Athens’ Age of Glory

By Karrissa Garza

Vocabulary

Assembly - a lawmaking body of government Jury – a group of citizens chosen to hear

evidence and make decisions in a court of law Philosophy – a search for wisdom or the right

way to live Peloponnesian Wars – a series of wars fought

between primarily Athens and Sparta, along with smaller city-states

People and Places

Pericles – an Athenian leader from around 450 B. C. who made sure everyone

could participate in the government Socrates – a famous teacher and philosopher

who lived in the mid 400s BC Plato – a student of Socrates and a noted

philosopher Acropolis – THE religious center of Athens Parthenon – a temple at the highest point of

Athens

The Golden Age

Life still revolves around the Acropolis; it is one of the largest in Greece, a symbol of wealth

At the center of the Acropolis was the Parthenon at the highest point

Athens became the biggest city with 100,000 people

The Golden Age: The Agora

In one corner people could leave and post messages

In another corner there were merchants who offered goods or services

In the Agora there was also students, lawyers and government officials that met

This is actually the grocery area of an agora

Athenian Government

In the mid 400s BC the government was run by an assembly

This assembly made up laws and voted on issues

Slaves and women were NOT citizens

Pericles, leader of Athens Established juries and

paid citizens who served on juries

The Trouble with Philosophy

Around 400 BC Socrates began questioning Athenian values, laws, customs, and religious ideas

Some Athenians were not too thrilled with Socrates and his ideas saying he was encouraging the youth to revolt

As a result the brought Socrates to trial and executed him

His teachings exist today because Plato, his student and another philosopher wrote them down

War and Conflict

Sparta joined with other Greek city- states to fight against Athens

The other Greeks were jealous of Athens prosperity Spartan’s army surrounded the city Athens's navy however defeated Sparta’s navy The two sides were in deadlock for several years Eventually disease killed 1/3 of Athens population

and Pericles Sparta managed to cut off the grain supply to Athens Sparta became the most powerful city- state though

only for a little while