What mattered to the Ancient Athenians?

1
What mattered to the Ancient Athenians?
2
Where was Athens?

• Largest city state in Greece.
• Greek main land region Attica.
• Region rich in resources, especially silver.
• Athens had its own port Piraeus and the largest
  navy in Greece.

3
Key myths.

• Poseidon and Athena both wanted to protect the
  city.
• Poseidon struck the ground with his trident and
  offered a horse.
• Athena offered an olive tree.
• The men chose Poseidon, the women Athena and as
  there was one more woman, Athena became the
  protector and the city is named after her.

4
Key Athenians.

• Theseus early ruler of Athens, divided it into 3
  classes the rich rulers, the farmers and the
  artisans.
• Drakon 624 BCE first legislator of Athens. Laws
  written in marble and placed in the city for all
  to read.
• Solon 638-559 BCE ruler or Archon who worked to
  help the poor of Athens who had been burdened
  with debt and slavery. Seen as the father of
  Athenian democracy.

5
Key Athenians.

• Pericles 495-429BCE key orator and general
  during the Persian and Peloponnesian wars.
  Helped create Athenian empire, he was responsible
  for many of the buildings at the Acropolis and
  for making Athens the cultural centre of Greece.
• Socrates 469-399BCE philosopher and teacher.
• Plato 427-347 BCE founder of the Academy in
  Athens major western philosopher.
• Aristotle 384-322 BCE scientist and philosopher,
  teacher of Alexander the Great.
• Demosthenes 8384-322 BCE statesman and orator.
  Professional speech writer and lawyer key
  opponent of Phillip and Alexander of Macedon,
  fought for Athenian freedom.

6
The city.

• Dominated by the Acropolis, a hill above the
  city. Temple to Athena, the Parthenon was the
  most important building with her statue standing
  at 40 feet.
• City was destroyed by Xerxes in 480 BCE but
  rebuilt by Pericles and Themistocles.
• Upper city, Acropolis and the lower city
  surrounded by walls and the port also surrounded
  by walls and connected to the main city by long
  walls.

7
Key buildings

• The Academy, school founded by Plato
• The Agora, the market place contained the Mint,
  the law courts and several temples were here.
• Areopagus, the high court
• Theatre of Dionysis, tradgedies and comedies
  performed here.
• Odeon, centres for music
• Panthenaic stadium, centre for sport

8
The people

• At its largest, around 250,000 with a slave
  population of at least 25.
• Metics were non Athenian Greeks who lived in
  Athens made up around 10.
• Citizens were recorded on a register.
• Slaves were born, captured in war or enslaved as
  a result of debt. Some were owned by the state
  and were like civil servants.
• Athens had 10 tribes each with one general. Men
  between 20 and 50 could be called up for military
  service.
• Boys educated from 6 to 14 then a high school
  then military school for 2 years.
• Girls were not educated.