Ancient Greek Historia Life; Philosophy; Politics

as it pertains to art. 800 BCE-1st Century CE

History:Beginnings of Western CivilizationGreeks called themselves HellenesEthnicity800 BCE Homer’s The Iliad and The OdysseyIndependent Polis (City States) 776 BCE first Olympic GamesProsperous trade based economy490 BCE Persians invaded Greece480 BCE Persians sacked Athens479 BCE Greeks defeated the PersiansDelian League 478During the next 30 years Athens continued to collect taxes from other Polis for ships and money.Democracy of Athens

Pericles: Came to power in 461 BCE in the senatePopulation of Athens was approximately, 230,000Only free men could votePower emanated from property ownershipDominated Athenian politics from 450-429 BCEThucydides wrote that Pericles was enormously popular and known for his financial integrity.The Golden age of Athens lasted less than 50 yearsHis vision of Athens brought the Parthenon, Athena’s temple and the rebuilding of Athens on and around the Acropolis.

Peloponnesian War ended it all.Began in 431 BCESparta OligarchySoldiers were the best in GreeceAttacked AthensAthens collapsed Sparta achieved military dominance,but not cultural dominanceAthens regained its freedomIntellectual and aesthetic dominance flourished.

Philosophy:Emphasis on human rationality and intellect

with a profound respect for the irrational and mysterious

Recognized oracles and omensRespected a keen mind and the desire to

answer life’s critical questions: 1. What is the basic element of which the universe is composed?2. How do specific things emerge from the basic element3. What guides the process of change?

Sophistry: “wise ones” Concern for humankindThe distrust of reasonThinking in a relative wayChallenging the existence of truthAll established beliefs and norms were questioned

Famous Sophists:Protagoras: “Man is s the measure of all things.”

Socrates: c. 470-399 “By all means marry. If you get a good

wife you will become happy, and if you get a bad one you will become a philosopher.”

“ An unexamined life is not worth living.”

“ For anything that men can tell, death may be the greatest good that can happen to them:…”

“The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance.”“To find yourself, think for yourself.” “One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing.”“ True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us. ““I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.”

Plato: 427 BCE-347 BCE “Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.” “There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot.” “If a man neglects education, he walks lame to the end of his life” “Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished

by being governed by those who are dumber.” “Thinking: The talking of the soul with itself” “Knowledge becomes evil if the aim be not virtuous.” “For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all

victories.”

Aristotle: 384-322 BCE:“On one occasion Aristotle was asked how much educated men were superior to those uneducated: 'As much,' said he, 'as the living are to the dead.’” “All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion,

habit, reason, passion, and desire.” “Education is the best provision for the journey to old age.”“ It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”“Man, perfected by society, is the best of all animals; he is the most

terrible of all when he lives without law, and without justice.” “The only stable state is the one in which all men are equal before the

law. “

Famous Greek Historians and ScientistsHerodotus: 484-430 BCE “Father of History.Thucydides: 460-395 BCE “History of the Peloponnesian War”Euclid: 325-270 BCE Fundamentals of geometry.Hippocrates: 450-380 BCE “Father of the Medicine”Archimedes: 287-212 BCE mathematician, engineer and physicist.Ptolemy: 2nd Century CE AstronomerParmenides: Early 5th Century BCE. AstronomerPythagoras: 6th Century BCE. Philosopher and

mathematician

Famous Greek Literary Figures:Aeschylus: 525-426 BCEAesop: 6th Century BCEAristophanes: 287-212 BCE Euripides: 480-406 BCE Sapho: 6th Century BCESophocles: 496-406 BCE

On to the Vessels