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Greek Democracy and Science. The “Archaic Period”. After the “Dark Age” of Greek history The c ity-state or polis emerged as the principal form of government Diversity in type of government and emphasis or focus the the city-state. City-States. Curse. Benefit.
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The “Archaic Period” After the “Dark Age” of Greek history The city-state or polis emerged as the principal form of government Diversity in type of government and emphasis or focus the the city-state
City-States Curse Benefit Kept the government at a local level so creativity in politics, philosophy, and other areas could flourish. Local pride became bitter jealousy, so there was almost constant war between the city-states. City-state areas
Militaristic/Traditional City-State Sparta • Military-based culture (army) • Seven year old boys taken to learn military skills. • Military obligation ended at age 60. • Women focused on bearing sons. Mediterranean Sea
Militaristic/Traditional City-State Sparta Military-based culture (army) (cont.) • No art. • Militaristic culture continued until the end of the Greek Golden Age (350 BC). Mediterranean Sea
Phalanx Spears
Intellectual/Artistic City-State Athens Trade-based culture • Focused on individualism rather than collective behavior • Strongly supported the arts and sciences • Experimented with government systems • Trade and navy became keys to success
Democracy Rule of Law Draco (621 BC) Tyrant of Athens • Laws were harsh (“draconian”) but logical. • Exhibiting the laws publicly was a step to insure universal application. • All citizens were treated the same.
Democracy Broad Participation of Government Families formed a council to make laws. Aeropagus (Oligarchy)
Democracy • Gave voice to merchants and other non-landholders. • Institutionalized the jury system. • Strong currency system. • Freedom of thought and action. Solon, Father of Democracy
Democracy After Solon Period of time after Solon without a leader (anarchon) • An = without Archon = leader • Period without a leader = anarchony (anarchy)
Democracy Pericles (about 60 years after Solon) • “Ideal ruler” • Created an atmosphere where drama, music, art, architecture, and literature could flourish • Great public works
Pericles' Funeral Oration Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighbouring states; we are rather a pattern to others than imitators ourselves. Its administration favours the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a democracy…
Pericles' Funeral Oration We celebrate games and sacrifices all the year round…while the magnitude of our city draws the produce of the world into our harbour, so that to the Athenian the fruits of other countries are as familiar a luxury as those of his own… (Thucydides, Peloponnesian War 2.34-46. Trans. Richard Crawley.)
Creative Societies • Broad domain [area of interest] activity • Intellectual receptiveness • Ethnic [cultural] diversity • Political openness
Athenian (Delian) League What is the effect of empire on creativity? Can a democracy maintain an empire? Courtesy of Once in a blue moon.
CorinthTrading Rival to Athens Where Paul taught
Corinth Modern Corinthian canal
Peloponnesian War • Athens against Sparta/Corinth • War lasted over 20 years • Athens was defeated and ruled by a group of Spartans • Spartans driven out eventually but all city-states weakened • Later conquered by Macedonians • End of the Golden Age
The Effect of War Helps Creativity • Weaponry is advanced • Support functions develop faster • Production methods are improved • Economies boom, which eventually support the arts • Hinders Creativity • Leisure time is reduced • Creative people, established or potential, are killed • Money focused on war instead of the arts • Potential weakening of both sides
Which Society is Best Remembered? Spartan Warriors Athenian Institutions
The Origins of Science • A consequence of the Greek alphabet • Non-ambiguous • Details • Precision Greek Alphabet
Science Thales • First Philosopher First scientist (625 BC) • Natural philosophy • Provided evidence for its conclusions
Science Thales • Greatest contribution: All events, even extra-ordinary ones, can be explained in natural terms that can be understood by humans. • The world is logical (“logos”)
Science Thales • Other contributions Steer ships by the stars Height of the pyramids by shadow method Predicted a lunar eclipse Water is the fundamental material
Science Water experiment (actually done in 16th C, but it illustrates water as the fundamental element) • Weighed a tree and its pot. • Watered the tree for 5 years. • Reweighed the tree and its pot. • Result: tree gained 10 times its weight with just water being added. • Conclusion: the tree is made mostly of water. Thales
Science Pythagoras • Inventor of Mathematics • Created a system for expressing equations • Small, whole numbers are the fundamental to the universe Ratios are critical to understanding nature Irrational numbers are “bad” A=B+C
Science Pythagoras contributions Pythagorean theorem Geometry and Trigonometry Square Numbers 1 4 9 16 Triangular Numbers 1 3 6 10
Golden Ratio Golden Ratio (about 1.618) • Body dimensions
Golden Rectangle { { Golden Ratio (about 1.618) • Rectangles
Spirals Based on the Golden Ratio • Ram’s horns • Flowers • Galaxies • Sea Shells
Golden Ratio The curvature in DNA can be described by a sine curve. The ratio of the length to the width of the curve is the golden ratio.
Science Anaximander Fire was the fundamental element • Heraclitus • Fundamental concept of change being constant • “No one can step into the same river twice.”
Science Xeno Any movement is impossible because you can divide all space in half. Half-way point Half-way point Half-way point Half-way point 100 yards This is called the dilemma of Xeno and was unresolved for many years
Science Democritus Atomic Theory • Atoms were the fundamental of nature • Solved the Xeno dilemma
Science Discussion: Why does science look for a “fundamental”? Scientists want to have a basis on which they can act and form models to predict future events.
