The Golden Age of Athens

Transcription

1 The Golden Age of Athens from GREECE S GOLDEN AGE 750L - 890L Before the Persian Wars, Athens had a leader named Cleisthenes. He believed regular citizens should have a say in how government works. Before him, only the wealthy, the nobility, and kings had a say. Around tow BCE, he began making changes that led to an early form of democracy. Every adult male citizen was allowed to vote on laws. Ordinary people could hold public o ce. Citizens met to discuss 1/9

2 the city s business in an assembly, and taking part was viewed as a duty. The system Cleisthenes created is called a direct democracy. In this system, all members of the assembly had an equal vote. A council would suggest a law, and people in the assembly would make speeches for and against the law. Then they would vote yes or no by a show of hands. If voters didn t agree with a law, they could veto, or reject, it. 2/9

3 2/23/2018 The Golden Age of Athens Topic Kids Discover 3/9

4 Cleisthenes was from a powerful family. However, he came to believe that nobles shouldn t have all the control in government. During his own rise to power, he talked the people of Athens into supporting a change in the political system. His changes shi ed power away from powerful families and toward the citizens of Athens. A new leader named Pericles arose in the mid-soos BCE. He said all citizens, rich or poor, could serve in government. In srp BCE, he gave a Funeral Oration for those who had died in war. He said, No one... is barred [refused] because of poverty or humble origins. * This idea lived on. For example, in the p uos, César Chávez used nonviolent protest to improve wages and conditions for U.S. farmworkers. His group became the United Farm Workers of America. *From Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Democracy by Donald 4/9

5 2/23/2018 The Golden Age of Athens Topic Kids Discover Kagan. The Free Press,. HIDE CAPTION The government Cleisthenes promoted was a direct democracy. That means voters personally take part in decisions. Direct democracy worked well for small societies like city-states. The United States is much bigger, so we have a representative democracy, where voters choose people to represent them. Those people are supposed to make decisions based on what voters want. 5/9

6 A er the Persian Wars, Athens began to rebuild. Athenians were proud they had beaten the mighty Persian army. The Delian League kept paying tribute, giving Athens more money to rebuild. Good leaders like Pericles also made Athens stronger. This all brought about a time of great cultural growth. It was known as the Golden Age of Athens (from around sv BCE to srp BCE). Pericles wanted Athens to be a model of political and economic greatness. He also wanted it to have the best art and learning. He hired the best architects, too. They made beautiful buildings out of white marble. Athens became known for its great playwrights, artists, philosophers and scientists. Many ideas and creations from the Golden Age of Athens are still part of our culture today. Think Piece! People say democratic nations are so big that citizens can t all meet in one physical place to debate and vote. But what if 6/9

7 2/23/2018 The Golden Age of Athens Topic Kids Discover everyone could meet and vote on the Internet? Do you think a direct democracy could work that way? LEARN MORE! 7/9

8 You might say that Pericles had spent his whole life getting ready to lead Athens to greatness. He studied politics, public speaking, and other subjects that help leaders lead. He wanted Athens to lead in all areas. His famous Funeral Oration was a speech to honor Greeks who had died in the Peloponnesian War. In it, he said, Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighboring states; we are rather a pattern to others than imitators ourselves. * *From The Landmark Thucydides. Robert B. Strassler, ed. Simon & Schuster, p u. To both Pericles and César Chávez, equality was a key to true freedom. They both thought citizens should be ready to ght for it. As you can see in their own words, the leaders had di erent views about how to ght for it. Judging happiness to be the fruit of freedom... never decline the dangers of war. * PERICLES We are engaged in another struggle for the freedom.... But it must be a nonviolent struggle.... ** CESAR CHAVEZ Do you agree with one more than the other? Why or why not? *From The Landmark Thucydides. Robert B. Strassler, ed. Simon & Schuster, p u. **From Gandhi and Beyond: Nonviolence for a New Political Age by 8/9

9 David Cortright. Paradigm Publishers, qoo. 9/9