Democracy, History, Philosophy

1
Democracy, History, Philosophy

• Objective SWBAT
• Name some important Greek historians and
  philosophers and summarize their contributions

2
Key Question How do the methods of the Greek
historian Thucydides influence historians writing
today?

• The writers and thinkers of the Golden Age of
  Greece created some of the first and most
  important works of history and philosophy. One
  of the greatest legacies the Greeks left was the
  idea of democracy that the citizens of a place
  should control its government.

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Democracy Becomes Reality

• After Athens developed democracy, other Greek
  city-states also adapted that form of government.
  
• Although citizenship was generally limited to
  male land-owners, these governments were more
  open and more fair than any government had been.
  The Greeks ideas on government have been adopted
  by many countries, including the United States.

4
Herodotus

• The Greeks were among the first civilizations to
  write down their history. They did not just tell
  stories about the past. They examined the past
  and tried to determine the facts and the
  significance of the events.
• Herodotus, who lived from 484 to 425 B.C., has
  been called the Father of History.
• He was interested in learning and recording
  stories about important events.
• Herodotus traveled widely as a young man. He
  wrote an account of the Persian Wars, called
  History.

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Thucydides

• Thucydides (460 400 B.C.) wrote a history of
  the Peloponnesian War while the war was in
  progress.
• To make sure his work was accurate, he researched
  documents and collected eyewitness accounts.
• This set the stage for the writing of history
  that is still followed today.

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The Search for the Truth

• As early as 600 B.C., Greek thinkers had begun to
  try to explain the world using reason instead of
  myths.
• During the Golden Age, this search for
  explanations became more serious and intense. In
  their search, the Greeks developed philosophy, or
  logical study of basic truths about knowledge,
  values, and the world.
• Greek philosophers investigated a wide range of
  topics. They asked questions such as How can a
  person achieve Happiness? What is the best form
  of government? What is knowledge? Students of
  philosophy still study their thoughts on these
  topics.
• Greek philosophers also asked questions that
  science investigates today, such as Are there
  basic elements that make up all matter? What
  makes a creature alive?

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Socrates

• One of the most famous Greek philosophers was
  Socrates.
• He encourage people to examine their ideas by
  asking them question after question.
• This question-and-answer-style of teaching became
  known as the Socratic Method.
• Many people like Socrates style of teaching, but
  his enemies brought him to trial on charges of
  causing young people to rebel?
• Socrates told the court that he was helping
  Athens by making people think about their values
  and actions.
• The jury did not agree and sentenced him to
  death. Socrates died by drinking a poison called
  hemlock.

8
Plato

• One of Socrates followers was Plato (427 347
  B.C.).
• Most of Platos writings were dialogues
  conversations between Socrates and other people.
• The dialogues explored many philosophical
  questions.
• Plato started an important school of higher
  learning called the Academy.
• It stayed open for about 900 years.

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Aristotle

• Aristotle (384 322 B.C.), was Platos brightest
  student.
• He opened his own school in Athens called the
  Lyceum. Aristotles writings, which also
  explored a wide range of questions, are based on
  classes he taught.
• In addition to his great philosophical work,
  Aristotle also spent three years tutoring
  Alexander the Great.