Classical Greece

Classical Greece500 BC-338 BC

Major Wars

Brilliant Culture

Fighting the Persian EmpireGreeks had spread throughout the

Mediterranean (trade, colonies, industry)Persian Empire began taking over Greek

territoriesAthens and Sparta united to fight the Persian

EmpireGreece defeated the Persian Empire

Age of Pericles

Pericles encouraged more Athenians to get involved in their democracy

All male citizens voted on major issuesLarge body of officials ran the governmentOstracism-assembly members could vote to

get rid of an official they did not likeRebuilt the city that had been destroyed in

the Persian WarAthens became the center of Greek culture

Life in Classical AthensLargest population in GreeceMost owned slavesEconomy based mainly on farming and tradeFamily importantWomen had few rights

Peloponnesian WarAfter the Persian War Sparta and Athens were

dividedVery different-Did not tolerate the other-Began

fightingAthens=better navy Sparta=better armySparta eventually defeated Athens Greece was divided-constant tension with power

Greek Religion-MythologyReligion was a fundamental part of societyTwelve chief gods and goddesses-Zeus ruled

all godsRituals to honor gods-building, prayers, gifts,

festivalsOlympics-festival to honor gods-first in 776

BCNo longer practiced-used as art, drama,

literature

Classical Greek Arts and LiteratureTemples for the godsParthenon-greatest example of classical

Greek templeSculptures-showed nude males-ideal beautyDramas-tragedies depicted wars-comedies

criticized politiciansWriting-first in the western world to present

history in a systematic analysis of past events-about wars, gods

Greek PhilosophyEstablished the foundations of western

philosophySocrates-sculptor-taught ethics-Socratic

Method (uses question and answer format to teach)-People know things, they just need to realize it

Plato-student of Socrates-questioned reality (how do you know what is real)-explained ideas in The Republic

Aristotle-student of Plato-analyzed and classified based on observation and investigation-wanted a realistic form of government (Plato wanted the ideal form of government)