1. Western Civilization I
Getting to Rome
Western Civilization I

2. Plato Student of Socrates Witnessed the execution of Socrates
Developed a hatred for Athenian democracy and a profound distrust of ordinary people’s ability to tell right from wrong
Urged for political government based on the leadership of educated and elite philosopher rulers
In 387 BC he opened a school to provide Athenian youth with what he considered to be knowledge of what was true and good for the individual and the state

3. Platonic Teaching True knowledge
impossible as long as it focuses on the constantly changing, imperfect world of everyday experience
Comes from that which is eternal, perfect, and beyond the experience of the senses (Platonic forms)
When people judge that individuals or actions are true or good or beautiful, they do so not because those particular persons or events are truly virtuous, but because they recognize that they participate in some way in the Idea ,or Form, of truth or goodness or beauty.
Evil results from ignorance of the truth

4. Aristotle Student of Plato Empiricism Government
Beliefs and conclusions based on observation and logical thinking
Government
Composed of citizens who were neither extremely wealthy nor extremely poor
Moderation is key to stability and justice

6. The Rise of Macedon Peloponnesian Wars left a power vacuum in Greece
Philip of Macedon
Murdered his way to the throne
338 BC- established the League of Corinth (monarchy)
Planned a campaign to conquer Persia as a punishment for attacking Greece 150 years earlier
By age 46 he was assassinated

7. Alexander the Great Student of Aristotle Leadership 334-331 BC
Military genius
Valued the lives of his troops over his own BC
Captured the Greek cities of Asia Minor
Defeated king Darius III
Captured the Persian capital, Persepolis, giving him the title of ruler of the empire
Need to conquer the whole world
Died in 323 BC at age 32

9. Hellenization
Alexander’s conquests transformed the political map of southern Europe, western Asia, and Egyptian Africa
Brought Greek traditions of urban organization, and replaced indigenous ruling elites with Hellenized dynasties
Alexander’s successors never developed the interest or ability to integrate this Greek culture and the more ancient indigenous cultures of their subjects.
This failure would lead to disruption and the fall of the Hellenistic kingdoms