Pericles and Athens Essay

Submitted By KingBrent44
Words: 765
Pages: 4
Open Document
Brenton Stevens
Professor Oguagha My Response to
‘The Greeks Crucible of Civilization’
By: Anthony Geffen
November 15, 2014 The Greeks Crucible of Civilization documentary video is about the rise about the rises and falls of Athens. The filmmaker Anthony Geffen covered both the fourth and fifth centuries B.C. Actors were also used to portray historical events and people during this period. The documentary starts with the history of Athens beginning with the rule of Peisistratus whom transformed the city. He needed allies, in that way his son could have the throne. Peisistratus encouraged farming and provided loans and soon Athens was exporting olive oil to nations around the Mediterranean to Egypt, Persia, and Phoenicia. In our World Civilization class we were told to write a response based on this video which explores these ideologies that then formulated from this very logic, and here is what I've found.
The booming trade made Athens wealthy and prosperous. Athens was the largest city in Greece, and controlled a region called Attica between the many mountains were fertile valleys, with many farms. Athens became rich because Attica also had valuable sources of silver, lead and marble. Athens also had the biggest navy in Greece. Athens was a beautiful and busy city. People came to the city from all over Greece, and from other countries, to study and to trade. The city's most famous building was the temple called the Parthenon. It stood on a rocky hill called the Acropolis. . Inside the Parthenon stood a statue of the city's protector-goddess Athena which was the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill in ancient Greek Religion and Mythology.
Athens became the big apple of Greece. At this time potters were the lower of the lows in Athens. After the death of Peisistratus, his son Hippias took over. He ruled fairly at first, but after his brother’s death, he turned to be a tyrant. Self-defense was his only motive and since his only threat was from aristocrats, he turned against them. The aristocrats under the leadership of Cleisthenes captured Hippias and banished him from Athens.
The people of Athens then took destiny into their own hands. Isagoras and his partners locked themselves in the Acropolis, but they were forced to surrender and he was forced into exile. Cleisthenes was recalled from exile and asked to form a Government. He came up with the idea of people, both rich and poor, discussing the issues facing them and casting votes to make a decision. On issues like rising of taxes, building of roads and going to war, votes were cast, with a white stone for yes and a black one for no. The super power in the world at that time was Persia.
In the early 500s BC a new way of government was invented in Athens. It was "smogracy" or "'rule by the people". Not everyone had a vote though. Only a male citizen had a say in how the city was
Show More

Related Documents: Pericles and Athens Essay

Gilded Age: Pericles In Athens

As Athens burgeoned into an authoritative city and entered its Gilded Age, one man has the acknowledgment for Athen’s opulence, that man is Pericles. Pericles improved Athens exceptionally, from his plans to rejuvenate the city of Athens to reforming the democratic system in Athens. Pericles was born into a patrician family to Xanthippus and Agariste in Athens, Greece in 495 BCE. Raised in Athens, Pericles as a boy was excessively apprehensive, which is ironic considering he is arguably the most…

Words 495 - Pages 2

Pericles Claim That Athens Is A Generous City Essay

Fatima Hussien Questions: Please answer the following questions with great detail. Be sure to bring in examples from the reading to support your answer. 1. Does Pericles claim that Athens is a generous city? a. Pericles states that Athens is a generous city because it is not only open to all but, is also becoming more fair. According to Pericles there is little distinction between the rich and the poor class and thoughts that interfere with merit are not allowed, in fact, he believes that “if a man is…

Words 451 - Pages 2

Essay about Athens and Greek Statesman Pericles

achievement ancient Greeks made. A man named Socrates was considered one of the best philosophers in Greece. He believed that if you want to understand life, you must ask questions [doc.1].SOCRATES, the Greek philosopher and moralist, was born at Athens in year 469 B.C. He had the usual education of the Athenian citizen, which included readings in the Greek poets, also the elements of arithmetic, geometry and astronomy. His whole day was usually spent in this public manner. He talked with any one…

Words 758 - Pages 4

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Pericles Speech

Pericles’ speech is about the city of Athens and to commemorate those lost in a battle and did not receive a proper burial. In the first paragraph, Thucydides described what an Athenian funeral entails. A tent is opened and all the bones of the bodies are laid out. People bring offerings to the dead for two days. After, each tribe gets its own coffin and all the bones for each tribe are placed in them. There is one empty coffin for the bones of the missing. The coffins are buried in a public ceremony…

Words 1384 - Pages 6

The Role Of Greediness In Achieving Athens's Golden Age

Pericles was one important visionary leader of Athens who was determined to take Athens to a great height ever in their history. He was able to take Athens to her Golden Age. For a popular saying that ‘achieving success in life is one thing, but ability to sustain the continuity of the success is another component of life’. Greediness was one major circumstance that led to the end of Athens golden Age. The members of the Delian league were held together by force, while Pericles and his council members…

Words 308 - Pages 2

What Are Pericles's Greatest Achievements

victory the Greeks could now focus on other matters. A new leader, Pericles, came to power. Under his control the Athenian Empire flourished. The government and the city of Athens acquired great power. Athens had reached its Golden Age, the Age of Pericles. One of Athens's greatest achievements during the Age of Pericles was their government. In 461 B.C.E., Pericles came to power and was considered to be one of the greatest rulers of Athens. Furthermore, he strengthened the Athenian government and had…

Words 218 - Pages 1

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Pericles Funeral Oration

indistinguishable bodies, afterwards the war heroes were buried at a public grave. The last part of the rite was a speech delivered by an influential Athenian citizen. “Pericles' Funeral Oration” is not only a compelling speech but, a patriotic one as well delivered by Pericles, a prominent and influential Greek statesman, rhetorician, and general of Athens during the Golden Age, at the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian War (431-430 BC) as a part of the annual public funeral held for fallen soldiers.…

Words 646 - Pages 3

Greek History Essay

Thucydides’ Reading Assignment Oration of Pericles was a speech told by Pericles, a leader of the Athenian democracy. He spoke out to thousands of civilians and soldiers deceased and alive to build nationalism and pride for Athens. He wanted them to believe in what they were fighting and highlight all strong characteristics of Athens and its culture. Thucydides, an important Greek writer from 5th century B.C, played a vital role in enabling Pericles’ words to be recorded to this very day. He was…

Words 738 - Pages 3

Pericles: Analysis Paper

Analysis Paper: Pericles Analysis Paper: Pericles Throughout the last few weeks, we have talked about many different events and how they influenced ancient Greece. War, conquest, philosophy, democracy, and literature are some of the few aspects of Greek culture that we have discussed; Pericles played a big role as an Athenian general during what is now called the “Golden Age” of Greece. Pericles, defined as “surrounded by glory” (Mark, 2009), was born in 495 B.C. to a very powerful and wealthy…

Words 715 - Pages 3

Analysis Of Pericles 'Peloponnesian War'

5th century B.C Athens was undoubtedly one of the world’s pre-eminent societies. That it maintains such historical standing in the face of the dearth of period evidence makes its position all the more remarkable. Assessing this it is crucial to recognise that the available material and our own preconceptions influence our view of classical Athens. The only complete record at our disposal is Thucydides work “ The Peloponnesian War”. This is regarded as the foremost source on period Athenian life,…

Words 1187 - Pages 5