Athens Golden Age

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A view of Athens
A view of Athens

What was the golden age of Athens

The Golden Age of Athens was the period of Classical Greece in which Athens enjoyed the most wealth and prosperity. It occurred from 449 BC to 431 BC.  During this period, many new temples were built, festivals were started, and the Acropolis was reconstructed. Both artists and sculptors flourished during this time as well. Athens was also a major center of higher education at this time, where many famous thinkers taught. The philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were all developed during this period.

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1. Pericles

Pericles was a politician during the Golden Age of Athens. He was initially the head of the Athenian government. He increased democracy in Athens by extending citizenship to all free adult men. Pericles was a master orator, and he was known for his beautiful speeches. He was also a great general. He led the Athenians to many victories and extended the territory of Athens. He died of the plague in 429 BC.  

2. The Delian League

During the Peloponnesian War, Athens needed help from outside countries against Sparta. So they decided to join an alliance known as the Delian League. This was formed by the city-states that wanted to fight against Sparta. Membership was voluntary, and different members had different obligations. The alliance’s treasury was settled in Delos, an island in the Aegean Sea. The league’s resources were used in wars against the Peloponnesians. It allowed Athens to become more powerful than Sparta. This league eventually evolved into the Athenian Empire. There were so many resources such as art during the Golden age.

3. The Parthenon

The Parthenon was built during the Golden Age of Athens. It was built in honor of the goddess Athena. It was a giant temple, the greatest temple in ancient Athens. It had sculptures such as the Athena Parthenos, which showed Athena wearing full battle armor and wielding a shield. The Parthenon is today one of the most famous buildings in western civilization.

4. Theater

The Athenian theater is one of the most famous theaters in history. It was built in 438 BC and was the second largest theater ever built in the ancient world. The theater employed many great actors to perform plays about myths, tragedies, comedies, and many more. It was used for the first performance of many famous plays such as Oedipus Rex and Medea. It was also used to host the Olympic Games at one point.

5. Aeschylus

Aeschylus was an influential writer of tragedies during the Golden Age. His plays all center around the Greek gods. He wrote plays such as Prometheus Bound, Seven Against Thebes, and Oresteia. He also wrote comedies such as Agamemnon and Choephori. He was also known for his great use of alliteration and rhyme in his works.

6. Sophocles

Sophocles was an influential playwright of tragedies during the Golden Age. He is best known for his tragedy Antigone and other plays. Many of his plays involved family and human relationships. His works were written in the style of Aeschylus and Euripides.

7. Euripides

Euripides was another playwright that made his mark during the Golden Age of Athens. His plays are considered to be tragedies. He was the first tragedian known to use the chorus in his plays. He was also a master of wordplay. His works include Medea, Electra, and Oresteia.

8. Aristophanes

Aristophanes was a comic playwright during the Golden Age of Athens. His plays were comedies and revolved around humans and their lives. Many of his plays involved religion and had a political point of view. Most of his plays were written in the style of Aeschylus or Euripides.

Who was the leader of the golden age?

Pericles was the leader of the Golden Age of Athens. He was a famous orator and general. He increased democracy in Athens by extending citizenship to all free adult men. Pericles was a master orator, and he was known for his beautiful speeches. He died of the plague in 429 BC.

Factors that led to the golden age

1. Athens was the most powerful city in Greece by this time. This helped Athens have success in war as well as many other things.

2. Athens gained many allies during the Peloponnesian War, which helped Athens become more powerful than Sparta.

3. Athens allowed all men to participate in its democracy and be citizens of Athens. That meant that people from all walks of life could join, which led to many new ideas being developed and great works being written that were later studied by other countries such as China and Rome.

4. Athens started building many temples and public buildings, such as the Parthenon, during this period. This helped Athenians to be more unified and feel closer to each other. It also helped Athenians feel they were part of a united group with similar beliefs and practices.

5. Athens had many great thinkers, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, who could develop new philosophies during this time.

Importance of the golden age of Athens

The Golden Age of Athens was very pivotal to western civilization. Many famous thinkers, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, lived in this time period. All of these people contributed greatly to the advancement of western civilization and the development of many other forms of philosophy and knowledge, such as science and mathematics. The writings and philosophies that came out of Athens during this time were used by other countries such as Rome and China even after Athens fell from power. The city-state of Athens was like a bright star, lighting the way for future civilizations.

Achievements made in the golden age

1. Athens was the most powerful city in Greece during this time. It had great military power and was very capable of war. This helped Athens become a powerful city-state, which later became one of the greatest countries ever to exist in Europe.

2. Athens’s democracy was much more open and accessible than other cities-states at this time. Citizens of all ages could participate in Athenian democracy, which led to the flooring of many new ideas, such as mathematical calculations and philosophy.

3. Athens flourished in the arts and sciences during this time. It was able to create some of the most influential thinkers, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

4. Athens had many allies during the Peloponnesian War, which led to Athenian military success. This helped earn Athens even more allies and power throughout history.

5. Athens built many public buildings during this era, such as the Parthenon of Athena, which helped boost Athenian unity and pride and its ability to withstand war.

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Categories: History