Dbq Essay On Athens

Context: 480-404 BCE is the time between the Greeks/Athenians fighting of the Persians and then beginning a war with their rival city-state Sparta. Athens was next to the Black Sea and in a prime spot for trading overseas, they primarily traded olive oil and wine. Pericles is the reason that Athens had the Golden Age they did, he spent a lot of money and time to create the beautiful city it became.
Umbrella Thesis: From Athen’s political power and money, they had created a culture and art that hasn’t been matched.
Topic Sentence #1: Athens had never had so much money and so much power over other city-states and their (limited) democratic ways stood strong through it.
Topic Sentence #2: The art made in Athens between the two wars is some of

the most extraordinary and detailed work in that millennium.
Topic Sentence #3: Philosophy in Athens grew between the the two wars and taught people to think for themselves, and not to follow like a robot.

Body Paragraph #1 (Democracy & Empire)
Topic Sentence: Athens had never had so much money and so much power over other city-states and their (limited) democratic ways stood strong through it.
Evidence#1: Athens Created the Delian league
Analysis: Athens was a founding member in the Delian League, the league was first created to protect from Persians and other outsiders. This union of city-states provided a stepping stone from city-state to empire.
Evidence#2: They had billions of dollars worth of money from the Delian League.
Analysis: If they wanted to make their army the most powerful in Greece they could, they then could threaten other city-states to obey. They had always just been a part of the herd of greek city-states, but now they were the the leaders of the pack.
Evidence#3: Improved their own democracy (Doc C) “ Our Constitution is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people” -Pericles
Analysis: With the city taken care of, they focused on the people in the city. Making the democracy strong assured that no inner revolts would come. The Athenians did not really focus on other allies, but that is not what is required for a golden age.

Body Paragraph #2 ( Art & Architecture)
The art made in Athens between the two wars is some of the most extraordinary and detailed work in that millennium.

Myron’s Discobolus (Doc C) is a great example. The way people still are amazed about how the Discus throwing form was captured when it happens so quick is a testament to the amazing Athenian art. The Parthenon is another way to show the peak of art and architecture in Athens. The math and work put into the Parthenon is bewildering (Doc E), they made sure from far away it looked perfect with 90 degree angles and straight columns, that meant they had to make none of them actually straight with 90 degree angles. Not many civilizations had the brainpower to know architecture that way. Grit and hard work is how the lower class was strengthened in Athens. The Greek Vases they made can attest. Even the simple things made were stunning, vivid imagery of stories that now help us understand more of greek life. The poor people who made these had to put in hours of time to create something that was said to be like a tourist gift you bought after watching a play. The dedication put in by these workers is a piece of the Golden age

puzzle.

Body Paragraph #3 (Drama & History & Philosophy)
Topic Sentence: Philosophy in Athens grew to help Athenians thing for themselves between the the two wars and taught people through stories and theatre many things we use to this day.
Evidence#1: Socrates had many followers, and preached being yourself. (Doc A) “If you say to me, Socrates, this time we will not mind Anytus, and will let you off, but upon one condition, that are to inquire and speculate in this way any more, and that if you are caught doing this again you shall die... I shall obey god rather than you”.
Analysis: The people that followed what Socrates believed that what he was saying was the truth, and that not everything other people was true too.

Before people had been exiled and killed for having different thoughts. Nobody believed what they were saying. Now when someone differed from society, they were listened too. And some people accepted their ideas. This spread of ideas was a great part of Athens golden age.
Evidence#2: Theatre brought new stories and advice to help people live their best life.
Analysis: Theatre was not just comedy, they also had tragedy, which taught people lessons about life. The plays would follow heros and usually something bad would happen and leave people crying. People would then learn a lesson, like to be humble before the gods. The way people united and learned the same lessons together helped everyone be more equal and nice. Overall this helped the city-state be good people and heighten the civilization.
Evidence#3: The way Athenian Theatres were structured are still used to this day. (Doc G)
Analysis: When something is used in circa 400 B.C.E and still used in 2015 then you know it must have been thought through well. A golden age is when a civilization flourishes, and to create something use for 2,500 years later is certainly

flourishing.

Conclusion
The definition of a golden age the most flourishing and outstanding period, especially in the history of an art or nation. That definition seems built for the people of Athens, where art bloomed under Pericles. More than just art was strong though, they had a lot of power and a great government backing itself up. The way they thought also increased everyone’s intelligence creating a period of smarter citizens, and noncitizens. The period between the Persian and Peloponnesian war can be called a golden age to the fullest extent.