THE GOLDEN AGE OF GREECE AND GREEK THOUGHT

BEFORE THE GOLDEN AGE

Greco-Persian War- occurred because of Athens’ support of Ionia

Greco-Persian War Map

TWO MAIN BATTLES

Battle of Marathon Surprising

win for Greeks

Story of

Pheidippides

BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE

100,000 Persians “defeated” by 7,000 Greeks

Story of “300” Spartans

Importance?

EFFECTSIron weapons (used by Greeks) prove better than bronze weapons

Creation of phalanx

Delian League is formed- leads to Athens’ empire and disputes between Athens/SpartaBegins Golden Age of Athens

Greece no longer vulnerable to Persians

WHAT IS A GOLDEN AGE?ATHENS was at the forefront of world in MANY areasIn Athens- based on Political, military, intellectual advancement

ARCHITECTURE: THE PARTHENON

WHAT MAKES IT GREAT?

Building style (columns, symmetry)

Building use (beauty vs. shelter)

Influences architecture of future

Use of “golden rectangle”- ratio of 1 to 1.61803

ART:                            

                                            

        

“THE SCHOOL OF ATHENS”

Sculpted their view of Greek gods

Showed what they viewed as “beauty” NOT what was real

Symmetry again!

THEATRE

SOPHOCLES- social critic

EURIPIDES- non-religious plays

ARISTOPHANES- comedies

Comedy/Tragedy

PHILOSOPHY

SOCRATES- Socratic methodDEMOCRITUS- first to propose atom theory

POLITICS

Pericles- stable direct democracyLed programs

for poorKnown for

speeches- funeral oration

ON THE OTHER HAND…Sparta- agricultural economyGovernment with checks and balancesExtremely militarized cultureActually better liked throughout Greece than Athens

ENDED BY:

Peloponessian War

Death of Pericles- 429 BCE

LED TO: New age of Greek thought…WHY?

Peloponnesian War

SPARTA vs. ATHENS

Athens= strong navy

Sparta= strong army

Athens weakened by Sparta burning food supplyPlague kills 1/3 of Athens’ populationSparta still unsuccessful in defeating Athens

until 404 BCE

THE RESULT

Sparta wins- but not really

Athens loses empire, power and wealth

Athenians lose confidence in democracy

Sparta also sapped of resources and declines both economically and militarily