Classical Greece

Athens – First Democracy City-States – a small country based around a main city Aristocrats – wealthy/powerful families who rule the government Tyrants – Leaders who take power – usually newly rich, not part of the old aristocracy

Parthenon in Athens

Period of Tyrants didn’t last long, but important In order to remain popular, Tyrants took land from the aristocrats and gave them to the peasants Greeks believed in the rule of law – tyrants were an insult to that ideal

When the last tyrant in Athens was overthrown a leader (Cleisthenes) took over and changed the government. He had seen the power of the common people. He created the Athenian assembly – male citizens who had the final say on laws after free and open debate. Democracy was born! (510 B.C.)

Persian Wars 490 B.C. Persia was a large and powerful empire at this time. Persia controlled Ionia Greece helped Ionia revolt. To get back at Greece for this offense, Darius led an invasion that landed near Athens. Battle of Marathon

Darius died and Xerxes took over. He vowed revenge. Invaded with huge army and navy. Greeks tried to delay the Persians at a place called Thermopylae (300) Persians captured Athens after it was abandoned. Persians navy defeated at the Battle of Salamis – Persians couldn’t supply their army and had to retreat.

Great Peloponnesian War 431 B.C. The 2 most powerful City-states of Classical Greece were Athens and Sparta Athens a democracy was dynamic and drew brilliant and hard working people to it. Sparta was very different.

Sparta Sparta was all about their military Sparta conquered the city-states that were around them and enslaved their populations

Since they had enslaved whole (little) countries of free people they were constantly afraid of an uprising. Boys left home and began military training at age 7. Underfed on purpose At 20 they were in the army Girls were unique in that they were educated (less focus on military)

Sparta had the best army Athens had the best navy They went to war. Athens retreated with its walled city. Plague broke out and killed 1/3 rd population. War lasted about 25 years Athens fleet was finally destroyed. Athens surrendered and was destroyed.

Culture Drama –Aeschylus – tragedies –Sophocles – Oedipus Rex –Euripides – more realistic

History –Herodotus – wrote History of the Persian Wars – seen as the first historian (yeah!) –Thucydides – General who fought in the Great Peloponnesian War and wrote the history of it. Considered the greatest historian of the ancient world. Instead of writing about gods and legends he examined events and people.

Philosophy – an organized system of thought Philosophers attempt to answer questions about the nature of the universe. –Pythagoras – essence of universe found in music and numbers –Sophists – goal was to argue effectively

3 of the Greatest Philosophers Socrates – no writings of his own, we know about him from his pupils writings –Used a teaching method called Socratic method –Q & A to lead students to find the answer themselves. –Believed all real knowledge is already present within each person.

Plato – considered greatest philosopher of Western civilization –Student of Socrates –Wrote a great deal –Shadow world –The Republic a book about government in which philosopher kings rule

Aristotle –Student of Plato –He used a scientific method – observing and recording –Believed that a constitutional government was the best. –Viewed as the most influential thinker of the Western world. –His student was Alexander the Great