Glory, War and Decline

GLORY, WAR AND DECLINE

The Rule of Pericles

When the Persian wars ended, Athens became a powerful city-state. From 461 b.c. to 429 b.c., Athens enjoyed a golden age as

the economic and cultural center of Greece.

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The government of Athens was a direct democracy. That means that all citizens of Athens met to debate and vote on

government matters. In the United States, we have a representative democracy. Citizens elect a smaller group of people to represent the citizens. It makes laws and governs on

behalf of the citizens.

Multiple Choice

What kind of democracy did Athen have?

• Direct Democracy

• Representative Democracy

Multiple Choice

What kind of democracy do we have in the United States?

• Direct Democracy

• Representative Democracy

In ancient Athens, direct democracy worked because of the small number of citizens. At the assembly meetings, citizens made policy on war and foreign affairs, passed laws, and elected officials, known as generals.

After the Persian Wars, the most important general in Athen was Pericles:

● led the city-state for more than 30 years

● gave people positions in government based on their abilities

● did not care which social class people belonged to

● brought ordinary Athenians into government

● rebuilt Athens after the Persians burned it.

● supported artists, writers, and teachers. Philosophers also

flourished. Philosophers reflect or think about the meaning of life. Athens became a great center of knowledge.

Open Ended

Name one change Pericles made to life in Athens.

At its height, about 285,000 people lived in Athens. Not all these people were citizens. Only about 43,000 males had political

rights. Women, foreign-born men, and enslaved people could not be citizens. They had no political rights.

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Athenian men worked as farmers, artisans, and merchants. They often worked mornings and exercised in the afternoons. In the evenings, upper-class men discussed politics and philosophy during social dinners.

Athenian Life

Multiple Choice

What types of jobs did Athenian men have?

• Farmers, artisans, and merchants

• Merchants and government workers

• Farmers, politicians and sculptors

The women of Athens had different lives. Girls married early, often in their mid-teens. Their duties were to have children and take care of the households.

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Women in poor families did farm work or sold goods at the marketplace. Women in upper-class homes spun, dyed, or wove cloth. Upper-class women rarely left their homes. When they did,

they had to be with a male relative.

Athenian women could not attend school. Many, however, learned to read and to play music. Educated women in Athens were not considered equal to men. Women could not participate in politics or own property. Greek women were always under the care of males.

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Foreign-born women were not treated the same way as Athenian women, however. One such woman was Aspasia. She was known for her intelligence and charm. She taught public speaking. Her ideas were popular among Athenians. Pericles was influenced by her.

Multiple Choice

She was known for her intelligence and charm. She taught public speaking.

Her ideas were popular among Athenians.

• Athena

• Aspasia

• Aphrodite

Open Ended

What is one way that women in Athens were different than men in Athens.

Slavery was common in ancient civilizations. Most Athenian households had at least one enslaved person. Many enslaved people were prisoners of battles. They included both Greeks and non-Greeks.

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Enslaved men worked on farms and in the shops of artisans. Some worked at hard labor. Enslaved women were cooks and servants in wealthy homes. Sometimes they were teachers to upper-class children. The treatment of enslaved people was different from place to place. Slavery helped Athens develop a thriving economy.

Multiple Choice

Why was slavery important in Athens?

• Slaves voted and helped Athenians win elections.

• Slaves helped Athens win wars.

• Slaves helped Athens develop a thriving economy.

The Greek city-states learned over time that their survival depended on cooperation. Even after the Persian Wars, Persia remained a threat.

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In 478 b.c. the Greek city-states joined together to form a defensive league. Its purpose was to defend its members against the Persians. Sparta did not join this league.

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It was called the Delian League because its headquarters was on the island of Delos. The league drove the Persians out of Greek territories in Anatolia. As a result, trade increased and Greece became richer.

War Between Athens and Sparta

Multiple Choice

Greek city-states joined together to form a

defensive league. Its purpose was to defend its members against

the Persians. What was it called?

• Athenian League

• City-States League

• Defensive League

• Delian League

Over time, however, the Delian League failed. Athens began to control the other member city-states. In 433 b.c. Athens interfered with some of Sparta’s allies. These allies pressured

Sparta to attack Athens. The conflict is called the Peloponnesian War because Sparta was located in the Peloponnesus region of Greece.

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At a funeral ceremony for soldiers and sailors killed in battle, Pericles made a famous speech called the Funeral Oration. In the speech, Pericles gave reasons why democracy is worth fighting for.

Multiple Choice

Who made a famous speech called the Funeral Oration at the funeral of dead soldiers?

• Aspasia

• Pericles

• Alexander the Great

• Delos

After about two years, a deadly disease broke out in Athens. One-third of the people died, including Pericles. During the next

25 years, each side won some victories. Neither side was able to defeat its opponent.

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Finally, Sparta made a deal with the Persians. The Spartans agreed to give Persia some territory in Anatolia. In return, Persia

gave Sparta money to build a navy. In 405 b.c. Sparta’s new navy destroyed the Athenian fleet. Athens surrendered a year later.

• The Peloponnesian War brought disaster to the Greek city- states.

• Governments were left weak and divided.

• Many people had died in battle and from disease.

• After the war ended, Sparta ruled its new empire much like Athens had ruled.

• Sparta’s allied city-states grew angry at the harsh treatment.

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While the city-states fought each other, a kingdom grew to the north. The kingdom was Macedonia. Eventually the strength of

Macedonia cost the Greek city-states their independence.

Multiple Choice

What killed Pericles and 1/3 of the Athenian population?

• War

• Famine

• Plague

• Weather

Multiple Choice

Which was NOT a result of the Peloponnesian War?

• Culture and art flourished

• Governments were left weak and divided.

• After the war ended, Sparta ruled its new empire much like

  Athens had ruled.

• Sparta’s allied city-states grew angry at the harsh

  treatment.