Classical Athens

The Peloponnesian War was a 30-yearlong battle between the Grecian cities of Athens and Sparta. Thucydides, an exiled general of the Peloponnesian War, wrote “The History of the Peloponnesian War”. In his writings, he describes three specific events that contributed to the downfall of democracy in Athens. Throughout the war, Athenian democracy shifts from an ideal that works for the people and the progression of society, to a military approach dedicated to maintaining their war by any means…

war fought by the two Greek City-states Athens and Sparta. The Athenian empire was on the rise and had control of the sea with the most powerful navy of the time, whereas the Spartans controlled the Greece mainland with the one of the most powerful armies of its time as well. The resulting conflict between the two led to a 30 year period filled with battles, treachery, and large amounts of unexpected consequences. At the conclusion of the long war, Athens was no longer the empire it had once…

Rebellion that began in the summer of 428 was between the Athens and a town on the island of Lesbos; Mytilene, that was located off the coast of Asia minor. The rebellion also grew to include most of the islands of Lesbos. The rebellion was caused by the Mytilenians believing that the Athens would eventually take over their country and their rights and decided to attack first. The Mytilenians knowing that they would not be able to win against the Athens without help, sought aid from the…

civilizations, the people were treated as lowly subjects, having no rights or responsibilities. By the 6th century the concept that people would actually have a say in the government and take on responsibilities towards the country had emerged. Rome and Athens were among the first societies to practice the “citizenship”. However, the framework and guidelines that the two civilizations followed were very different. So, the question is, which system of citizenship was better? The word…

Persians from getting through. The Spartans represented everything that Athens was not. The people of Athens were sophisticated, outward looking, and as well as creative. The people of Sparta however were practical, defensive and they were conservative. Sparta became the most militarized polis in Greece. The Spartans were established on a military life for their people within a couple generations. During the time, the society of Athens was becoming increasingly democratic and the people were…

military commander for Athens at the battle of Mycale in 479 B.C. During the “Golden Age” Pericles was a statesman, famous orator, and general in the Athenian army. Pericles was liked so much some people even called the time the “Age of Pericles.” Pericles influence on Athenian society was large and lasting. Pericles led the Delian forward to form the Athenian empire and guided his men during the first two years of the Peloponnesian Wars. Soon the nickname "the first citizen of Athens" was…

(also in August 480 BC), the Greeks held off the superior numbers of the Persian fleet but were forced to retreat to the south and aid in the evacuation of Athens and then regroup at the ports of Salamis.2 Greece then, lay open to all who chose, so Persian forces rampaged through the Greek polis or city-states, sacking even the great city of Athens itself. Some 30 Greek polis, however, were getting for a fight at Salamis that they hoped would show Xerxes once and for all that Greece, or at least…

Culture and arts depict many underlying themes and issues. Plays in particular are created to present a theme that the playwright wants to portray through the use of comedy and tragedy. Aristophanes one of the most effective playwright of Ancient Greece uses the plays he writes to portray his political views about the war and challenges the views of war among his audience. One in which, “Lysistrata” he delineates his views on the Peloponnesian War. Aristophanes uses his style of feminism and the…

born in 495 BC in Athens and lived until he passed in 429 BC because of the plague. In 461, he ruled Athens until the day he died. According to Pericles: If we turn to our military policy, there also we differ from our antagonists. We throw open our city to the world, and never by alien acts exclude foreigners from any opportunity of learning or observing, although the eyes of an enemy may occasionally…

Was ancient Athens truly democratic ? To say about how Athens was more of a democratic civilization, it was not because of how most things that certain people are allowed to do in the city it was because there was not much laws and our order between one another. but between the democracy and the city of Athens it was not so secure about their laws or order because of how most people were citizens at some weren’t because of how they were born in the city with their parent but their parents…