The persian wars pericles-theatre-philosophy

THE PERSIAN WARSGreece vs. The Persian Empire

Danger of a helot revolt led to Sparta becoming a military state.

Danger of a revolution among the poor farmers of Athens led to it becoming a democracy.

The danger of invasion by the Persian army led to glory for both Sparta and Athens!

The Persian Wars

Persians attacked Greek city-states in Ionia (Anatolia)

Athens sent ships and soldiers to help the Ionian Greeks.

Persian King Darius vowed to destroy Athens in revenge!

Athenians defeat Persians AND defend their city-state. Legend of Marathon!

The Persian Wars

Ten years later. . . King Darius is dead-his son Xerxes vows to CRUSH Greece!

Sends ENORMOUS invasion force to Greece by way of the Hellespont.

Greek city-states divided. They are scared of Xerxes and some want to sacrifice Athens to the Persians.

The Persian Wars

300 Spartans lead the way along with 7000 other Greek soldiers against the Persians.

All 300 were killed at the Battle of Thermopylae, but the set an example for ALL Greeks.

Persians headed for Athens. . .

The Persian Wars

The citizens of Athens followed the advice of Themistocles and evacuated the city to fight at sea.

Xerxes burned Athens and then met the Greek navy in a narrow channel off the island of Salamis .

The Greek triremes battered the Persian warships and 1/3 of fleet was lost.

The Spartans defeated the rest of the Persian army at Platea.

The Persian Wars-Results

Persian threat is ended. Greek city-states have a new sense

of confidence and freedom. Athens THRIVES! Delian League-led by Athens (140

city-states) Drove Persians from surrounding

territory Athens enters its GOLDEN AGE Complete # 2 on page 119

Athens’ Golden Age

A time when Drama, Poetry, Art, Philosophy, Architecture, and Science ALL reached new heights!

Age of Pericles 461-429 B.C.

Pericles

• Athens’ leading citizen.

• 495-429 BC

• Politician, orator, general

• Was also stoic, aloof, handsome, and engaging.

• Also had a large, oddly shaped head, which is why all his portrayals have that helmet on.

Athens’ Golden Age-Pericles Three Goals for Athens1) To strengthen Athenian Democracy2) To hold and strengthen the empire3) To glorify Athens

Athens’ Golden Age-Pericles Three Goals for Athens1) To strengthen Athenian Democracy increased the number of paid public

officials-even the poorest could serve if elected or chosen by lot

Direct Democracy-citizens rule directly, not through a representative

Look at the chart on p. 120-Answer questions 1 & 2 with your partner.

Athens’ Golden Age-Pericles Three Goals for Athens2) To hold and strengthen the empire Pericles wanted to build wealth and

power of Athens Built powerful navy for safety and

trade.

Athens’ Golden Age-Pericles Three Goals for Athens3) To glorify Athens Pericles used money from Delian

League to buy gold, ivory, and marble.

Built Parthenon-all without the approval of the Delian League.

The Parthenon

Its main function was to house the grand statue of Athena

• In 1687, the Venetians were fighting the Ottoman Empire in Athens.

• Unsurprisingly, the Ottomans had fortified the acropolis and were holding out there.

• They used the Parthenon to store gunpowder (great idea!). A Venetian cannonball hit the Parthenon, detonated the gunpowder, and blew up a good chunk of the temple.

• Most of the temple lay in ruins.

• In 1806, Lord Elgin brought many of the sculptures to London (he sawed them off). They’re now known as the Elgin Marbles.

•Read “A Voice from the Past on page 121.•Discuss this question with your partner. . . How accurate do you consider Pericles’ statement that Athenian democracy was in the hands of “the whole people”?•THEN complete #2 of the section assessment on page 125.

Pericles invested a great deal of money into the glorification of Athens. . .

Theatre

• It was during the golden age that the great playwrights lived

• Tragedy: Serious drama-love, hate, war, betrayal.

• Tragedy: Always featured a HERO with a tragic flaw.

• Comedy: Contained slapstick and crude humor.

• Comedy: Satires-made fun of almost everyone in Classical Greece.

Greek Theatre

Greek Art

Greek sculptors during the golden age aimed to create figures that were graceful, strong, and perfectly formed.

Faces showed neither laughter nor anger, only serenity.

Also tried to capture grace of human body in motion.

Order, balance, and proportion-Classical Art

Greek Art

Greek Philosophy

Socrates Plato Aristotle Pages 124 & 125 “Lovers of Wisdom” Who was he? What is he known for?

What were his views about government? Lasting contribution? Famous quote?

THE PELOPONNESIAN WARSAthens vs.Sparta

The Peloponnesian Wars

Tensions had been building for years as Athens had grown. Leaders in both city-states wanted war b/c they believed they would win.

Sparta had land advantage Athens had sea advantage Pericles’ strategy was to avoid land

battles and wait to strike from the sea.

The Peloponnesian Wars

Spartans march into Athenian territory.

They burned the local food supply Athenians were safe inside walls of

city-state Ships could still bring food from other

colonies. Two events spelled eventual disaster

for Athens. . .

Sparta gains the edge. . . A PLAGUE! A plague killed between

1/3 and 2/3 of the population. Pericles also died from the plague.

Assembly sends huge fleet of 27,000 soldiers to Syracuse, one of Sparta’s wealthiest allies.

Suffered TOTAL destruction. Athens surrendered in 404 B.C.E

War brings change. . .

Athens loses its short-lived empire, power, and wealth

People began to lose confidence in democratic governments

Weak, corrupt, traitorous rulers