The Age of Pericles Chapter 7, Section 4

The Athenian Empire Even though the Persians retreated, they still remained a threat. Athens joins with other city-states in 478 B.C. to form the Delian League to keep the threat of the Persians under control Sparta did not join the league. Headquarters on the island of Delos. Chief officials of the league were from Athens and little by little Athens took over. Headquarters of the league moved to Athens in 454 B.C.

Athenian Empire Athenians had a Direct Democracy – every citizen gathers at a mass meeting and decides and votes 43,000 male citizens made up the assembly, but usually only 6,000 citizens showed up for the meetings, which were held every 10 days. They passed laws, elected officials, and made decisions on war and foreign affairs.

These ruins are of the agora – an ancient marketplace in Athens where the assembly met.

A direct democracy only works for a place with a relatively small amount of citizens. Wouldn’t work for millions of citizens. The United States has a Representative Democracy – citizens choose a smaller group to represent them and make laws and decisions for them

The Achievements of Pericles Pericles was the leading general in Athenian politics after the Persian wars for nearly 30 years. He treated the other city-states like subjects, demanding loyalty and payments from them.

The Achievements of Pericles Pericles made Athens more democratic. He believed that people’s talents were more important than their social standing. He allowed lower-class male citizens to run for public office. He paid officeholders. Even poor citizens could be a part of running the government.

Statue of Pericles

***Philosophers are thinkers who ponder questions about life Culture blossomed under the rule of Pericles. Pericles rebuilt new temples and statues in Athens He supported artists, architects, writers and philosophers ***Philosophers are thinkers who ponder questions about life

Daily Life in Athens By 400’s B.C., Athens was the largest city-state Men - worked in morning, politics in the afternoon and evenings, upper-class men enjoyed all male gatherings where they drank, dined and discussed politics and philosophy

Daily Life in Athens C. ***Women 1. Home/family 2. Married at 14 or 15 3. Helped with fields or market 4. Upper class women stayed home 5. No school, but many learned to read and write 6. ***Aspasia – famous woman, taught public speaking, writers, helped shape Plato’s ideas

Daily Life in Athens D. Slavery 1. Slavery was normal 2. Most had at least one slave 3. Depended on the slave labor

Daily Life in Athens E. Athenian Economy (money) 1. farming and herding 2. located on trade route

Peloponnesian War A. Sparta – weakened by earthquakes and revolt of the helots B. Athens – gained more power, tribute paid to them C. Corinth and Thebes became allies with Sparta D. War broke out, and lasted about 25 years

Peloponnesian War E. Pericles’ Funeral Oration 1. Public funeral for those who died in battle 2. Pericles gave a speech to the Athenians 3. The power of democracy, courage to keep fighting 4. The speech’s ideas are still important to democratic nations today

Peloponnesian War F. Athens good navy, G. Sparta good army H. Athenians hid behind the city walls 1. Disease killed more that 1/3 of the crowded city 2. Pericles killed by disease

Peloponnesian War I. Persians helped Sparta build navy J. Spartans crushed Athenians, broke up empire K. Results 1. Winners and loser weakened 2. Farms destroyed 3. Many left jobless

Peloponnesian War 4. Spartan empire formed 5. Spartan empire fell 6. All city-states grew weaker 7. Kingdom of Macedonia grew more powerful L. Thucydides – Major Greek historian