A Foundation of Athenian Democracy - Case Study Example

The evolution of Athens Athenian democracy demonstrates that a large group of people could efficiently run the affairs of state (McKay 70). Solon begins the process of transforming Greece from aristocracy to democracy. He liberates Athenians of their debt by eliminating the traditional system that results to the enslavement of the poor by the upper class. Cleithenes, however, completes the process to democracy by reorganizing the people into ten tribes cutting the interests of nobles in extending their power. His deme becomes the basic unit of Athenian democracy. This leads to the division of legislation into the boule and the ecclesia which is represents the assembly of all the citizens. The boule stands as a foundation of Athenian democracy by supervising the committees of the government and proposing bills to the ecclesia. Every citizen, indeed, becomes active participants in the Athenian democratic life. The Classical Period Greek intellectual and artistic efforts attain their fullest and finest expression in this age called the Classical Period (McKay 70). Greek civilization in this period reaches its highest peak in politics, philosophy, and art. Herodotus becomes the first oral historian by recording his accounts of the Persian wars. Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides invent drama that still inspires modern audiences. Greek architects master their skills by creating buildings whose ruins are still visible today. The Persian Wars Warfare characterizes the Classical Period in Greece from 449-479 BC (McKay 70). Several small battles between the Persians and the Greeks become the test ground for the latter’s military supremacy. The battle in Thermopylae, for instance, shows the heroic feat of the Greeks that being outnumbered does not mean defeat. Another victory for the Greeks is the defeat of the last Persian army in Boeotia. These victories teach the Greeks that they can defend their homeland by defeating conquerors like the Persians. Their supremacy over the Persians ensures that they can guard their territories even from oriental monarchies. Greeks themselves consider monarchy a threat to freedom that is why they are the first to dismantle monarchic rules. The Greeks’ love for freedom leaves an heritage to the West. Growth of the Athenian Empire The Athenian empire achieves growth and expansion after facing much resistance. Greeks’ victories over the Persians prove to be just the start of even bigger battles. The Greeks begin their plans by forming the Delian League which is a free alliance under the leadership of Athens (McKay 72). Delian League’s primary objective is to liberate Iona from the Persian rule. Athenians, however, become imperialistic in their command of the Delian League. Athens reduces its allies into subjects and put sthe Delian League under a tighter control. For instance, Athenians collect tributes and replaces rebellious governments with trustworthy puppets (McKay 72). The Persian war, in the end, divides the Greeks into two separate groups. On one hand there is the dominant and powerful Athenians, on the other hand there is the strong and resisting Spartans. A war between the two will continue and bring the Greeks to years of devastation. The Peloponnesian War The Peloponnesian war brings plague, famine, civil wars, destruction, and loss of lives (McKay 73). Athenian rule succumbs at the strong forces of the Spartans and finally crumbles at the death of Pericles. His death, on the contrary, breathes new life to the losing Athenians. New generation of rash and ambitious politicians reinvigorated the Athenian government and brings them to another victory over the Spartans. These exchanges of battles conclude in the Peace of Nicias. The Peacee of Nicias, however, results in cold war between the two. The Athenians conquer and kill men of military age, and sell the women and children into slavery. An ambitious kinsman of Pericles, Alcibiades extends the power of Athens by initiating attacks against Syracuse. In 413 BC, Syracusans counterattacks and crushes the Athenians. The last stage of this war begins with a new attack from Spartans who are now joined by the Persians. The Athenians hold on victories for a while, but loses to the Spartans when the latter began to tear down the city walls of Athens and install their own government inside it. Athenian arts in the Age of Pericles Pericles turns Athens into the showplace of Greece during the last half of the fifth century BC (McKay 74). The Acropolis becomes the stage where Greek architecture, sculpture, and drama find expression. Pericles initiates its construction by finding the best architects, sculptors and workers to complete the Acropolis. He, then, sources finances from the Delian League to support the construction in the next years. Several dramatic writers emerge in this period. Aeschylus becomes the first writer to express the agony of the individual in conflict. Sophocles deals with personal and political matters. Euripides explores the personal conflict within the polis itself. Athens, thus, rises as the bastion of arts. Daily life in Periclean Athens Simplicity is the product of life in Athens during the Periclean period. “The Athenian house was rather simple” (McKay 77). A well, a small altar, and a washbasin usually complete the courtyard. Cooking and food choices are as well simple. As means for daily living Athenians work as craftsmen, agriculturists, or are slaves. Farmers cultivate anything from wheat to wine. Slavery, on the other hand, is common in Greece and resembles Mesopotamian slavery. Slavery keeps wages down but never replaces free labor in the economy. Women, in this period, play a controversial role in the Greek society. Although they are not that visible in the polis, they somehow influence the society in which they live. Women will either live a secluded life with their relatives or live as free as the courtesans who excel in arts and sex. Their main function is to raise their children, manage slaves and labor, and make cloth with their maids. Also, the status of women is strictly protected by law. They receive certain amount of social and legal protection from their dowries. Another interesting feature of Athenian life is the acceptance of homosexual and homosexuality. Athenians do not find homosexuality problematic; in fact, they acknowledge it as something that happens naturally. Homosexuality, though, is more common in the upper classes than in the lower classes. Greek religion Greek religion does not have a uniform creed or faith (McKay 79). They worship different gods and the cults of these gods vary from one polis to another. The Greeks do not follow a sacred book, set of virtues, and ecclesiastical authority. Greeks visit temples on matters of private concerns or festival celebrations. These celebrations are equivalent to modern social gatherings. Greeks also pay homage to their gods Zeus and Hera in Mount Olympus. Other gods, meanwhile, watch over other aspects of Greek life. Greeks also have their own set of heroes who possess half-god and half-human qualities. Furthermore, some Greeks join mystery religions or one that combines myth, ritual, folklore, etc. The flowering of Philosophy Greeks believe that the universe is simple and subject to natural laws (McKay 83). Hence, several philosophers observing the intricacies of nature emerge in this period. They discuss, debate, and study different ideas about nature and the universe. Philosophers are usually grouped as Pre-Socratic or the Classic Greek philosophy. Thales is the first of the Pre-Socratic philosophers who learned mathematics and astronomy. Anaximander follows Thales and theorizes that the basic element of the universe is infinite and indestructible. Heraclitus, another Pre-Socratic philosopher, declares that the world has no beginning or end. Democritus caps off Pre-Socratic philosophy by claiming that the universe is made up of indestructible atoms. Hippocrates starts the inquiry of the Classical philosophers into wider areas. Sophists, on the other hand, promote the distinction between natural science and philosophy. Socrates, considered a Sophist, believes that the constant pursuit of excellence leads people to genuine happiness. Plato, a student of Socrates, together with Aristotle becomes one of the most influential philosophers in this period. Aristotle’s works, in fact, circulate widely throughout the Greek world. The Final Act Politics in the fourth century declines (McKay 86). The Greeks begin by experimenting with two political concepts to prevent war. The first was Common Peace which promotes peace and freedom, and Federalism which leads to security in numbers. The struggle for hegemony The struggle for hegemony begins as the Greek chief states create ascendancy over other states (McKay 87). The states of Sparta, Athens, and Thebes become the arena for the victory and resistance of power. The shifting movement of power within the states would have to be constantly won and re-won. For instance, Spartans defeat Athens and builds their empire instead of ensuring freedom for all. Sparta continues its ascendancy over Greece although it loses its empire. However, after Agesilaos’ supreme reign, Thebans defeat him which leads to the downfall of Sparta. In the end, the Thebans emerge victorious. Philip and the Macedonian ascendancy In 359 BC, Philip II rises to power in the northern part of Greece (McKay 88). He understands perfectly the Macedonian society whose devotions he wins on the day of his ascendancy to throne. Philip quickly sees the threat of posed by Athens. He, then, launches a series of military operations to push the Athenians out of their region. Demosthenes from Athens accuses Philip of war aggression and against which he warns his countrymen. Athens, though, and not Philip, breaks the peace in Greece. In the end, Philip succeeds by joining together the concepts of hegemony, the Common Peace, and federalism to achieve the domination of Macedonia. Works Cited McKay, John P. A History of Western Society. 8th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Read More