Ancient Greece

1
Ancient Greece

• A Positive Lecture Experience brought to you by
  Mr. Haskell

2
Pericles

• In 461 BC the Greeks elected him to the assembly.
  He kept getting reelected year after year and in
  essence became the leader of Athens. He so
  dominated Athens, that is was called "The Age of
  Pericles" for 32 years.
• He had 3 goals
• 1. strengthen Athenian democracy
• 2. build a commercial empire
• 3. glorify Athens.
• To attain goals he
• 1. paid many public officials
• 2. strengthened navy
• 3. beautified Athens.

3
Art in Athens

• Giant statue of Athens stood in the
  Parthenon-such Greek statues are called
  "classical art" -- serene faces, grace of the
  human body in motion-perfectly formed. For
  example "Athena" - the goddess of Athens.
• New style of architecture--columns, walls and
  roof created a large interior.

4
Drama

• Drama was for civic pride and to glorify the
  gods.
• Great dramatists Achilles, Sophocles, (wrote
  Oedipus)
• Most dramas were "tragedies" (strength leads to
  pride which leads to downfall).
• Plays were not just entertainment but education!
  Citizens were very encouraged to come. (even paid
  sometimes!) Displayed important issues like war
  and gods.

5
Athens and the Golden Age

• A city of shop owners and artisans.
• 100,000 slaves in Athens (slaves worked side by
  side with free men)
• Rich owned about 50 slaves, poor owned about 2
  slaves.
• Women stayed home. If they had to leave, they
  wore veils. Very few legal rights. Could not own
  land.

6
Sparta Defeats Athens

• In 431 BC, Sparta marched through and burned
  Athens territory of food supply.
• Sparta was strongest on land, Athens strongest at
  sea.
• Causes of Athens defeat-
• plague - it killed 1/3 of Athens population!
• Sparta destroyed a huge (27,000 soldiers) fleet
  of Athenians at sea near Sicily.
• Finally in 404 BC, Athens surrenders
• This period of warring was called "THE
  PELOPONESIAN WAR"
• Because of such sadness, the dramatists developed
  "comedies"