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GWHEA_VA_WHI.5e Student_Final
Standard WHI.5e
The student will demonstrate knowledge of ancient Greece in terms of its impact on
Western civilization by
e) characterizing life in Athens during the Golden Age of Pericles.
Essential Skills
Identify, analyze, and interpret primary and secondary sources to make
generalizations about events and life in world history. (WHI.1a)
Use maps, globes, artifacts, and pictures to analyze the physical and cultural
landscapes of the world and interpret the past. (WHI.1b)
Analyze trends in human migration and cultural interaction. (WHI.1e)
The Age of Pericles
Background
During the Persian Wars, the Persians sacked and burned the city of Athens in 480
B.C. A year later in 479 B.C., the Greeks expanded its army and defeated the Persians
at Plataea, ending the Persian Wars. From the destruction of these wars emerged a
new leader, Pericles, who expanded Athens’ empire abroad and brought democracy
to the Athenians. Pericles rebuilt Athens with grand temples and statues and
supported the arts and philosophy. Historians refer to this period, when Athens
became the center of Greek culture, as the Age of Pericles.
Activity
Review pages 120-122 of your textbook. Then watch the Glencoe World History
Spotlight Video “Ch 4 Sec 3 – Classical Greece.”
Use what you learned in your textbook and the video to answer the following
questions.
1. After the destruction of Athens in the Persian Wars, Pericles rebuilt the city.
What image in the video is an example of the architecture built during the
Age of Pericles?
2. Summarize the meaning of the quote from Pericles recited in the video in
your own words.
3. What groups of people did not experience Athenian democracy but Athenian
oppression?
4. Write a brief paragraph explaining Pericles’ contributions to the betterment of
Athenian life and culture.
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