Bell Work: HINT HINT HINT! Look on pg. 140
Chapter 4 Section 4 The Age of Pericles
By the end of the lesson, I can compare and contrast the lives of individual citizens in various governmental organizations. Democracy in ancient Greece Recognize major historical time periods. The age of Pericles evaluate to what extent civilizations build upon the accomplishments of previous civilizations. Daily life in ancient Greece
The Athenian Empire
Under Pericles, Athens became more powerful and democratic. As discussed in section 3, the Persians retreated but still remained a threat to Athens. Athens joined forces with other city-states to form the Delian League. The Delian League promised to defend its members against the Persians. Athens did not join with Sparta. Athens eventually gained control of the Delian League. The Athenians moved the Delian League from Delos to Athens.
Democracy in Athens Athenians had a strong faith in their democratic system. We call their system a direct democracy.
What is a direct democracy? In a direct democracy, people gather in mass meetings and vote firsthand on laws and policies. Every citizen could vote! Direct democracy worked because of the small number of Athenian citizens. There were 43,000 citizens, but usually less than 6000 citizens met every 10 days. 10 officials known as generals carried out the assembly's laws and policies.
Representative democracy Can you imagine the US having a direct democracy? Millions of citizens at one meeting?? That would be impossible! The United States has a representative democracy. We choose smaller groups to make decisions on our behalf.
Achievements of Pericles
A general named Pericles led Athens for more than 30 years. He helped Athens dominate the Delian league. He treated the other city-states like subjects and demanded loyalty. He promoted democracy by including more people in the government. What was this democracy called?
The Age of Pericles was a time of creativity and learning. Pericles built temples and statues in the city after the destruction of the Persian Wars. His most famous The Parthenon
He also supported artists, writers, architects, and philosophers. Philosophers are people who ponder questions about life.
Culture blossomed under Pericles. The Age of Pericles is known as the Golden Age of Greece.
Review: What is the difference between a direct and representative democracy? Why was Pericles so important to the history of Greece? How did the civilization under Pericles differ from ancient Greece before him?
Daily Life in Athens
In the 400s B.C., the population of Athens was about 285,000. This made Athens the largest of all Greek city-states. Most Athenian homes had at least one slave, and wealthy families had many slaves. Economy: Athenian farmers grew grain, vegetables, fruit, olives, and grapes. Because there was little farmland, Athens had to import grain from other places. Herders raised sheep and goats for wool, milk, and cheese. Athens became the trading center of Greece.
Roles of men and women: Men Worked in the mornings Exercised or attended assembly meetings in the evening Husbands looked after their wives Sons and male relatives took care of widows Aspasia was one of the few women to move freely in public life. She was a welleducated woman who influenced Plato and Pericles. Although she could not vote or hold office, she was influential in politics. Women Life revolved around home and family Girls married around 15 Poor women would work in the fields with their husbands Could not attend school but learned to read and write No political rights Could not own land Lived on second floor of the home with the children Upper class women stayed home and supervised the servants Upper class women rarely went out of the home and only if a male relative went with them
The Peloponnesian War
Sparta and Athens DO NOT trust each other, so they went to war for control of Greece. Other city-states along with Sparta became suspicious of Athens. These city-states joined together against Athens. The war that broke out is known as the Peloponnesian War.
In the first year of the war, Pericles spoke at a funeral for the soldiers that died in battle. Pericles s funeral oration reminded Athenians about democracy and gave them courage to continue fighting. In the second year of the war, a disease killed more than one-third of the people inside Athens walls, including Pericles. Even though Athens was suffering, they fought for another 25 years!
Sparta made a deal with the Persians and built a navy. The Spartan navy defeated the Athenian navy, and Athens then surrendered.
Effects of the Peloponnesian War: Weakened all Greek city-states Many people died Many farms destroyed Thousands of people without jobs Greeks would not unite and work together again
Activity: With your shoulder partner, use the graphic organizer to compare daily life in ancient Greece (Ch. 4) to life in ancient Egypt (Ch. 2), and ancient China (Ch. 7). Use your book as your resource. One paper per group.