Essay about The Golden Age of Athens

Athens and Rome were two powerful civilizations. Their impact still influence us today. About 500 BC, people were no longer considered subjects. They are now called citizens, and had to meet certain responsibilities. If you meet the requirements then you could be granted citizenship. Only certain people could be granted citizenship, and it was to be honored and protected. Athens had a better system then Rome, because the Athenians where more cautious and gave people equal chances for obtaining citizenship. They also did ostracism, and believed in The Old Oligarch.

The ancient Greeks have influenced the way nations run their people, the way people view knowledge and their lives, and the way people feel about their home and native country. All of these contributions that the ancient Greeks made are still prevalent not just in American culture, but in society as a whole. The ancient Greeks made several contributions to Western civilization such as the idea of democracy, philosophy, and value of patriotism and national pride. The idea of having a democratic government, which comes from the ancient Greeks, has influenced several nations around the world to govern their people with some form of democracy.

Fifth-century Athens refers to the Greek city-state of Athens in the period of roughly 480 BC-404 BC. This was a period of Athenian political hegemony, economic growth and cultural flourishing formerly known as the Golden Age of Athens or The Age of Pericles. The period began in 480 BC when an Athenian-led coalition of city-states, known as the Delian League, defeated the Persians at Salamis. As the fifth century wore on, what started as an alliance of independent city-states gradually became an Athenian empire. Eventually, Athens abandoned the pretense of parity among its allies and relocated the Delian League treasury from Delos to Athens, where it funded the building of the AthenianAcropolis. With its enemies

“The Restoration of the Athenian Empire” Our walls are crumbling and our fleet is minute. We here in Athens are unable to collect tribute from other city-states and are often in threat of being attacked. Our fleet is defenseless and weak. The Democratic fraction, propose that we spend our time and hard earned money on the rebuilding of our walls and fleet. That way Athens can dangerously collect tributes from other Greek city-states. The Democrats also would like to commence in hazardous military voyages with our insubstantial navy. Hoping the result brings forth great rewards.

Historians have long considered Ancient Greece to be one of the most influential societies on modern day life. Ancient Greece has inspired the modern world in five main areas: theatre, government, philosophy, art, and architecture.

Athens was a much more superior polis compared to Sparta because the Athenians invented new ideas and creations that supported the people, such as democracy, the Athenians led the Delian League, and Sparta created the Peloponnesian League after the Athenians created their alliance, and the Athenians changed the ways of their government many times to suit the people, and the Spartans did not.

The ancient Greeks have made many contributions to Western civilization in the areas of architecture, art, and dramas. For example the ancient Greeks believed delicate curves and columns add dignity and grace to buildings. This idea is still used today and is seen in many buildings such as the White House. Ancient Greek

Another important contribution of the ancient Greeks to the modern world is art. In the United States, the Supreme Court, White House, and the Capitol Building are all highly influenced by Greek architecture. Most of the post offices are modeled after the Parthenon. The Parthenon is on top of the Acropolis in Athens, it is known for their grand marble flooring and columns, the Parthenon was a place of worship to the god Athena (doc. 7). Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom and military victory, the city of Athens was named in her honor. The Parthenon is a symbol for ancient Greece, allowing for a backdrop of one of the most important cities when it comes to the history of humanity and the development of it. The Greeks were also very involved with sports. Many statues were created to show the beauty and grace of a Greek athlete, Track and Field were the most popular sports. The ancient Greeks were very fascinated with the human body (doc. 8). A great mind was the only thing equivalent to an attractive body. The Olympics first started in ancient Greece, having a similar situation to the Olympics today. Countries, but

The ancient Greek civilization contributed many great new ideas and aspects to everyday life that shaped and inspired the modern day society. The Greeks are well known for their construction of temples, acropolis’ and other grand architectural structures. Among these structures stood one of the most famous, the Parthenon. The Parthenon was a symbol of Greek society and culture as it stood as one of Greece’s most important architectural buildings.

This “golden age” began after the Greek victory over Persia during the Persian War (546 – 479 BCE) and came to a decline after the Peloponnesian War (431 – 404 BCE). During this time period, the Grecian states were well renowned in cultural and political status. Greece excelled in government, philosophy, art, poetry and drama. The Golden Age also marked the creation of democracy in Athens. Theaters promoted famous playwrights, architecture including the Parthenon art and sculptures was created, and famous philosophers including Plato and Socrates significantly impacted the thought processes of that time.

Much can be said about the Greeks and their contribution to Western Civilization greatly and how they paved the way. The Greeks subsidized Western Civilization greatly, contributing areas of architecture, government, and many more. The Greeks built the Parthenon, a temple dedicated the infamous goddess Athena, who they viewed as there patron. The famous temple has columns and groundwork that characterizes Greek architecture. The architects were concerned with conducting a sense of perfect balance to reflect cooperation and order in the universe. They were the first to think of the idea of democracy, a system in which people govern themselves rather than being ruled by a king; they also valued beauty and imagination.

The Golden Age of Athens started with the final defeat of Persia in 479 B.C. and the formation of the Delian League in 478 B.C. With the defeat of Persia came a period of prosperity for Athens, a time of great political advancements and many reforms to daily life. Around 461 B.C., a former general named Perikles became the dominant politician of Athens. During his reign (461-429 B.C.) he made Athens a strong and imperialistic city-state, one that forced their allies to remain in the Delian League. Sparta, who had left the league shortly after the defeat of the Persians, had created their own league, the Peloponnesian League. The two leagues signed the Thirty Years ' Treaty, which stated that the two leagues may not fight for thirty years. Athens went against the treaty by helping a city-state who was in the other league. Athens and Sparta declare war against one another shortly after. Homer 's Illiad and Sophocles ' Oedipus Tyrannos had an effect on the citizens of Athens in the respect of fate. In both classics, fate is considered unavoidable and ultimately inevitable. The topic of fate during this time is an important topic to Athenians because they fear that a battle against the Peloponnesian League is inevitable, just like Achilles fate to die in Troy, or Oedipus ' fate to kill his father and marry his mother. In the Athenian perspective, fate is written in stone, and what is fated will happen.

Athens obtained hegemony around 448 BC, right after the war-like city-state of Sparta. Athens’ Golden Age was under the rule of Pericles, who initiated a large number of public works projects and encouraged the arts and literature. With the help of rulers such as

The Hellenic era was known as the age of classical Greece. This was the time of the great Golden Age of Greece and the image of Ancient Greece. The free state was men who owned the soil that they ruled and governed the state had stabilized Athens and the Golden Age. Everyone in the Hellenic era made the most important contribution to the western civilization. The gods had an important role in the era. The great works of art were created for the gods and goddesses of the greeks such as the statue of Venus of Cyrene and Pericles with the corinthian helmet.

The last Olympic swimmer just touched the wall and the race has ended. Cameras are replaying every single movement from the race and a winner has been clearly decided. Just as these Olympic swimmers will gain a medal for placing, ancient Athens had numerous accomplishments of its own. Athens “prosperity … was due in large part to its stable and effective government” (SOURCE 1). When analyzing the history of ancient Athens, is easy to see how the accomplishments of a democracy, Greek philosophy, and Greek literature all shape Athens.