Western Civilization

2/28/20 Questions 1,2,3,5 on Page 139 1.   Direct democracy is a form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives Greek sculptors' values of harmony, order, balance, and proportion became the standard of classical art A tragedy is a serious drama A comedy is a light hearted drama The Peloponnesian War is a war lasting 431 to 404 BC in which Athens and its allies were defeated by by Sparta and its allies The meaning of philosophers is "lovers of wisdom" One critic of Sophists was Socrates Plato was a student of Socrates Aristotle was a philosopher who questioned the nature of the world 2. I think that Pericles' goal of glorifying art and architecture had a great impact on the modern world because we still use it today in many things like buildings and in a lot of  different kinds of art 3. One step was to increase the number of public officials who were paid salaries. Second st...

2/27/20 I wasn't at school because I was sick

2/26/20 I wasn't at school today because I was sick

2/24/20 Clash of the Tyrants Hippias was a tyrant who ruled from 527 to 510 BCE his brother was murdered, and his rule became harsh eventually he was expelled from Athens (this is called being ostracized ) in revenge, he began working with the Persian king Darius I , helping them invade Marathon with Hippias gone, Isagoras and Cleisthenes (both were aristocrats - surprise!) engaged in a power struggle Isagoras had support from some fellow aristocrats, plus from Sparta/ upper class Cleisthenes had support of the majority of Athenians/ middle class Isagoras wins Isagoras becomes archon eponymous (tyrant) He ostracizes Cleisthenes  Cleisthenes’ supporters - and the ordinary Athenian citizens! - revolt against Isagoras’ tyranny they trap Isagoras on the acropolis for two days - on the third day he fled and was banished all happened in 508 BCE Cleisth enes and Democracy Cleisthenes - definitely a member of the elite very rich insulated from the “...

2/21/20 Democracy and Greece's Golden Age Main Idea:democratic principles and classical culture flourished during Greece's golden age Why it Matters Now: Greece set lasting standards in art, politics, literature, and philosophy that are still influential today Terms: direct democracy classical art tragedy comedy Peloponnesian War philosopher Socrates Plato Aristotle Pericles' Plan for Athens Pericles led Athens during much of its golden age he held onto popular support for 32 years was a politician, speaker, and general  dominated life of Athens from 461 to 421 B.C. / the Age of Pericles he had 3 goals;1. to strengthen Athenian democracy 2. hold and strengthen empire 3. glorify Athens Stronger Democracy increased # of public officials who were paid salaries now the poorest citizens could serve  if elected this reform made Athens into one of the most democratic governments in history

2/20/20 Warring City States polis : fundamental political unit, made up of a city and the surrounding countryside/ politics (affairs of the cities), policy, political, etc. monarchy : rule by a single person (a king, in Greece) aristocracy : rule by a small group of noble, very rich, landowning families oligarchy : wealthy groups, dissatisfied with aristocratic rule, who seized power (often with military help) tyrant : powerful individual who seized control by appealing to the common people for support Transformation of government During the 7th and 6th centuries BCE, aristocrats ran the show in most of Greece Back then, rich people wielded much more influence in society, and held much more governmental power, than the middle class or the poor Aristocracy they attended symposiums , meetings where the elite men would enjoy wine and poetry, performances by dancers and acrobats, and the company of hetaeras (courtesans) while discussing politics Polit...

2/18/20  Mycenaeans+ Trojan War + Dorians+ Homer Myceneans their influence began around 2000 BCE Mycenae is located on a rocky ridge on Peloponnesus,  protected by a 20-foot thick wall Mycenaean kings dominated Greece from 1600-1100 BCE- controlled trade in the region 1400 BCE-  Mycenaeans invaded Crete and absorbed Minoan culture ( writing system, language, art, politics, literature, religion ) Dorians Dorians were far less advanced the trade-based economy collapsed writing disappeared for 400 years Homer Greek oral tradition - stories passed on by word of mouth Homer lived at the end of these “Greek Dark Ages” he composed stories (epics) of the Trojan War c. 750-700 BCE The Iliad - possibly one of the last conquests of the Mycenaeans (the Trojan War) The Odyssey - Odysseus attempts to return home after the Trojan War, being thwarted by the angry god of the sea, Poseidon