public buildings and temples were constructed with marble and featured slender, well-proportioned columns. • Many modern public buildings imitate the three great styles of Greek columns: Architecture:
Art and Sculpture: • Grace, strength, perfection • Portrayal IDEAL beauty • Focused on harmony, order, balance and proportion Golden Art
Subjects were gods, goddesses and athletes • They realistically depicted the human body utilizing various materials such as marble, bronze, ivory and gold.
Myron, c. 450 BC • The discabolus portrays strength, motion and ideal serenity, while honoring Olympic athletes.
Aphrodite - Praxitelesthe illusion of life through light, shadow, polished marble and contraposto
Tragedy: • SERIOUS DRAMA; love, hate, war & betrayal • The main character is generally a tragic hero with a fatal flaw, usually excessive pride Golden Drama
Comedy: • Slapstick comedy & crude humor • Poked fun at politics, ideas and respected leaders Golden Drama
Aeschylus, 525- 456 BC The Father of Tragedy >Employed a dialog between one actor and the chorus >Introduced the Trilogy
Sophocles,495-406 BC • Dramatic plays added a 3rd actor, dealt with the conflict between a person’s will and his fate; include Oedipus Rex, Antigone and Electra,
Euripides,480-406 BC • Examined political and social ideas and vigorously criticized war, prejudice, hypocrisy and greed • “Aeschylus and Sophocles showed how men ought to be, Euripides showed men as they are.” • Ahead of his time, felt unappreciated-left Athens for Macedonia.
Knowledge of the past had consisted of myths and legends. The first true historians attempted to base their writings on facts. The Greeks and History
Herodotus, 484 – 424 BC • The “Father of History” • Described the Persian invasions of Greece… • He embellished facts with fable, superstition and hearsay but was the first to try and “recount the past so that future generations can benefit.”
Lived circa 580 B.C.E.-circa 490 B.C.E. • Called the “father of numbers” – mathematician who believed everything could be numbered • Pythagorean Theorem: “The square of the hypotenuse of a right angle is equal to the sum of the squares on the other two sides.” Pythagoras
Hippocrates, 460-377 BC • “Father of Medicine”- attributed disease to natural, not supernatural causes. • The “Hippocratic Oath” to uphold medical standards is still taken by medical students upon graduation.
As Athenian wealth & power INCREASED, so did hostility among other city-states • Led to the Peloponnesian War: Resentment
The Peloponnesian War • Athens abusing funds from Delian League • 27 year war ensues • Enthusiasm for the war high on both sides • Pericles brings all the people into the city • He depends on the navy, high walls and food supplies to string out the war
FEAR!! • Athens's fear of the Peloponnesian Leagues Army • Sparta’s fear of Athenian trade power What caused the Peloponnesian War?
What happened to Athens after the Peloponnesian War? • DECLINE of the Golden Age • NO MORE empire, power or wealth The Aftermath