The Golden Age of Athens 460 BC 429
The Golden Age of Athens 460 BC – 429 BC – (also called Hellenistic Period) • Pericles – Opened all political offices to any citizen – More voice in government – direct democracy – Great for the arts • Parthenon – temple to Athena • More realistic art style
What is Hellenistic culture? • Generally known as the • The word comes from time period during the greek word for Alexander’s conquest Hellas, meaning Greek and just after he died till the fall of the empire • Also, the Greek Golden Age • Also, a flourishing of arts and philosophy
Macedonians • Philip II – unites Greece under one ruler • Wanted to destroy the Persian Empire • Alexander was son of Philip II • Sets out to complete his father’s mission Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great • Attacks and defeats Darius II - controls the Asia Minor • Conquers Egypt • Invades Persia crushes Darius II – now king of Persia • Moves eastward – 13 years and 11, 000 miles(all the way to N. India) • Men refuse to go onwanted to go home • Alexander dies in Babylon at age 33
Arts & Architecture ic t s i t ARCHITECTURE • Architects tried to convey a sense of perfect balance ic to reflect the harmony of si t n e l l the universe. He • Example: The Parthenon n Art No elle • Early sculptors. H Imitated rigid Egyptian poses. • Later sculptors emphasized natural poses that were more lifelike Realistic and idealistic.
Greek Philosophy • What is Philosophy? - The investigation of the principles that regulate the universe and underlie all reality. - Philosophers- Greek meaning for “love of wisdom
ot tic si. SOCRATES n N elle H ? ic c. ARISTOTLE i t PLATOThe t s t nis o e o N elle Republic H H • Developed Socratic method, whereby a series of questions are posed in order to challenge implications of answers • He was killed for asking too many questions of the aristocracy • He was a gadfly • Emphasized importance of reason • Believed the ideal state should regulate every aspect of citizens’ lives to provide for their best interest • Wrote down everything Socrates said on papyrus • Founded the first real school called the Academy • Taught Aristotle • Favored rule by single strong and virtuous leader • Taught that good conduct meant pursuing moderation • Believed that the best life was one of study, but only the aristocracy are capable of higher learning • Personally taught Alexander the Great
Greek Music • Believed that all life is made up of vibrations of sounds “Doctrine of Ethos” – Belief that music had moral qualities • Each musical scale could create an emotion • Government censored music so that youth only learned a certain type • Only allowed youth to play mellow music; considered intellectual • Do you believe this is true?
Other Hellenistic Achievements • Herodotus is called the “Father of History”; stressed the importance of research - History • Thucydides showed the need to avoid bias - journalism • Pythagoras derived a formula to calculate the relationship between the sides of a triangle. The Pythagorean Theorem (a²+b²=c²) • Archimedes used principles of physics to make practical inventions, such as the lever and the pulley - physics • Hippocrates studied illnesses and cures and set ethical standards for medical care. Hippocratic Oath; described the human nervous system medicine
Peloponnesian Wars 431 BC – 404 BC • Peloponnesian League – counter to the Delian League – Sparta in Control • Sparta destroys Attica (area where Athens was) – source of Athenian food. • Athens falls – two causes: – A plague hits Athens – Sparta ally itself with Persia – needs their navy to blockade Athenian port • Ends true Greek Golden Age EQ: What city-state the keepers of the Greek Golden Age?
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