Rise of Greek Culture

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Rise of Greek Culture

• Tribute payments paid to Athens by allies

• Golden Age of Athens 479 - 431 BCE
• Grew rich from mining and trade
• Achievements in arts, philosophy, literature, and
  democracy

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Rise of Greek Culture

• Pericles leading Athenian most powerful man in
  Athens
• Supported democracy made changes that
  strengthened it
• Had government pay its officials

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Rise of Greek Culture

• Pericles
• Considered by many to be father of Greek
  democracy
• Had the Parthenon built and much construction in
  Athens

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Rise of Greek Culture

• Greeks worshiped 12 gods and goddesses called 12
  Olympians
• Each ruled a different aspect of life or nature
• Zeus was their leader
• Each city-state honored a different god
• Honored them at Olympic games every 4 years

• Immortal live forever

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Rise of Greek Culture

• Temple place of worship

• Gods ruled from Mt. Olympus and were immortal
• City-states built temples to the gods
• Greeks also honored mythical heroes
• Achilles is an example from the Iliad

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Rise of Greek Culture

• Sacred honored, respected, admired, valued
• Oracle person who could predict the future and
  give advice
• Oracle sacred site where Greeks believed gods
  spoke

• Ancient Greeks would seek advice from oracles
• Believed oracles could reveal future tell them
  what to do
• Often spoke in riddles
• Leaders sought help from oracles
• Most famous was Oracle of Delphi

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Rise of Greek Culture

• Greek Science Philosophy
• Greeks studied natural world
• Thales - early philosopher believed water was
  basic material of the world
• Democritus - believed everything was made of
  tiny particles he called them atoms 400s BCE

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Rise of Greek Culture

• Socrates Taught during Golden Age
• Met in Athens marketplace to discuss learning
  and ideas
• Questioned true meaning of justice, courage,
  freedom
• Asked Athenians to question their beliefs
• Famous for telling people to Know Thyself

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Rise of Greek Culture

• Socrates ideas were a threat to many because he
  made them challenge what they believed
• In 399 BCE the leaders said he was dishonoring
  gods and misleading young people
• He was sentenced to death
• He was put in prison
• He chose to drink poison and end his life

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Rise of Greek Culture

• Plato left Athens after Socrates death
• Returned in 387 BCE and founded school for
  teaching philosophy, mathematics, biology, and
  astronomy
• School is believed to be the first university
• Wrote The Republic as a view of an ideal society

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Rise of Greek Culture

• The Golden Rectangle basic type of rectangle
  where long sides are about 1 2/3 the length of
  short sides. Commonly used in art and
  architecture to show balance

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Rise of Greek Culture

• Dramas
• Athenians were the first to write dramatic plays
• Famous for writing tragedies
• Chorus was small group of people who would sing
  or chant poems between scenes
• Comedies were also performed, making fun of
  well-known citizens and every day life

• Tragedy serious story where main characters
  deal with terrible events
• Amphitheatre large theatre, often outdoors

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Rise of Greek Culture

• There were many city-states
• Each developed its own identity
• Education grew
• Trade grew
• The city-states competed with each other but
  called themselves Hellenes