About ancient Athens
History
The city of Athens is one of the world’s most oldest cities with a history of about 3,400 years. Since Athena was Athens' patron god, the city was named after her. From Greek Mythology it was Athena because she won a competition with Poseidon over who would become the protector of the city. The city’s location proximity to the Saronic Gulf, and its mild climate were probably the main reasons why the founders of the city chose to live there. When the king Theseus united several settlements of Attica into one state, he founded Athens! King Kodros was the final king of Athens, before the nobles took control of the land. Later, when the people got unhappy with them, the people decided to organize a democracy. The main creator of the first democracy, Kleisthenes, changed the constitution and the government organization created before by Solon to give all citizens the right to participate in government and have a say about how it should be run. The creation of Democracy was one of the most greatest achievements of the Athenians.
Under the rule of Pericles, in about 450 B.C. was one of the greatest periods in Athenian history and played a HUGE role in the foundation of western civilization. It was during this Golden Age that the Parthenon was built, and the fields of art, philosophy, and drama developed most. The Peloponnesian wars between the Athenians and Sparta ended the Golden Age, but Athens continued to be an important cultural and intelectual center for hundreds of years. By the mid-4th century BC, the Greek kingdom of Macedon was becoming a powerful force in Athenian affairs and in 338 BC the army of Philip II ended Athenian independence. Later, the victories of Alexander the Great made the Greek city state powerless and by the 2nd century BC, Greece was taken over by the Romans. Athens remained a center for learning and philosophy during its 500 years of Roman rule. The change of the empire to Christianity ended the city’s role as the center of pagan learning and the schools of philosophy were closed in AD 529 marking the end of the ancient history of Athens.
Under the rule of Pericles, in about 450 B.C. was one of the greatest periods in Athenian history and played a HUGE role in the foundation of western civilization. It was during this Golden Age that the Parthenon was built, and the fields of art, philosophy, and drama developed most. The Peloponnesian wars between the Athenians and Sparta ended the Golden Age, but Athens continued to be an important cultural and intelectual center for hundreds of years. By the mid-4th century BC, the Greek kingdom of Macedon was becoming a powerful force in Athenian affairs and in 338 BC the army of Philip II ended Athenian independence. Later, the victories of Alexander the Great made the Greek city state powerless and by the 2nd century BC, Greece was taken over by the Romans. Athens remained a center for learning and philosophy during its 500 years of Roman rule. The change of the empire to Christianity ended the city’s role as the center of pagan learning and the schools of philosophy were closed in AD 529 marking the end of the ancient history of Athens.
Daily life of Ancient Athenians:
People who lived outside of Athens lived on fishing,hunting and working on the fields. For an ordinary Athenian, the day was made up of waking up and eating some breakfast. Meat was expensive and Athenian food was simple (olives,salad, wine ect.) but it was healthy too. Later the men would hunt, fish or farm, eating again at noon and continuing their work until late in the afternoon.
Male clothes were similar to female ones and both genders wore tunics. Most Athenian clothes were made out of leather and some men wore sandals but most walked around bare foot.
Male clothes were similar to female ones and both genders wore tunics. Most Athenian clothes were made out of leather and some men wore sandals but most walked around bare foot.
Education:
In terms of education, the Athenian people had a lot of emphasis on it. That's probably because Athena, the goddess of wisdom was their patron. Boys were home schooled until the age of 6 or 7. Later they would learn in a day school until the age of 14. The boys were taught drama, public speaking, reading, writing, math, Homeric poetry and how to play the lyre.
Then, after middle school they went to high school and learned more about math science , and government. Four years later, boys attended two years of military school.
However, Girls learned at home from their mothers about how to be good wives and mothers, and how to run a house hold unlike boys.
Then, after middle school they went to high school and learned more about math science , and government. Four years later, boys attended two years of military school.
However, Girls learned at home from their mothers about how to be good wives and mothers, and how to run a house hold unlike boys.
Type of Government:
Before Democracy was invented in Athens, the city-state was ruled by a council of nobles called archons who made laws. However, the farmers and other common people became dissatisfied. At about 500 BCE Athens was on the brink of a civil war. Fortunately, a wise and trusted man from "all walks of life" Solon, agreed to help both sides therefore suppressing the conflict. He introduced a new way of governing the city-state through Democracy which kept the archons in power and also gave the citizens a fair say in government and the community's problems. 2,500 years later, a third of the worlds 192 countries (including modern Greece), including the world's leading nations follow the rules of Democracy thanks to the Ancient Athenians!