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GREEK GOLDEN AGE
GREEK GOLDEN AGE
• from 477-431 BC, Athens
experienced an explosive growth in
intellectual and artistic achievement
• Pericles ruled for 32 years.
Known as a skilled general and
orator. (461-429 is often called “The
Age of Pericles”)
• Pericles had 3 goals (p.134):
strengthen Athenian democracy,
strengthen Athenian empire, and
glorify Athens
• Direct Democracy
PERICLES
GREEK GOLDEN AGE
• Athens dominated the Delian League and used the
League to strengthen itself
• Parthenon- 23000 square foot (Phidias was primary
sculptor)
• Drama as an art form is invented. They were private
and not state sponsored. 2 types of drama: comedy and
tragedy.
• Aeschylus (Oresteia), Sophocles (Oedipus and
Antigone), Aristophanes (Lysistrata) and Euripedes
(Medea) are among the most important
GREEK GOLDEN AGE
• 431 BC Sparta declares war on Athens, beginning the
Peloponnesian War.
• Athens= Navy; Sparta= Army
• 421 BC a truce is signed, but Athenians break the
peace in 415 BC by attacking Syracuse and are
defeated. 404 BC- Athens surrenders.
GREEK GOLDEN AGE
• Euclid- “Father of Geometry”
• The Greeks developed what we know as Western
philosophy. The questions they grappled with are still
being argued today.
• The Big 3:
1.
Socrates- (470-399 BC)- the Godfather of
philosophy; his ideas are the foundation for both Plato
and Aristotle; he wrote nothing (at least that survived)
2. Plato- (427-347 BC)- Perhaps the greatest
philosopher of all time; “Plato’s Cave” thought
experiment; wrote The Republic; established the
Academy
GREEK GOLDEN AGE
3. Aristotle- (384-322 BC)- one of Plato’s brightest
students; basically invented formal logic; might have
been as close as any human ever came to knowing
everything about everything; he basically invented
biology, psychology, and physics as well as several
other fields
His most famous pupil= ALEXANDER THE GREAT
SOCRATES
PLATO
ARISTOTLE