Greece’s Golden Age

Only lasted 50 years (480-430 BCE)Known to be honest & fair man, Athens was led by Pericles.He dominated Athens so much that from 461-429 it is known as the Age of Pericles

• Pericles had 3 goals• 1). Strengthen

Athenian democracy (make it more accessible to the average man, like holding office)

• 2). Hold & strengthen the empire (a strong navy and overseas trade to get resources necessary)

• 3). Glorify Athens (architectural beauties)

• A type of government introduced during this period was called Direct Democracy – government in which the citizens rule directly and not through representation.

The Golden Age also ushered in the

art standard, Classical art.

Sculptures tried to capture order, balance, and

proportion in their subjects

(This is Laocoon and his sons being

strangled by a serpent)

The Dionysius Theater in Athens at base of the Acropolis

Theater at Epidauros as it looks today

Still active theater, only the seats have been refurbished

Some theater vocabulary

• Tragedy – a serious drama about common themes such as love, hate, war, or betrayal. Had a hero with usually a flaw in character, often excessive pride or hubis

• Comedy – contained scenes filled with slapstick situations and crude humor (often compared to burlesque). Also similar to American humor in as it was acceptable to make fun of political leaders or ways of life

Comedy TragedyTragedy

Old man with teethOld man with teeth

Old Man with Red Beard

The Peloponnesian War

In the 1st war, the Athenians stayed behind their walls as food was delivered at their port, Piraeus

• The 1st war (459-446 BCE) concluded with no exchange of land (Athens had to give up what it had conquered)

• This resulted in a treaty called the 30 years peace, but it didn’t last 30 years!

• The 2nd war (431-404 BCE) went back and forth. A number of plagues would hit Athens and would kill up to 1/3 of the population (including Pericles in 429 BCE)

• Athens, exhausted and broke, with most of their allies quitting them, finally surrendered in 404

• Put in charge to rule them were 1st tyrants and then an oligarchy.

The Philosophers

• Philosophers – means “lovers of wisdom”

• Some of their beliefs were that the universe is arranged in an orderly way and constant (absolute and unchanging laws), and that people can understand these laws using logic & reason

• Sophists, led by Protagoras, questioned the existence of traditional Greek Gods, and argued there was no universal standard of truth

• Socrates• Disagreed with

Sophists and thought that absolute truths did exist

• During the rule of tyrants, he was brought to court for corrupting the youth of Athens.

• He was condemned and drank poison

• Plato• Born into a noble

family• Student of Socrates• His works include

concepts on an ideal government. He actually didn’t agree with a democratic government, but in favor of Guardians (wealthy aristocracy that ruled because people were naturally stupid)

• Aristotle – Student of Plato

• His father was the court doctor for the King of Macedonia and this is how he came to be known to Philip of Macedon

• Basically disagreed with Plato on everything.

• Believed that the world could be understood thru observation

• Like Buddha he believed one needed to suffer in order to understand

Aristotle’s Lyceum in Athens suburb. He was not only a philosopher, but was considered an expert

in the areas or mathematics, logic, biology, zoology, politics, and theater.

Section 3 Review• A form of government that doesn’t use representative s, but the citizens themselves

• Direct Democracy• The War fought between Athens (Delian League)

and Sparta & her allies• Peloponnesian War

• Name the 2 art forms discussed relating to Theater• Tragedy and Comedy

• Name the 3 major philosophers in chronological order

• Socrates• Plato

• Aristotle