Transcript Greek Drama: Comedy or Tragedy

Greece: The Golden
Age
Pericles
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495-425 BC
Influential general,
orator, and statesmen of
Athens
Born and died in Athens
One wife and one
mistress
Children: Xanthippus,
Paralus (1st wife), and
Pericles the younger
(mistress)
Age of Pericles
Height of Athenian Power
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Direct democracy
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People participate directly in government decision
making through mass meetings.
Who is responsible for making the laws?
Who did Pericles expand public office to include?
How?
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Lower class citizens
Codified laws, created jury duty
Removed restrictions on positions and made them
paid positions.
“Our Constitution…is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of
a minority but of the whole”.
Delian League
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Alliance of city-states in the 5th
BC
Led by Athens
Other city-states too poor to
pay for ships. Then
contributed sums to Athens
Goal: to overthrow Persian
force.
Main players: Chios, Samos,
Lesbos, and Ionian cities
Delos: meeting place and
treasury
454 BC move to Athens
Naval Power
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Main source of trade:
agricultural products,
pottery, bronze,
silver, and textiles
Aegean Sea,
Mediterranean, and
Ionian Sea
Delian League:
promoted and
protected trade
Triremes (Greek Τριήρεις) are several
different types of ancient warships
Beautifying Athens
Pericles
Elected leader of Athens for 34 years
More democratic government:
Codified laws, Created jury duty &
removed restrictions on office holding
Delian League:
Alliance of city states, not Sparta
Naval Power:
Strongest in Mediterranean
Beautifying Athens
Parthenon
So what did all of this
wealth lead to?
Golden Age of Art, Theater, Math,
Science, and Philosophy
Achievements
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Classical Arts:
established principles
of order, balance, and
proportion
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Focused on the gods
and heroes.
Wedding of Peleus and Thetis:
Aphrodite and Ares in chariot,
Muses behind horses
The Temple of Athena Nike - part of the
Acropolis in the city of Athens
Poseidon
Drama and Theater
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Written as a trilogy
Tragedy: hero has a downfall
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IE: Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex
“Yes, she was my mother, yes--alas, for my miseries! I did not
know it, nor did she, and to her shame she bore children to the
son whom she had borne. [985] But one thing, at least, I know:
that you willingly revile her and me, but I did not willingly marry
her, and I do not willingly speak now. No, I will not be called evil
on account of this marriage, nor in the slaying of my father,
which you charge me with again and again in bitter insult.
[990] Answer just one thing of those I ask. If, here and now,
someone should come up and try to murder you--you, the just
one--would you ask if the murderer was your father, or would
you revenge yourself on him straightaway?”
Comedy: Aristophanes [satire]
ONLY MALE ACTORS!
Greek Theater
Achievements
Classical Art: principles of order, balance
& focused on the gods and heroes.
Drama and Theatre:
*1st to perform and write plays
*All males
*outdoors
Tragedy: Sophocles (Oedipus Rex), Euripides
(The Trojan Women)
Comedy: Aristophanes {satire}
Modern Math & Science
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Pythagoras of Samos
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Geometry
Hippocrates
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Natural causes of diseases
Physicians oath:
“…Most especially must I tread
with care in matters of life and
death. If it is given me to save a
life, all thanks. But it may also be
within my power to take a life;
this awesome responsibility must
be faced with great humbleness
and awareness of my own frailty.
Above all, I must not play at God..
will prevent disease whenever I
can, for prevention is preferable to
cure.”
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Hippocrates, the father of
medicine
Democritus
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Basic composition of
matter:
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Every matter is made
up of elements known
as “atomos”.
Modern Math and Science
Pythagoras of Samos
*geometry
Hippocrates:
*Natural Causes of diseases
*Physicians oath
Democritus:
*basic composition of matter
Philosophy
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Socrates:
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Socratic method
(teaching/learning by
asking questions)
Was never paid for his
teaching
Tried for “corrupting
the youth of Athens”
Philosophy
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Plato: student of
Socrates
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Own Academy
The Republic (the
perfect government)
Plato’s perfect
government?
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“philosopher-king”
Theory of Ideal Forms
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“Allegory of the Cave”
Philosophy
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Aristotle
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Quest for truth (math,
history, science, etc.)
Syllogism (every truth
is followed by logic
from other truths)
IE: A=B and B=C then
A=C
Political Theory:
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3 Good Governments:
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Monarchy
Aristocracy
Constitutional
government
Philosophy: most remarkable ideas
Socrates: Socratic method
(teaching by asking questions)
Plato:
*own Academy
*The Republic (the perfect government)
Aristotle:
*quest for truth in all areas (math, science, etc.)
*syllogism (every truth is followed from other truths)
A=B and B=C then A=C