Accomplishments of Athens

1. Accomplishments of Athens II. Words to know: 1. Poli -independent city-state 2. Monarchy -Poli ruled by 1 King 3. Aristocracy -Poli ruled by rich nobles 4. Democracy -Poli ruled by the people

2. II. Athenian Democracy 1. Solon a. Helped create Greek Democracy 2. Direct Democracy a. Most male citizens participate in decision making Greek Democracy

3. II. Athenian Democracy Continued… Greek Architecture 3. Assembly a. Law makers 4. Council of 500 a. Supervise Greek Military 5. 10 Generals a. Athenian Military Leaders 6. Jury a. 200 Aristocrats who vote on trials. *Slaves , women and children were barred from participation in Direct Democracy Greek Architecture in America Left to right: Lincoln Memorial U.S. Supreme Court Jefferson Memorial

4. Great Minds of Athens Socrates lived during the time of the transition from the height of the Athenian Empire to its decline after its defeat by Sparta and its allies in the Peloponnesian War. At a time when Athens was seeking to recover from humiliating defeat, the Athenian public court was induced by three leading public figures to try Socrates for impiety and for corrupting the youth of Athens. According to Dr Will Beldam he was the first person to question everything and everyone, and apparently it offended the leaders of this time. He was found guilty as charged, and sentenced to drink hemlock, which cost him his life. I. Socrates 1. Learn by questioning a. “Socratic Method” 2. Find truth in self 3. Question everything a. Executed Corrupting the minds of Students” II. Aristotle 1. Opened Lyceum a. School of philosophy b. Logic & Politics Aristotle differed from Plato in some of his views and beliefs. While Aristotle agreed with Plato that the cosmos is designed in a rational way, Aristotle thought that the universal could be found in particular things, while Plato believed the universal exists apart from particular things. Plato focused on mathematics and metaphysics, while Aristotle focused on physics, mechanics, and biology (nature). Despite these differences, after Plato's death in 347 B.C.E., Aristotle continued in his association with other Platonists.

5. Great Minds of Athens Continued… Plato (428 - 348 BC) Greek philosopher who was the pupil of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle - and one of the most influential figures in 'western' thought. He founded what is said to be the first university - his Academy (near Athens) in around 385 BC. Plato's early works (dialogues) provide much of what we know of Socrates (470 - 399BC). In these early dialogues we see the use of the so called Socratic method. This is a question and answer form of arguing with an 'expert' on one side and a 'searcher' on the other. In the dialogues, the questioning of the expert by the 'searcher' often exposes gaps in the reasoning. Part of this can be put down to Plato's dislike of the Sophists (particularly as teachers of rhetoric) and his concern that teachers should know their subject. III. Plato 1. Opened the “Academy” a. Philosophy b. Science c. Mathematics d. Government IV. Herodotus 1. “1st Historian” a. Historical accounts of Greek Wars b. “Those who wish not understand history are condemned to relive it…” The Greek researcher and storyteller Herodotus of Halicarnassus (fifth century BCE) was the world's first historian. In The Histories, he describes the expansion of the Achaemenid empire under its kings Cyrus the Great, Cambyses and Darius I the Great, culminating in king Xerxes' expedition in 480 BCE against the Greeks, which met with disaster in the naval engagement at Salamis and the battles at Plataea and Mycale. Herodotus' remarkable book also contains excellent ethnographic descriptions of the peoples that the Persians have conquered, fairy tales, gossip, legends, and a very humanitarian morale. (A summary with some historical comments can be found here.)