Download Pericles/Golden age of Greece Powerpoint

PERICLES AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF
ATHENS
One Man's Influence on the Beginnings of Democracy
AFTER THE PERSIAN WARS...
~ Ancient Athens continued to practice
democracy. Approximately 43,000 male citizens
over the age of 18 were members of the assembly.
They met every 10 days to pass laws, elect
officials, and direct foreign policy. Usually fewer
than 6,000 participated at any one time. The top
ten officials elected each year were known as
generals (strategos.)
~ The most important general in Athenian
government was Pericles.
~ Pericles guided Athens for more than thirty
years.
PERICLES, THE BOY
• Pericles grew up in Athens in a wealthy family.
• He was about three years old when Athens
fought the battle of Marathon. He was among
the Athenians who were evacuated during the
Battle of Thermopolae and Salamis.
• He was very bright, and had some of the best
teachers in Athens.
• He studied politics, ethics, philosophy, and
music.
Statue of Greek boy, c. 3rd century BCE
PERICLES, EARLY ADULT LIFE
• As a young man, Pericles used much of his wealth to
support the arts. This helped him to become a popular
figure in Athens.
• Together with some supporters, he took on a powerful
council of leaders, and helped to break down their
power, an important point in the history of democracy.
• As a general of the Athenian army, Pericles led several
successful military campaigns.
PERICLES AS LEADER...
* The leadership of Pericles began a time which
is known as the Golden Age of Athens.
* Pericles worked on reforming the Athenian
democracy:
~ He introduced new laws and ideas, for
example, that people who served on a jury
would be paid.
~ He appointed people to positions because
of their abilities, not because they were
members of a certain social class.
~ He brought more ordinary Athenians into
government.
...LEADER OF A DIRECT DEMOCRACY
• Under Pericles, the Athenian city-state became the economic and cultural
center of Greece.
• The Athenians especially took pride in their democratic system.
• Athenians practiced democracy, which was a radical concept at the time.
• The Athenian form of democracy is called direct democracy. In a direct
democracy, all citizens meet to debate and vote on government matters.
• In a representative democracy, such as the one we have in the United States
today, citizens elect a smaller group of people to represent them; they make
laws and govern on the citizens' behalf.
PERICLES AS BUILDER
• Pericles is famous for his building
projects. He loved the city of Athens,
and wanted it to be the leader of the
Greek world.
• He rebuilt many of the temples on the
acropolis that had been destroyed by
the Persians.
• He built the Parthenon on the
acropolis. It was a magnificent building
dedicated to the goddess, Athena.
• He had the Long Walls built to protect
the city in the event of a siege.
PERICLES AND ART AND EDUCATION
• Pericles supported writers,
artists, teachers, sculptors, and
architects.
• He allowed the poor to attend
the theaters for free.
• Philosophers and their teachings
flourished during the rule of
Pericles. (Philosophers are
thinkers who reflect on the
meaning of life.)
• Athens became a great center
for knowledge. Pericles called
his city "the school of Greece."
PERICLES AS A GREAT SPEAKER
• During a public funeral for soldiers who had
died in battle in a war between Athens and
Sparta, Pericles talked about the greatness of
Athens. He reminded the people that they
made their government strong. He reminded
them that citizens had to obey the rules in
the constitution- their framework of
government. He emphasized that the
democratic way of life is worth protecting.
• This famous speech is called the Funeral
Oration.
• "Our constitution is called a democracy because power is in
the hands not of a minority but of the whole people. When
it is a question of settling private disputes, everyone is
equal before the law..."
• "...therefore, having judged that to be happy is to be free,
and to be free means to be brave, do not shy away from
the risks of war..."
• Pericles was not an emperor, a king, or even a president, yet he was
able to lead Athens to the greatest glories the city would ever know.
• With all things good, how could anyone predict the dreadful future
that awaited this magnificent city?
TO HELP ME REMEMBER..........
• 1. In your notes, make a chart entitled "Age of Pericles" and list
the accomplishments during the age of Pericles. Put a star * by
the one you think is most important and tell why.
• 2. In a few sentences, compare and contrast a direct democracy
and a representative democracy. Be sure to identify which one
the Athenian government used and which our U.S. government
uses today.