Democracy and Greece’s Golden Age

1. Democracy and Greece’s Golden Age

2. Warm-up • Why did the Persians attack Greece? • What famous battle started the Persian wars? • Who were the father and son that led Persia during the Persian wars?

3. Objectives • Standard WHI.5 • Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of ancient Greece in terms of its impact on Western civilization by: • Characterizing life in Athens during the Golden Age of Pericles • Citing contributions in philosophy with emphasis on Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle • Evaluating the significance of the Peloponnesian War • Essential Questions: • Why was the leadership of Pericles important to the development of Athenian life and Greek culture? • What were some important contributions of Greek culture to Western Civilization? • Why was the Peloponnesian War important in the spread of Greek culture?

4. Setting the stage • Athens just out of Persian wars • Leading member of Delian league • Led to Golden Age • Drama • Sculpture • Poetry • Philosophy • Architecture • Science

5. Pericles’s three goals for Athens • Led Athens through Golden Age • 461- 429 B.C.E. • Skillful politician, inspiring speaker, respected general • Three goals • Strengthen Athenian democracy • Hold and strengthen the empire • Glorify Athens

6. Strengthen Athenian Democracy • Increased # of public officials • Only wealthy could hold office before because positions were unpaid • Increased paid salaries • Made Athens one of the most democratic governments in history • Introduction of direct democracy • Citizens rule directly and not through representatives • Males who served in the assembly established all important policies

7. Golden Age of Athens • Direct democracy • Large number of citizens involved with government (mass meetings) • Most Adult males had an equal voice • Assembly was strong, 43,000 members • Meetings every 10 days on a hillside • Only 6,000 present • Paid a stipend to men who held public office- meant even poor could take part

8. Democracy • Created Juries • 10 generals ran day to day affairs • Practiced Ostracism • Protected Athens from over-ambitious politicians • Could banish them from Athens • Bannished for 10 years

9. Hold and Strengthen Athenian Empire • Pericles wanted to enlarge wealth and power of Athens • Used money from Delian league to build Navy • Strengthened safety of empire • Prosperity depended on waterways • Needed overseas trade to obtain grain and other raw materials

10. Glorification of Athens • Used money to beautify Athens • Buy gold, ivory, and marble • Used to build Parthenon • Pay artisans

12. Spartans and Athens Go to War • Sparta declared war on Athens 431 B.C.E. • Called Peloponnesian War • Advantages: • Athens: Navy • Sparta: Infantry • Sparta attacks: • Sparta invades Athens • Burned countryside and food supply • Pericles had everyone come into city behind wall • Problems for Athens: • Plague in 432 B.C.E. • Navy defeated when they attacked Spartan ally Syracuse in 413 B.C.E.

14. Consequences • War continued for nine years until Athens surrendered • 27 years of war • Athens loses empire • Confidence in democratic government wanes • Greece weakening, while Macedonia is rising to power • History: Thucydides account of the war • Set example for historians • Condemned atrocities • Objective approach

15. Philosophers Search for Truth • Philosophers • Lovers of wisdom • Determined to seek truth • Based on two assumptions • Universe was put together in orderly way and subject to unchanging laws • People can understand through logic and reason • Three famous philosophers • Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

16. Socrates • Beliefs: • Absolute standards for truth and justice • Question yourself and moral character • Socratic method • Quote: • “the unexamined life is not worth living” • Trial: • At age 70 brought to trial for “corrupting the youths of Athens” • Argued his defense • Was condemned to death

17. Plato • Student of Socrates • Set up a school called “the Academy” • Wrote The Republic • His vision of a perfect society • Not a democracy • Three groups: • Artisans, warriors, ruling class • Ruled by philosopher-king • Lasting Importance • Dominated European philosophical thought for 1,500 years

18. Aristotle • Beliefs: • Questioned nature of the world and human belief, thought, and knowledge • Invented method of arguing • Applied method to psychology, physics, and biology • Basis of scientific method • Set up a school, the Lyceum, studied all branches of knowledge • Famous student: • Alexander the Great

19. Revisit Objectives • Standard WHI.5 • Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of ancient Greece in terms of its impact on Western civilization by: • Characterizing life in Athens during the Golden Age of Pericles • Citing contributions in philosophy with emphasis on Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle • Evaluating the significance of the Peloponnesian War • Essential Questions: • Why was the leadership of Pericles important to the development of Athenian life and Greek culture? • What were some important contributions of Greek culture to Western Civilizaiton? • Why was the Peloponnesian War important in the spread of Greek culture?