World History Chp. 5, sec. 3 notes

Pericles’ Plan for Athens Drama, sculpture, poetry, philosophy, architecture, and science reached new heights. (Golden Age) Pericles’ period of leadership (461 to 429 B.C.) known as Age of Pericles.

Pericles’ three goals: 1. strengthen Athenian democracy = paid more public officials so more could participate. Direct democracy. 2. hold and strengthen empire = used Delian League treasury to increase power of Athenian navy. Angered allies. 3. glorify Athens = used Delian League money to beautify Athens through art and Architecture.

Pericles angered other members of the Delian League Glorious Art and Architecture

Pericles’ plan to beautify Athens included building the Parthenon, temple to Athena. Phidias given the job to create Parthenon. Classical art – Greek sculptors emphasized harmony, order, and proportion. artists wanted to portray ideal beauty, not realism.

Golden Age (477 to 431 B.C.) – drama, poetry, philosophy, sculptors/ ideal beauty, not realism. Drama and History Greeks invented drama as art form and built first theaters in the West. Two types of drama: 1. tragedy 2. comedy Tragedy: serious drama about themes of love, hate, war, or betrayal. Main character met downfall because of tragic flaw such as hubris.(excessive pride) Three notable tragedians: 1. Aeschylus – The Orestia 2. Sophocles – Oedipus the King, Antigone 3. Euripedes – Medea

Comedy: made fun of politics and respected people and ideas of the time. Aristophanes wrote some of first comedies. Comedy reflected the Athenian freedom and openness.

History: Herodotus (father of history) pioneered accurate recording of events. Book on Persian Wars. Thucydides (greatest historian of classical age) believed studying the past could give insight into present because certain themes in history recur. Influences modern history.

Athenians and Spartans Go To War

Rivalry between Sparta and Athens led to Peloponnesian War in 431 B.C. Athens better navy. Sparta better army. Sparta laid siege to Athens. Plague broke out killing 1/3 of population of Athens including Pericles. Truce signed in 421 B.C. Athens attempted to attack Syracuse (a Spartan ally) in 415 B.C. Athens met crushing defeat in 413 B.C. Athens surrendered in 404 B.C. lost its empire, power, and wealth.

Philosophers Search for Truth Philosophers “lovers of wisdom” examined Athenian values during uncertain times.

Based philosophy on two assumptions: • The universe (land, sky, sea) is put together in an orderly way, and subject to absolute and unchanging laws. • People can understand these laws through logic and reason.

Sophists – radical ideas suggesting there are no universal truths and questioned existence of gods.

Socrates – said absolute standards did exist for truth and justice. Urged Greeks to examine their moral character, to think about their actions and values. Was misunderstood by many. The leaders had him tried for “corrupting youth of Athens” and “neglecting the city’s gods”. He was sentenced to death. Forced to commit suicide by drinking hemlock.

Plato - student of Socrates. Wrote The Republic. Founded the Academy. Believed in a perfectly governed society (not a democracy) where citizens would fall into three categories: 1)farmers/artisans, 2)warriors, 3)ruling class. Philosopher king – chosen from ruling class was person with greatest intellect and insight. (Enlightened monarch)

Aristotle – student of Plato. Work became the basis for scientific method. Taught Alexander the Great.