1. Pericles’ Plan for Athens
A wise and able statesman named Pericles led Athens during much of its golden age. Honest and fair, Pericles held onto popular support for 32 years. He was a skillful politician, an inspiring speaker, and a respected general. He so dominated the life of Athens from 461 to 429 B.C. that this period often is called the Age of Pericles. He had three goals: (1) to strengthen Athenian democracy, (2) to hold and strengthen the empire, and (3) to glorify Athens.

2. Stronger Democracy
Pericles increased the number of public officials who were paid salaries
The introduction of direct democracy, a form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives, was an important legacy of Periclean Athens.

3. Athenian Empire After the defeat of the Persians, Athens helped organize the Delian League.
Glorifying Athens Pericles also used money from the Delian League to beautify Athens. Without the league’s approval, he persuaded the Athenian assembly to vote huge sums of the league’s money to buy gold, ivory, and marble. Still more money went to pay the artists, architects, and workers who used these materials.

4. Alexander the Great 1. Led soldiers across Hellespont into Anatolia
2. Launched a surprise attack
3. Rejected Darius’ peace settlement
4. Led army into Indus Valley

5. Alexander age 20 takes control
educated by Aristotle
commander of field troops at age 16
loved for his courage and skill
334 BCE invades Persian territories

6. Empire Coast of Turkey freeing Greek cities and colonies
forced Persian king Darius III to flee back to Persia
moved south and took Mediterranean coast all the way to Egypt
founded first Alexandria
declared Pharaoh
331 began movement into Persia itself
took Babylon, Persepolis and Susa
marched all the way to Indus River in modern Pakistan
established cities and left troops all the way along

7. Empire II 327BCE Macedonian troops refused to go farther
returned to Persepolis by way of coast
got sick and died at age 32
holding were divided among his 3 strongest generals

8. Philosophers The Sophists profession teachers
moved between the various cities
Athens freedom of speech drew many
rejected idea of god influencing human behavior
felt man responsible for his own actions and conditions
criticized for being mercenary

10. Socrates born in Athens 470BCE sculptor by trade
believed in absolute truth
used “Socratic method” taught by asking questions
required students to look inward for answers
criticized for corrupting youth found guilty and sentenced to death
drank hemlock poison and died according to law

11. Plato aristocrat by birth opened Academy on death of Socrates
recorded dialogs between Socrates and students
The Republic
presented a plan for ideal society and government
liked Sparta over Athens
rejected the senses as a source of truth
reality could only be understood through logical thought

12. Aristotle studied with Plato for 20 years
tutored young Alexander of Macedonia
opened school in Athens called the Lyceum
worked in logic
scientific method
argued that all forms of government were workable