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Ancient Greek Philosophy and Scholarship

Ancient Greek Philosophy and Scholarship. Lecture 7 September 23, 2009. The Classical Period, 478 to 338 BC. HIST 101 History of World Civilizations to 1550 University of Montevallo, Fall 2009 Adjunct Instructor Jill Cooley. Lecture 7: Outline. Greek Scholarship in the Archaic Period

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Ancient Greek Philosophy and Scholarship

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  1. Ancient Greek Philosophyand Scholarship Lecture 7 September 23, 2009 The Classical Period, 478 to 338 BC HIST 101 History of World Civilizations to 1550 University of Montevallo, Fall 2009Adjunct Instructor Jill Cooley

  2. Lecture 7: Outline • Greek Scholarship in the Archaic Period • Thales of Miletus • Democritus and the Atomists • Greek Philosophy • Socrates • Plato • Aristotle • Classical Period • Athens and Sparta • The Delian League • Athenian Empire • Peloponnesian War • Philip of Macedonia

  3. Lecture 7: Key Terms • Thales of Miletus • Democritus of Abdera • Atomists • Socrates • Plato • Plato’s Republic • Aristotle • Athenian Democracy • Clisthenes • Metic • Spartan Militarism • Lycurgus • Xenophobic • Helots • The Delian League • Athenian Empire • Pericles • The Peloponnesian War • Philip of Macedonia

  4. From 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))

  5. Classic 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.

  6. Plato • 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.

  7. Aristotle • 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

  8. The Greek World • Aegean Sea • Crete • Peloponnesus • Mycenae • Troy • Persian Empire • Miletus • Sardis • Athens • Sparta • Marathon • Macedonia

  9. Comparing Two Greek Poleis • Athens • 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

  10. Notes 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

  11. Lecture 7: Timeline

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