Download 4.4 The Age of Pericles

4.4 The Age of Pericles
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Athens joined forces with other city-states to
form the Delian League.
The Delian League promised to defend its
members against the Persians.
Athens eventually gained control of the
Delian League.
The Athenian Empire
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Athens had a direct democracy.
In a direct democracy, people vote firsthand
on laws and policies.
What made this work in Athens was that
ancient Athens was so small in numbers.
Usually fewer than 6,000 people attended the
meetings, which were held every ten days.
Ten officials known as generals carried out
the assembly’s laws and policies.
• In a representative democracy, people
select smaller groups to vote on behalf of the
people.
The Achievements of Pericles
A general named Pericles led Athens for
more than 30 years.
 He promoted democracy by including more
people in the government.
 The age of Pericles was a time of creativity
and learning.
• Pericles built temples and statues in the city
after the destruction of the Persian Wars.
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He also supported
artists, writers,
architects, and
philosophers.
Philosophers are
people who ponder
questions about life.
Daily Life in Athens
Athenian farmers grew grain, vegetables,
fruit, olives, and grapes.
 Because there was little farmland, Athens
had to import grain from other places.
 Herders raised sheep and goats for wool,
milk, and cheese.
• Athens became the trading center of the
Greek world.
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Merchants traded pottery, jewelry, leather
goods, and other products.
 Athenian men worked in the morning and
exercised or attended assembly meetings in
the evening.
 Athenian women were responsible for caring
for their children and their households.
• Poor women might work in the fields or sell
goods.
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Athenian women had no political rights and
could not own property.
 Aspasia was a well-educated woman who
influenced Plato and Pericles..
• Although she could not vote or hold office,
she was influential in politics.
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The Peloponnesian War
Other city-states along with Sparta became
suspicious of Athens.
 These city-states joined together against
Athens.
 The war that broke out is known as the
Peloponnesian War.
• Pericles’s funeral oration reminded Athenians
about democracy and gave them courage to
continue fighting.
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Athenians outside the city walls moved inside the
city to protect themselves.
 In the second year of the war, a disease killed more
than one-third of the people inside Athens’ walls,
including Pericles.
• Sparta made a deal with the Persians and built a
navy and attacked Athens. They destroyed the
Athenian fleet.
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• Athens surrendered and Sparta tore down the city
walls.