The Glory That Was The Glory That Was GreeceGreece

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ObjectivesObjectives

►Discuss the political and ethical ideas Discuss the political and ethical ideas Greek philosophers developedGreek philosophers developed

►Discuss the goals of Greek architectsDiscuss the goals of Greek architects►Discuss how the Greek theater evolvedDiscuss how the Greek theater evolved

Lovers of WisdomLovers of Wisdom

►Greeks were driven by curiosity and Greeks were driven by curiosity and guided by a belief in reasonguided by a belief in reason

►Some Greeks believed that events did Some Greeks believed that events did not occur because of the godnot occur because of the god

►Known as philosophers-lovers of wisdomKnown as philosophers-lovers of wisdom►Explored many subjects (music, science, Explored many subjects (music, science,

math, etc. )math, etc. )►Others were more interested in social Others were more interested in social

behaviorbehavior

►Sophists-questioned accepted ideas Sophists-questioned accepted ideas about truth and justiceabout truth and justice

►Students developed a rhetoric-the art Students developed a rhetoric-the art of skillful speakingof skillful speaking

►Older Greeks condemned including Older Greeks condemned including SocratesSocrates

Death of a PhilosopherDeath of a Philosopher

►““The unexamined life is not worth living” The unexamined life is not worth living” SocratesSocrates

►Wanted people to examine their deepest Wanted people to examine their deepest beliefs and ideasbeliefs and ideas

►Truth cost him his lifeTruth cost him his life►Was able to get people to contradict Was able to get people to contradict

themselves using the “Socratic Method”themselves using the “Socratic Method”►Seen as an annoyance Seen as an annoyance

►When Socrates was 70 he was arrested When Socrates was 70 he was arrested for corrupting the youth and not for corrupting the youth and not believing in the godsbelieving in the gods

►He felt that he should be spared He felt that he should be spared because he wanted people to question because he wanted people to question their beliefs and besides, there weren’t their beliefs and besides, there weren’t many people like himmany people like him

►501 jury members did not agree, 501 jury members did not agree, condemned him to deathcondemned him to death

►The jury believed he was arrogant since The jury believed he was arrogant since he did not beg, in fact, he was very calmhe did not beg, in fact, he was very calm

►He accepted the penalty because he He accepted the penalty because he was loyal to the Athenian Lawwas loyal to the Athenian Law

►He drank a cup of hemlock (poison) He drank a cup of hemlock (poison) ►Danced and chatted with friends and Danced and chatted with friends and

students until he diedstudents until he died►““Crito, I owe a rooster to Asclepius.”Crito, I owe a rooster to Asclepius.”

Ideas About GovernmentIdeas About Government

►The shock of the death of Socrates The shock of the death of Socrates made Plato leave Athens for 10 yearsmade Plato leave Athens for 10 years

►He thought that through rationale He thought that through rationale thought people could discover thought people could discover unchanging ethical values, perfect unchanging ethical values, perfect beauty, and how to organize an ideal beauty, and how to organize an ideal societysociety

►The RepublicThe Republic-discusses a 3 cast system-discusses a 3 cast system

1)1) Workers to produce the necessities of Workers to produce the necessities of lifelife

2)2) Soldiers to defend the stateSoldiers to defend the state

3)3) Philosophers to rulePhilosophers to rule► He also believed that the state should He also believed that the state should

regulate every aspect of the citizens regulate every aspect of the citizens liveslives

► He also felt that women could rule in He also felt that women could rule in the ranks of the elites classthe ranks of the elites class

►Aristotle-Plato’s most famous studentAristotle-Plato’s most famous student►Analyzed many types of governments Analyzed many types of governments ►Found good and bad examples of allFound good and bad examples of all►Was suspicious of democracy, thought Was suspicious of democracy, thought

it could lead to “mob rule”it could lead to “mob rule”►He favored having 1 strong person ruleHe favored having 1 strong person rule►Good conduction meant “golden mean” Good conduction meant “golden mean”

moderate course between extremesmoderate course between extremes

►Both Plato and Aristotle set up schoolsBoth Plato and Aristotle set up schools►Plato founded the Academy after his Plato founded the Academy after his

10 year absence from Athens10 year absence from Athens►Aristotle founded the LyceumAristotle founded the Lyceum

The Search for Beauty and The Search for Beauty and OrderOrder

►Plato believed that every object on Plato believed that every object on Earth had an Ideal formEarth had an Ideal form

►Architects felt the same wayArchitects felt the same way►Built the “Parthenon” and dedicated it Built the “Parthenon” and dedicated it

to Athenato Athena►Reflected harmonyReflected harmony►Examples of this architecture can be Examples of this architecture can be

found all over the worldfound all over the world

►Greeks also carved sculptures figures Greeks also carved sculptures figures in rigid posing, imitating Egyptians? in rigid posing, imitating Egyptians?

450 BC-developed carving styles that 450 BC-developed carving styles that allowed statues to be in more natural allowed statues to be in more natural poses (running)poses (running)

►They also painted on vases and other They also painted on vases and other potterypottery

Poetry and DramaPoetry and Drama

►Set the style that the Europeans called Set the style that the Europeans called “classic style”“classic style”

►Homer wrote epics, Sappho sang love Homer wrote epics, Sappho sang love songssongs

►Drama-first Greek plays evolved out of Drama-first Greek plays evolved out of religious festivalreligious festival

►A chorus responded to the action by A chorus responded to the action by singing or chanting commentary singing or chanting commentary between the scenesbetween the scenes

►Often based on popular myths and Often based on popular myths and legendslegends

►Greatest Athenian playwrights were Greatest Athenian playwrights were Aeschylus and Sophocles, and EuripidesAeschylus and Sophocles, and Euripides

►They wrote tragediesThey wrote tragedies►AntigoneAntigone (Sophocles) explored what (Sophocles) explored what

happens when an individual’s moral happens when an individual’s moral duty conflicts with the laws of the stateduty conflicts with the laws of the state

►Greek playwrights also wrote Greek playwrights also wrote comedies and political cartoonscomedies and political cartoons

The Writing of HistoryThe Writing of History

►Herodotus was known as the “Father of Herodotus was known as the “Father of History”History”

►Noted bias and visited many land before Noted bias and visited many land before writing writing The Persian WarsThe Persian Wars

►Thucydides wrote about the Thucydides wrote about the Peloponnesian War and tried to remain Peloponnesian War and tried to remain objectiveobjective

►This set the standards for future This set the standards for future historianshistorians