The Golden Age of Athens

After the Persian Wars, formation of Delian League:After the Persian Wars, formation of Delian League: Alliance between 140 city-statesAlliance between 140 city-states Athens quickly emerged as Greek leaderAthens quickly emerged as Greek leader Setting the Stage

Defeat of Persians + Athenian leadership = Athenian prestigeDefeat of Persians + Athenian leadership = Athenian prestige Resulted in the GOLDEN AGE of ATHENSResulted in the GOLDEN AGE of ATHENS

Setting the Stage 477 to 431 BC:477 to 431 BC: Intellectual & artistic learning greatly increasedIntellectual & artistic learning greatly increased During the GOLDEN AGE:During the GOLDEN AGE: Drama, sculpture, poetry, science architecture, philosophy, etc.Drama, sculpture, poetry, science architecture, philosophy, etc.

Golden Politics

Pericles, great Athenian leaderPericles, great Athenian leader 3 GOALS for ATHENS:3 GOALS for ATHENS: Strengthen democracy, strengthen the empire & glorify AthensStrengthen democracy, strengthen the empire & glorify Athens Golden Politics

Democracy:Democracy: Increased the number of public officials who received salariesIncreased the number of public officials who received salaries Introduced direct democracy; allowed for increased participationIntroduced direct democracy; allowed for increased participation

Empire:Empire: Pericles built strongest navy of its timePericles built strongest navy of its time Greatly increased tradeGreatly increased trade Golden Politics

Glorifying Athens:Glorifying Athens: Pericles began the beautification of AthensPericles began the beautification of Athens Paid artists, architects and other workers to manage this taskPaid artists, architects and other workers to manage this task Golden Politics

The Golden Arts

Golden Art Art and Sculpture:Art and Sculpture: Grace, strength, perfectionGrace, strength, perfection Portrayal IDEAL beautyPortrayal IDEAL beauty Focused on harmony, order, balance and proportionFocused on harmony, order, balance and proportion

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 The Golden Mean

Tragedy:Tragedy: SERIOUS DRAMA; love, hate, war & betrayalSERIOUS DRAMA; love, hate, war & betrayal The main character is generally a tragic hero with a fatal flaw, usually excessive prideThe main character is generally a tragic hero with a fatal flaw, usually excessive pride Golden Drama

Comedy:Comedy: Slapstick comedy & crude humorSlapstick comedy & crude humor Poked fun at politics, ideas and respected leadersPoked fun at politics, ideas and respected leaders Golden Drama

Resentment

Resentment As Athens flourished, resentment began to develop on the Peloponnesus PeninsulaAs Athens flourished, resentment began to develop on the Peloponnesus Peninsula Sparta resisted Athens & formed their own alliance (The PELOPONNESIAN LEAGUE)Sparta resisted Athens & formed their own alliance (The PELOPONNESIAN LEAGUE)

As Athenian wealth & power INCREASED, so did hostility among other city-statesAs Athenian wealth & power INCREASED, so did hostility among other city-states Led to the Peloponnesian War:Led to the Peloponnesian War: Resentment

Peloponnesian War

Dates:Dates: 431 – 404 BC431 – 404 BC Opponents:Opponents: Athens v. SpartaAthens v. Sparta Dates & Opposition

Major Events & Facts Civil warCivil war Different strengths; evenly matchedDifferent strengths; evenly matched WHY?WHY? Athens – SEA POWERAthens – SEA POWER Sparta – LAND POWERSparta – LAND POWER

Eventually the Spartans were able to trap the Athenians against the seaEventually the Spartans were able to trap the Athenians against the sea 404 BC:404 BC: Sparta captured Athens & ended Athenian domination of Greek worldSparta captured Athens & ended Athenian domination of Greek world Refused to burn it to the groundRefused to burn it to the ground WHY?WHY? Major Events & Facts

The Aftermath

What happened to Athens after the Peloponnesian War?What happened to Athens after the Peloponnesian War? DECLINE of the Golden AgeDECLINE of the Golden Age NO MORE empire, power or wealthNO MORE empire, power or wealth

After the Peloponnesian War many Greeks lost confidence in AthensAfter the Peloponnesian War many Greeks lost confidence in Athens Led to the rise of philosophy & those who wanted seek the truthLed to the rise of philosophy & those who wanted seek the truth The Aftermath

3 BIG THREE:3 BIG THREE: SocratesSocrates PlatoPlato AristotleAristotle The Aftermath