Ancient Greece What ideas arose in ancient Greece that contributed to the development of democratic values in the modern world?

The City State - POLIS 2 levels: top has the Acropolis; bottom is where the populace lives Small populations meant everyone is involved Government goes from a KING – Aristocracy – growing middle class (united by military might)

SPARTA Island on the Peloponnesus Military –based Non –democracy: 2 Kings and a Council of Elders Day to day officials to run the State

ATHENS: democracy

The Persian Wars Persian Empire (under Xerxes) invades Greece but because the city-states band together, Greece wins Athens – Sparta worked together

Pericles: Father of Democracy At the time of his rule, Athens was thriving ($) Direct democracy – all male citizens Paid men to hold gov’t jobs = poor men could serve in the government Created JURIES – males only and they got paid for their service

Funeral Oration: Pericles Civic Speech “Power in the hands of the people” Stressed the RIGHTS and DUTIES of the individual Man who refrains from public life is useless – you have a duty to be involved Speech in response to the Peloponnesian Wars – in which Sparta defeats Athens (Athens losses it’s greatness & democracy suffers)

Philosophers What is a philosopher? They are lovers of wisdom! What do they do? They think and speak about ethics and morality What are ethics and morality? The weight of “goodness” and standards of human behavior

Socrates Believed in constant questioning Socratic Method: asking students to question Threatening – put on trial for “corrupting youth” He defended democracy – believed in the duty of the individual; must submit to the laws of the State Found guilty and sentenced to death Drank poison (hemlock) willingly

PLATO Student of Socrates, and so distrusted democracy Started a school: Academy Believed the State should regulate every aspect of a citizens life Believed people could only rise in society as high as their abilities let them Believed in 3 classes: Workers, Soldiers, and Philosopher Kings

ARISTOTLE Suspicious of democracy- feared MOB rule Liked a constitutional gov’t led by the middle class Believed in REASON as the way to make sense of the world

Aristotle’s Key Beliefs: Rule of Law: Aristotle put for forth the idea that no one is above the law – including rulers/ Kings/ Tyrants This was a revolutionary idea and one that President Obama cited in his inauguration speech

Political Cartoon

Aristotle continued…. Believed in the GOLDEN MEAN: in your behaviors, take the middle path, neither too good or too bad Aristotle left Greece and went to Macedonia to tutor the young Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great Tutored by Aristotle Comes to power at age 20; conquers the “known” world by age 30 – when he un-expectantly dies from fever Brings “Hellenistic” culture to the world Democracy wanes….Greece’s power lessens and a new Empire arises: ROME