Download What mattered to the Ancient Athenians?

What mattered to the Ancient
Athenians?
Where was Athens?
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Largest city state in Greece.
Greek main land; region Attica.
Region rich in resources, especially silver.
Athens had its own port Piraeus and the
largest navy in Greece.
Key myths.
• Poseidon and Athena both wanted to protect
the city.
• Poseidon struck the ground with his trident
and offered a horse.
• Athena offered an olive tree.
• The men chose Poseidon, the women Athena
and as there was one more woman, Athena
became the protector and the city is named
after her.
Key Athenians.
• Theseus: early ruler of Athens, divided it into 3
classes; the rich rulers, the farmers and the
artisans.
• Drakon 624 BCE: first legislator of Athens.
Laws written in marble and placed in the city
for all to read.
• Solon 638-559 BCE: ruler or Archon who
worked to help the poor of Athens who had
been burdened with debt and slavery. Seen as
the father of Athenian democracy.
Key Athenians.
• Pericles 495-429BCE: key orator and general during the Persian
and Peloponnesian wars. Helped create Athenian empire, he
was responsible for many of the buildings at the Acropolis and
for making Athens the cultural centre of Greece.
• Socrates 469-399BCE: philosopher and teacher.
• Plato 427-347 BCE: founder of the Academy in Athens major
western philosopher.
• Aristotle 384-322 BCE: scientist and philosopher, teacher of
Alexander the Great.
• Demosthenes 8384-322 BCE: statesman and orator. Professional
speech writer and lawyer; key opponent of Phillip and Alexander
of Macedon, fought for Athenian freedom.
The city.
• Dominated by the Acropolis, a hill above the city.
Temple to Athena, the Parthenon was the most
important building with her statue standing at 40
feet.
• City was destroyed by Xerxes in 480 BCE but
rebuilt by Pericles and Themistocles.
• Upper city, Acropolis and the lower city
surrounded by walls and the port also
surrounded by walls and connected to the main
city by long walls.
Key buildings
• The Academy, school founded by Plato
• The Agora, the market place contained the Mint,
the law courts and several temples were here.
• Areopagus, the high court
• Theatre of Dionysis, tradgedies and comedies
performed here.
• Odeon, centres for music
• Panthenaic stadium, centre for sport
The people
• At its largest, around 250,000 with a slave population of at
least 25%.
• Metics were non Athenian Greeks who lived in Athens
made up around 10%.
• Citizens were recorded on a register.
• Slaves were born, captured in war or enslaved as a result of
debt. Some were owned by the state and were like civil
servants.
• Athens had 10 tribes each with one general. Men between
20 and 50 could be called up for military service.
• Boys educated from 6 to 14 then a high school then military
school for 2 years.
• Girls were not educated.