provides tattooed slaves Carthage rugs and many colored cushions
the Athenian Empire was unprecedented in the degree of prosperity that came to it
the degree of prosperity that came to it because of its role as a Center of
because of its role as a Center of Trade the Athenians had access to a
Trade the Athenians had access to a quality of life that probably no Greek
quality of life that probably no Greek had ever had before
[Music] Athens rise to economic and political
Athens rise to economic and political Supremacy occurred at lightning
speed after the Battle of Salamis she became the dominant power in the Eastern
became the dominant power in the Eastern Mediterranean in less than a
generation and at the city's heart still lay her unique system of government
lay her unique system of government [Music]
[Music] democracy the system of voting using
democracy the system of voting using pebble all of leaves or the show of
pebble all of leaves or the show of hands that decided every aspect of the
hands that decided every aspect of the city's
government democracy gave the Athenians a great
a great advantage of unleashing talents Powers
advantage of unleashing talents Powers opportunities that other cultures simply
opportunities that other cultures simply cannot
match the Athenians keenly Protected Their democracy from any threat foreign
Their democracy from any threat foreign or
domestic once a year each citizen could scratch the name of an individual onto A
scratch the name of an individual onto A Shard of pottery known as an
assembly the person whose name came up most would then be ostracized banished
most would then be ostracized banished from the city
from the city this was the Athenians method of
this was the Athenians method of protecting their government expelling
protecting their government expelling any person they felt might become too
powerful but Athenian democracy could turn on any citizen even its greatest
turn on any citizen even its greatest war
attack the threat was gone now is Rond Detra has been taken away this is
Detra has been taken away this is something he can't
something he can't understand the Mystic reacts perhaps in
understand the Mystic reacts perhaps in an uncharacteristically crude way he
an uncharacteristically crude way he reminded the Athenian voters of what
reminded the Athenian voters of what they owed him voters don't want to be
they owed him voters don't want to be reminded in any period of what they owe
reminded in any period of what they owe to their politicians they want to be
to their politicians they want to be told what their politicians can do for
told what their politicians can do for them the Athenian people turned on the
them the Athenian people turned on the Aging
Aging politician calculated cruel but deeply
politician calculated cruel but deeply democr
they ostracized the man who had led them to their greatest
to their greatest [Music]
[Music] Victory the Mystic Le was ostracized I
Victory the Mystic Le was ostracized I believe because he was simply regarded
believe because he was simply regarded as having gotten too big for his
as having gotten too big for his [Music]
[Music] boots some of the asria with the mle's
boots some of the asria with the mle's name still inscribed upon them have been
name still inscribed upon them have been found hidden down an ancient
well archaeologists believed that these had been pre-prepared by theist Le's
enemies to be handed out to Athenian voters who couldn't
voters who couldn't [Music]
[Music] write the mle never recovered from this
write the mle never recovered from this humiliation he was to spend the rest of
humiliation he was to spend the rest of his years wandering from state to state
his years wandering from state to state finally dying in Exile in
finally dying in Exile in Persia the country whose defeat had been
Persia the country whose defeat had been his greatest
[Music] Triumph the Athenians were now looking
Triumph the Athenians were now looking for a leader who might fulfill their new
for a leader who might fulfill their new found sense of Imperial
found sense of Imperial [Music]
[Music] Glory they found a man who seemed the
Glory they found a man who seemed the perfect reflection of this new
perfect reflection of this new ideal a man who would change the face of
ideal a man who would change the face of Athens
Athens forever a man named
Perle it's probably not a more important figure in the history of Classical
figure in the history of Classical Greece than Pericles
Greece than Pericles he was the leader of Athens at the
he was the leader of Athens at the height of its power and of its artistic
height of its power and of its artistic achievement he was the figure Associated
achievement he was the figure Associated appropriately with bringing Athenian
appropriately with bringing Athenian democracy to its climax to its
height but Perle was no obvious Democrat like theist for he had been born into
like theist for he had been born into one of Athens most elite
families and perhaps because of his aristocratic Origins perit knew what the
aristocratic Origins perit knew what the people of Athens now
people of Athens now wanted a city fit to rule an
Empire it seems clear that Pericles had in mind to create a city whose greatness
in mind to create a city whose greatness would be admired by the people who live
would be admired by the people who live there by everybody else in the Greek
there by everybody else in the Greek World well into the future
herle announced a glorious New Vision to the Athenian
assembly all kinds of Enterprises should be created which will provide
be created which will provide inspiration for every art find
inspiration for every art find employment for every hand we must devote
employment for every hand we must devote ourselves to acquiring things that will
ourselves to acquiring things that will be the source of everlasting
Fame perlees turned his attention to the Acropolis the sheer peak in the center
Acropolis the sheer peak in the center of Athens home of the city's Patron
of Athens home of the city's Patron goddess
goddess [Music]
Athena 20 years earlier the Persians had burnt down the temples that stood
here ever since the Athenians had left these ruins untouched as a memorial to
these ruins untouched as a memorial to those killed in the war
ideas he proposed a massive reconstruction plan at its Center would
reconstruction plan at its Center would be a new
be a new panon a temple to
panon a temple to Athena and it would be one of the most
Athena and it would be one of the most astonishing buildings of the ancient
astonishing buildings of the ancient world
[Music] this new construction program was of
this new construction program was of unprecedented magnitude and
unprecedented magnitude and expense the
expense the parthona expensive it was filled with
parthona expensive it was filled with all sorts of architectural
refinements barle plan to spend over 5 ,000 talents in the first year
,000 talents in the first year alone a total budget of more than a
alone a total budget of more than a billion dollars in today's
terms this project would require 20,000 tons of
tons of [Music]
marble the Athenian quaries at Mount pentelicus just outside the city
pentelicus just outside the city resounded as hundreds of workmen traced
resounded as hundreds of workmen traced out and carved great blocks of marble
out and carved great blocks of marble from the mountain
from the mountain [Music]
[Music] this Temple would be decorated like none
this Temple would be decorated like none [Music]
[Music] before sculptors and Craftsmen were
before sculptors and Craftsmen were gathered from all over the Greek
gathered from all over the Greek world with them stood Perle for he
world with them stood Perle for he treated the building of the paron as his
treated the building of the paron as his own personal
own personal project he selected Architects he
project he selected Architects he selected the men who designed the plans
selected the men who designed the plans Pericles was directly involved in the
Pericles was directly involved in the planning
planning process some protested that he was
process some protested that he was taking out the city like a
taking out the city like a prostitute but when the building was
prostitute but when the building was completed in only 15
completed in only 15 [Music]
[Music] years his critics were silenced
the panon was and still is the most glorious symbol of athens's
Empire here was the spiritual Heart of the
the City The Mark of her wealth power and
City The Mark of her wealth power and artistic
artistic [Music]
genius when you first came through the door you'd have been just stunned
[Music] you'd have been confronted immediately
you'd have been confronted immediately by an enormous 40 foot high statue of
by an enormous 40 foot high statue of Athena in Golden Ivory and studded with
Athena in Golden Ivory and studded with [Music]
[Music] jewels I think the the impression of a
jewels I think the the impression of a statue of that size and with that kind
statue of that size and with that kind of dressing must have truly overwhelming
[Music] herles had embellished his Temple like
herles had embellished his Temple like no
other though this astonishing statue has since been lost to
since been lost to history other Treasures from the panon
history other Treasures from the panon have survived for over 2,000 years
have survived for over 2,000 years [Music]
[Music] the most famous is the pathon
freeze a 500 ft long stretch of carved marble which ran around the inner wall
marble which ran around the inner wall of the
temple the pathon freeze is only 2 and 1/2 in thick at its maximum depth and
1/2 in thick at its maximum depth and yet in this space the sculptors carved
yet in this space the sculptors carved rank upon rank of crowded figures a
rank upon rank of crowded figures a great procession of
great procession of Athenians glorious and
Athenians glorious and elegant here perlees offered his fellow
elegant here perlees offered his fellow citizens a vision of themselves and
citizens a vision of themselves and their Democratic State at the height of
their Democratic State at the height of their
their Glory democracy itself becomes heroized
Glory democracy itself becomes heroized in that Monument it's a very Democratic
in that Monument it's a very Democratic thing that wants to include all those
thing that wants to include all those citizens who participated in beating off
citizens who participated in beating off the first great threat to democracy
the first great threat to democracy which was from the
which was from the Persians these are ideals to which you
Persians these are ideals to which you can
Aspire The Monuments that perit built for his fellow Athenians still stand on
for his fellow Athenians still stand on the peak of the Acropolis
they Remain the most striking Legacy of classical
classical Athens an enduring Testament to the
Athens an enduring Testament to the achievements of the world's first
achievements of the world's first [Music]
[Music] democracy but perlees was not simply
democracy but perlees was not simply concerned with astonishing construction
concerned with astonishing construction projects under his leadership Athens
projects under his leadership Athens would also become the intellectual
would also become the intellectual center of the ancient world
Pericles was remarkable in that he associated with the leading minds of his
associated with the leading minds of his day in just about every field of
endeavor in these years perit played host to an astonishing generation of
host to an astonishing generation of individuals figures such as anaxagoras
individuals figures such as anaxagoras the first man to realize that the moon
the first man to realize that the moon was lit by reflected
was lit by reflected sunlight he knew Herod
sunlight he knew Herod the world's first historian who wrote
the world's first historian who wrote one of the earliest records of Greek
one of the earliest records of Greek life and Poets and authors such as
life and Poets and authors such as escalus and ureides whose works are
escalus and ureides whose works are still standards of world
still standards of world literature perlees was well aware of his
literature perlees was well aware of his City
City stature our whole city is an education
stature our whole city is an education for our citizens Excel all men in
for our citizens Excel all men in versatility
versatility resourcefulness and brilliance
resourcefulness and brilliance [Music]
[Music] even perly's partner a woman named
even perly's partner a woman named aspasia was unique and
aspasia was unique and [Music]
[Music] distinguished Perle had divorced his
distinguished Perle had divorced his wife and set up home with a foreign
wife and set up home with a foreign woman a woman whose occupation was
woman a woman whose occupation was hardly to be
hardly to be expected for aspasia was what was known
expected for aspasia was what was known as a hatira Greek for a
as a hatira Greek for a companion yes she was in a technical
companion yes she was in a technical sense I guess a prostitute but she was
sense I guess a prostitute but she was more than that a woman of charm of style
more than that a woman of charm of style of
of intellect she really was very
intellect she really was very extraordinary she had an extraordinary
extraordinary she had an extraordinary mind this relationship caused Scandal
mind this relationship caused Scandal throughout Athens not just because of
throughout Athens not just because of aasia profession but because perly's
aasia profession but because perly's treated her as an equal something deeply
treated her as an equal something deeply unusual in fifth century
unusual in fifth century Athens one of the things that created
Athens one of the things that created such a stir was that Pericles had her
such a stir was that Pericles had her participate in conversations that he had
participate in conversations that he had with some of the most important IND uals
with some of the most important IND uals with whom he
with whom he talked there's jokes to suggest that
talked there's jokes to suggest that espan actually was the person who wrote
espan actually was the person who wrote Pericles
Pericles [Music]
[Music] speeches herle and his Circle were to
speeches herle and his Circle were to become one of the most famous and
become one of the most famous and influential groups in Western
influential groups in Western [Music]
[Music] history but in fifth century Athens the
history but in fifth century Athens the highest achievements of art and culture
highest achievements of art and culture were not restricted to the elite
were not restricted to the elite [Music]
here in the shadow of the Acropolis sits the world's first
theater twice a year the Athenian population would gather here to watch a
population would gather here to watch a great Festival a festival of
great Festival a festival of [Music]
[Music] drama television cinema theater all ow
drama television cinema theater all ow their existence to this
entertainment there's one huge difference between the ancient theater
difference between the ancient theater and our own and that is that it was
and our own and that is that it was incredibly
incredibly noisy we hear stories of how when they
noisy we hear stories of how when they didn't like a play the audience booed
didn't like a play the audience booed and they hissed and they actually got
and they hissed and they actually got actors driven off the
actors driven off the stage but there's other stories that
stage but there's other stories that showed that when they were going with
showed that when they were going with the story and deeply involved in it they
the story and deeply involved in it they actually all collectively burst into
actually all collectively burst into tears
the favorite tales of the Greek stage were called
were called tragedies these were stories as shocking
tragedies these were stories as shocking as a contemporary horror
as a contemporary horror movie The tragedies told stories of
movie The tragedies told stories of Great Men falling from their heights
Great Men falling from their heights losing everything they
owned Greek tragedy shows human beings however able however brilliant however
however able however brilliant however intelligent quite unable to alter the
intelligent quite unable to alter the Destinies which have been decreed for
Destinies which have been decreed for them
them these tragedies have fascinated
these tragedies have fascinated audiences ever
audiences ever since this 19th century painting shows
since this 19th century painting shows the story of the mythical ruler
the story of the mythical ruler Agamemnon who was murdered by his own
wife another tragedy told of King edius who gouged out his eyes when he
edius who gouged out his eyes when he discovered that he had married his own
mother these Athenians natives of the greatest City in the ancient world World
greatest City in the ancient world World seem to Revel in seeing how frail
seem to Revel in seeing how frail greatness could really
greatness could really [Music]
[Music] be I don't think we can use Greek
be I don't think we can use Greek tragedy to tell us exactly what happened
tragedy to tell us exactly what happened in reality it's not a document of
in reality it's not a document of Athenian social life but what it does do
Athenian social life but what it does do is take us directly and immediately into
is take us directly and immediately into the psychological heart of those
the psychological heart of those Athenian men the kind of dreams and
Athenian men the kind of dreams and Fantasies and fears and imaginary
Fantasies and fears and imaginary scenarios that they came up with in the
scenarios that they came up with in the theater have to tell us just as much
theater have to tell us just as much about them as any document of everyday
about them as any document of everyday reality
could theaters were built in every major Greek city in Sparta Corinth on the
Greek city in Sparta Corinth on the island of
island of dasas here in
Deli Athens was the heart of a cultural revolution that would spread across the
revolution that would spread across the Mediterranean and Echo around the world
periclean Athens seems to me to belong in the smallest collection of cities
in the smallest collection of cities where truly Great Moments in The Human
where truly Great Moments in The Human Experience took place culture in the
Experience took place culture in the broadest sense reaches a
peak but after 20 years of building the cult cultural capital of the western
cult cultural capital of the western world perlees and his fellow Athenians
world perlees and his fellow Athenians would Now find that their theater and
would Now find that their theater and their tragedies would hold a bitter
their tragedies would hold a bitter [Music]
[Music] sting it is possible to think of perac
sting it is possible to think of perac indeed I think of him as a man with a
indeed I think of him as a man with a tragic
tragic flaw as the sort of man who greatest
flaw as the sort of man who greatest qualities the ones that make him most
qualities the ones that make him most admirable and successful
admirable and successful turn out to be the seeds of his own
turn out to be the seeds of his own destruction herles began to plan a grand
destruction herles began to plan a grand new
new Venture a venture even more ambitious
Venture a venture even more ambitious than the
than the pathan he wanted to me aens the
pathan he wanted to me aens the Undisputed leader of the
Mediterranean little did Perle know that he would now bring Athens not
he would now bring Athens not Glory but death
Glory but death destruction and the loss of her
Empire Athens the year 431 [Music]
[Music] BC Perle takes the podium of the great
BC Perle takes the podium of the great Democratic
assembly and presents the Athenians with his most daring plan
war with Athens oldest enemy the city state of
Sparta Sparta was the only other Greek city state which still matched Athens
city state which still matched Athens and
and [Music]
power for the Spartans drained from birth in the Arts of War were a fearsome
birth in the Arts of War were a fearsome military force and they ruled all of
military force and they ruled all of Southern
Southern [Music]
[Music] Greece her Le was convinced it was time
Greece her Le was convinced it was time to finally Vanquish this old
to finally Vanquish this old [Music]
[Music] rival victory over the Spartans would
rival victory over the Spartans would make Athens the Undisputed leader of the
make Athens the Undisputed leader of the Mediterranean if we go to war as I think
Mediterranean if we go to war as I think we must be determined that we are not
we must be determined that we are not going to climb down for it is from the
going to climb down for it is from the greatest dangers but the greatest glory
greatest dangers but the greatest glory is to be won
the assembly embraced perly's plan the Athenians were never once to
plan the Athenians were never once to shrink from a
shrink from a fight the ancient Greeks as a whole were
fight the ancient Greeks as a whole were not by any stretch of the imagination a
not by any stretch of the imagination a peaceloving people peace was an
peaceloving people peace was an interruption of War rather than vice
interruption of War rather than vice versa and the Athenians were as
versa and the Athenians were as bellicose as any other Greeks
but for all the Athenians enthusiasm perit knew that this would
enthusiasm perit knew that this would not be an easy War to win athens's power
not be an easy War to win athens's power lay in her
lay in her Navy the Spartan infantry could well de
Navy the Spartan infantry could well de feater on
land and so he proposed a strategy of unusual complexity and sophistication
unusual complexity and sophistication [Music]
[Music] perit convinced the Athenians to abandon
perit convinced the Athenians to abandon all the land around
all the land around Athens and to retreat behind the great
Athens and to retreat behind the great long walls that stretched down from the
long walls that stretched down from the city to its harbor at
pyus barites would use the Athenian Navy to supply the City by
sea and he would use this same Navy to attack and Harry the Spartans from the
attack and Harry the Spartans from the coast slowly wearing the enemy down
coast slowly wearing the enemy down until they gave
until they gave in it was a strategy based on a set of
in it was a strategy based on a set of finely judged
finely judged assumptions Pericles expectation was
assumptions Pericles expectation was that after a year or two but no more
that after a year or two but no more than three the Spartans would realize
than three the Spartans would realize that they could not win the war because
that they could not win the war because the Athenians would never give them the
the Athenians would never give them the Infantry battle they needed in order to
Infantry battle they needed in order to win and they had no other device
available the Athenians crowded behind the city
walls confident in their vision of Imperial power and Lor they assumed that
Imperial power and Lor they assumed that Ply's strategy could only bring them
Victory but among this teeming multitude could be found one man who refused to
could be found one man who refused to assume anything
[Music] a man unique in Athenian
a man unique in Athenian Society a man called
Society a man called [Music]
[Music] Socrates if you were an ancient Athenian
Socrates if you were an ancient Athenian citizen the first thing you'd see is a
citizen the first thing you'd see is a man who was unbelievably ugly his head
man who was unbelievably ugly his head was too big his eyes were too large his
was too big his eyes were too large his no nose was all the wrong
no nose was all the wrong shape Socrates appearance breaks every
shape Socrates appearance breaks every rule of classical Greek Aesthetics of
rule of classical Greek Aesthetics of the idea of proportion and
the idea of proportion and [Music]
[Music] measure Socrates walked the streets of
measure Socrates walked the streets of Athens Barefoot clad only in a dirty
robe he cared nothing for appearance or any of the other
appearance or any of the other conventions of his
mind this unlikely figure would become the leader of a
the leader of a revolution a revolution in thinking that
revolution a revolution in thinking that had been gathering strength across the
had been gathering strength across the Greek
world this revolution had begun far to the east of Greece in the legendary city
the east of Greece in the legendary city of Babylon where the world's first
of Babylon where the world's first astronomers had gathered great records
astronomers had gathered great records of the movement of the Stars the sun and
of the movement of the Stars the sun and the moon for they believed that these
the moon for they believed that these celestial bodies were
celestial bodies were [Music]
[Music] Gods this knowledge and study of the
Gods this knowledge and study of the heavens had been slowly spreading across
heavens had been slowly spreading across the ancient
the ancient world until it reached Greek colonies on
world until it reached Greek colonies on the coast of what is modern day Turkey
occurred for the Greeks took this astronomical knowledge and transformed
astronomical knowledge and transformed it they took the gods out of the heavens
it they took the gods out of the heavens and replace them with
reason gradually the Greeks begin to say these are
these are not
not persons these are things
persons these are things there's an orderly World which the human
there's an orderly World which the human mind can actually capture it is subject
mind can actually capture it is subject to our
understanding these Greeks began to calculate and predict the movement of
calculate and predict the movement of the moon and stars through mathematics
the moon and stars through mathematics and
and logic rather than using gods and Spirits
logic rather than using gods and Spirits to explain
everything it was the birth of science [Music]
[Music] the first great Greek scientist a man
the first great Greek scientist a man named thales wrote the earliest book of
named thales wrote the earliest book of navigation and how to sail using the
navigation and how to sail using the stars as a
stars as a [Music]
[Music] guide and on a journey to Egypt thales
guide and on a journey to Egypt thales was the first man to measure the height
was the first man to measure the height of the Great
Pyramid brilliant idea he stood next to the pyramid until High Noon when he
the pyramid until High Noon when he Shadow was exactly the same length as
Shadow was exactly the same length as his height uh and at that point he
his height uh and at that point he measured the shadow of the pyramid and
measured the shadow of the pyramid and accordingly knew
accordingly knew the the height of the pyramid which is
the the height of the pyramid which is actually an application of a rather
actually an application of a rather sophisticated geometrical
theorem but Socrates was not interested in the stars and the
heavens he would Ed this new way of thinking using reason and logic to study
thinking using reason and logic to study people the great change comes with
people the great change comes with Socrates who turns his back so to speak
Socrates who turns his back so to speak to the world of
to the world of nature what he cares about is the
nature what he cares about is the individual you become an object of study
individual you become an object of study and
Care Socrates spent his days in conversation walking the streets of
conversation walking the streets of Athens talking and debating with anyone
Athens talking and debating with anyone he
he met with over 150 people now packed
met with over 150 people now packed behind Athens walls he was in his
behind Athens walls he was in his element one of the amazing things about
element one of the amazing things about Socrates is that he is the first
Socrates is that he is the first fanatical Urban individual he loves the
fanatical Urban individual he loves the city he makes life in the city one of
city he makes life in the city one of his major
concerns socrates's life was spent questioning the assumptions his fellow
questioning the assumptions his fellow Athenians held about their lives what
Athenians held about their lives what the felt was right and wrong what was
the felt was right and wrong what was good and
good and bad and he was happy to turn convention
bad and he was happy to turn convention upside
upside [Music]
[Music] down one of Socrates followers recorded
down one of Socrates followers recorded how at the end of a drunken dinner party
how at the end of a drunken dinner party Socrates proved to a fellow guest that
Socrates proved to a fellow guest that he was in fact the better looking of the
he was in fact the better looking of the two
two my eyes must be more beautiful because
my eyes must be more beautiful because they bulge out and therefore I can see
they bulge out and therefore I can see better and by the same account my nose
better and by the same account my nose is more beautiful because my nostrils
is more beautiful because my nostrils flare out and so I can therefore Gather
flare out and so I can therefore Gather in more
smells this is typical Socrates using reason and logic to examine the world in
you socr says You must
says You must make every decision based on your own
make every decision based on your own understanding of what is good and what
understanding of what is good and what is not good what is right and what is
is not good what is right and what is wrong for Socrates this freedom of
wrong for Socrates this freedom of thought was
thought was Paramount even if it meant upsetting the
Paramount even if it meant upsetting the whole notion of a beautiful
nose I tell you let no day pass without discussing all the things about which
discussing all the things about which you hear me talking
you hear me talking a life without this sort of examination
a life without this sort of examination is not worth
living but as Socrates spent his days in debate his city was fighting a
[Music] war the Spartans invaded Athenian
war the Spartans invaded Athenian territory and set about burning all the
territory and set about burning all the Farmland around the city
the Athenians became increasingly anxious they could only watch from the
anxious they could only watch from the city walls as their fields and crops
city walls as their fields and crops were
were destroyed but such was perly's
destroyed but such was perly's reputation he managed to convince the
reputation he managed to convince the Athenians to stick with his
Athenians to stick with his plan the city could rely on her Fleet
plan the city could rely on her Fleet and shipments from overseas to
survive little did perit know that this Fleet now carried an even greater threat
Fleet now carried an even greater threat [Music]
one year into the war the grain boats that fed the city brought with them an
that fed the city brought with them an additional
additional cargo
plague a disease that would now devastate
devastate Athens Pericles plan couldn't anticipate
Athens Pericles plan couldn't anticipate difficulties that we now would suggest
difficulties that we now would suggest were rather likely uh in those
were rather likely uh in those circumstances of crowding and the
circumstances of crowding and the results were
results were horrendous with the population crammed
horrendous with the population crammed behind the city walls the Affliction
behind the city walls the Affliction spread like
wildfire the symptoms were horrific the Athenian historian fuses
horrific the Athenian historian fuses who lived through these years recorded
who lived through these years recorded its
its effects the body was suddenly seized
effects the body was suddenly seized first with violent Heats around the head
first with violent Heats around the head and redness and inflammation of the
and redness and inflammation of the eyes and then the disease descended into
eyes and then the disease descended into the bowels producing violent ulceration
the bowels producing violent ulceration and uncontrollable
and uncontrollable diarrhea the sufferings of individuals
diarrhea the sufferings of individuals seemed almost beyond the capacity of
seemed almost beyond the capacity of human
nature sufferers racked with fever and overcome with unquenched able thirst
overcome with unquenched able thirst would crawl into the city systems and
would crawl into the city systems and water Ms to
Die the city must have looked terrible smelled terrible been awful to be in and
smelled terrible been awful to be in and Terror must have rained everywhere
the plague would kill over a third of Athens
Perle Pluto Perle biographer described his
his symptoms the plague seized Pericles not
symptoms the plague seized Pericles not with sharp and violent fits but with a
with sharp and violent fits but with a dull and lingering dist temper wasting
dull and lingering dist temper wasting the strength of his body and undermining
the strength of his body and undermining his Noble
his Noble [Music]
Soul by the end the Patrician hero of the city was reduced to relying on
the city was reduced to relying on potions and magic in an attempt to cure
himself he showed one of his friends a charm that a woman had hung around his
charm that a woman had hung around his neck as if to say that he was very sick
neck as if to say that he was very sick indeed when he would admit of such
indeed when he would admit of such Foolery as
this finally after 6 months of lingering illness Perle died in 429 BC
illness Perle died in 429 BC [Music]
[Music] herle had planned to make Athens into
herle had planned to make Athens into the mediterranean's greatest
power but his carefully calculated strategy had brought only disease and
death like most brilliant men like most people who have had great success all
people who have had great success all their lives Pericles simply
their lives Pericles simply underestimated the degree to which some
underestimated the degree to which some things are out of the control of the
things are out of the control of the very best intelligence and the very best
very best intelligence and the very best knowledge that there
are perly's death would have far-reaching
consequences it soon became clear that this one man had been the lynchpin of
this one man had been the lynchpin of the Athenian
State without a single strong leader countless figures now scrambled for the
countless figures now scrambled for the top
top position and they were happy to do
position and they were happy to do anything the people wanted if it gave
anything the people wanted if it gave them power for panus the effects were
them power for panus the effects were Swift and
Swift and dramatic pericle successors who now
dramatic pericle successors who now wanted to occupy the top position simply
wanted to occupy the top position simply followed the prejudices and passions of
followed the prejudices and passions of the masses in order to gain
[Applause] support Athenian democracy Now revealed
support Athenian democracy Now revealed a new and terrifying
a new and terrifying potential the potential to slide into
potential the potential to slide into mob
rule crippling her ability to fight a war
[Music] as the conflict raged on an Athenian
as the conflict raged on an Athenian Naval Force won a skirmish with the
Naval Force won a skirmish with the Spartans in rough and storm tossed Seas
Spartans in rough and storm tossed Seas the generals who had commanded the force
the generals who had commanded the force returned to Athens expecting a hero's
returned to Athens expecting a hero's [Music]
[Music] welcome instead they were thrown into
welcome instead they were thrown into prison
the storm had forced the Athenian commanders to sail straight back to
commanders to sail straight back to Athens without picking up any of the
Athens without picking up any of the soldiers who had fallen overboard during
soldiers who had fallen overboard during the
battle Rabel rousing speakers had convinced the assembly that this failure
convinced the assembly that this failure to rescue the men was a crime so
to rescue the men was a crime so appalling that all the generals should
appalling that all the generals should be summarily tried and executed
we know of only one man who stood up and attempted to calm the fevered
attempted to calm the fevered assembly
assembly [Music]
[Music] Socrates Socrates alone and against the
Socrates Socrates alone and against the very very serious and vocal and
very very serious and vocal and aggressive and mad Furious reaction of
aggressive and mad Furious reaction of the public stood his ground and said it
the public stood his ground and said it was the wrong thing to do he was going
was the wrong thing to do he was going to vote against
to vote against it Socrates principle of questioning the
it Socrates principle of questioning the society he lived
society he lived in now had a real and practical
in now had a real and practical [Music]
[Music] purpose but in the end Socrates was only
purpose but in the end Socrates was only one voice amongst the
one voice amongst the multitude and he could not sway the
multitude and he could not sway the assembly
the generals were condemned to death by drinking poisonous
Hemlock with the assembly in the hands of self-interested desps one Mighty
of self-interested desps one Mighty Athens began to loose
away after the death of Pericles Athens never again had a political leader with
never again had a political leader with a well-thought out General picture or a
a well-thought out General picture or a set of goals that he could pursue with
set of goals that he could pursue with reasonable hope of bringing them to
fruition the war against Sparta degenerated into a bitter dragging
degenerated into a bitter dragging conflict that spread over a
decade the Spartans ravaged the land around
Athens and the Athenian Fleet kept the city
supplied neither side was able to defeat the
the [Music]
[Music] other deprived of Victory the Athenians
other deprived of Victory the Athenians grew increasingly
grew increasingly frustrated were they not the greatest
frustrated were they not the greatest state in all of Greece
state in all of Greece surely the time must come for Athens to
surely the time must come for Athens to prove her power once and for
prove her power once and for [Music]
all then in the year 416 BC a daring proposal was put before the
BC a daring proposal was put before the assembly a small Greek colony on the
assembly a small Greek colony on the island of Sicily had asked for
island of Sicily had asked for protection protection from a neighbor
protection protection from a neighbor allied with
allied with SP why should the Athenians not come to
SP why should the Athenians not come to their aid humiliate their Spartan
their aid humiliate their Spartan adversary and perhaps conquer all of
adversary and perhaps conquer all of Sicily at the same time as one Athenian
Sicily at the same time as one Athenian addressed the
addressed the assembly this is the way we won our
assembly this is the way we won our Empire and this is the way all empires
Empire and this is the way all empires have been won let us set out on this
have been won let us set out on this Expedition for it will destroy the
Expedition for it will destroy the arrogance of the Spartans and at the
arrogance of the Spartans and at the same time we shall become rulers of all
same time we shall become rulers of all Greece
it was a bold plan to be executed on a vast
scale requiring a great Fleet of Warships and a landing force of over
Warships and a landing force of over 10,000
10,000 men the Athenians threw themselves into
men the Athenians threw themselves into the project with
fervor armorers beat out new weapons soldiers tested out their
soldiers tested out their equipment stores were loaded onto a
equipment stores were loaded onto a fleet of Athenian
trim and the ship rits prepared their vessels for the
vessels for the [Music]
[Music] sea then to Great Fanfare the mighty
sea then to Great Fanfare the mighty Invasion Force set out for Sicily
[Music] [Applause]
[Music] 6 months later word came
back the campaign was not going as quickly as hoped they needed
quickly as hoped they needed reinforcements
[Music] all then in the Autumn of 413 BC a
all then in the Autumn of 413 BC a sailor arrived in the
sailor arrived in the [Music]
and as he talked to his Barber he told an appalling
an appalling tale of a vast and terrible
Slaughter it was the story of an invading Army that had been pinned down
invading Army that had been pinned down where it
where it landed of how its leaders had argued
landed of how its leaders had argued with each other about
with each other about strategy of how their food and water had
strategy of how their food and water had run out of how they attempted to forward
run out of how they attempted to forward a great river in A desperate attempt to
escape they rushed into it all discipline lost and every man wanting to
discipline lost and every man wanting to cross first they fell over each other
cross first they fell over each other and trod each other underfoot and they
and trod each other underfoot and they drank thirstily the water was foul but
drank thirstily the water was foul but still they went on drinking mud blood
still they went on drinking mud blood and all the dead lying thick in the
and all the dead lying thick in the [Music]
riverbed this was how the Athenians discovered that they had been the
discovered that they had been the victims of one of the greatest defeats
victims of one of the greatest defeats in ancient history
over 50,000 men had been killed or taken [Music]
[Music] prisoner two entire fleets of Athens
prisoner two entire fleets of Athens prized tries had been
prized tries had been destroyed the Sicilian campaign is a
destroyed the Sicilian campaign is a mess for a variety of reasons first of
mess for a variety of reasons first of all it's a long way away it's over 6 or
all it's a long way away it's over 6 or 700
700 miles once they arrive they squabble and
miles once they arrive they squabble and fight about what to do
fight about what to do but perhaps the biggest problem is
but perhaps the biggest problem is there's not a tactical reason to do it
there's not a tactical reason to do it there's not a strategic reason to do it
there's not a strategic reason to do it the motivation is highly
the motivation is highly self-interested they believed wrongly
self-interested they believed wrongly that they could go quickly in raise the
that they could go quickly in raise the countryside and win a quick Victory and
countryside and win a quick Victory and a rich tributary subject
State the Athenians entranced by a vision of Imperial Glory had in fact
vision of Imperial Glory had in fact engaged in a pointless and vain
engaged in a pointless and vain [Music]
campaign with athan's military power now crippled her enemies began to close
crippled her enemies began to close [Music]
[Music] in the Persians whom the Athenians had
in the Persians whom the Athenians had humiliated 50 years before now saw the
humiliated 50 years before now saw the ideal opportunity for
Revenge they approached the Spartans with the offer of
with the offer of help the Persians have been watching
help the Persians have been watching this carefully and they decide to
this carefully and they decide to intervene and subsidize the Spartans and
intervene and subsidize the Spartans and that subsidy is in the form of Manpower
that subsidy is in the form of Manpower for rowing and Fleet
for rowing and Fleet construction where previously the
construction where previously the Spartans had never been a naval
Spartans had never been a naval Nation now they had a fleet paid for
Nation now they had a fleet paid for with Persian
[Music] gold with Athens Navy decimated by the
gold with Athens Navy decimated by the defeat in Sicily the Spartans can now
defeat in Sicily the Spartans can now blockade the Athenian
Harbors the great grain convoys from Egypt and the colonies could no longer
Egypt and the colonies could no longer get
get through and finally the Athenians began
through and finally the Athenians began to starve in the streets
[Music] the people turned to their Patron
the people turned to their Patron goddess
[Music] Athena at the height of Athens Glory
Athena at the height of Athens Glory only 30 years before Perles had honored
only 30 years before Perles had honored her with the most glorious Temple ever
her with the most glorious Temple ever seen
but the goddess could offer no help [Music]
now Athens once so sure of her preeminence in the Greek world was now
preeminence in the Greek world was now home to a population ravaged by plague
home to a population ravaged by plague and
and War besieged and
starving with her treasuries empty and her once proud Fleet crippled
in 404 BC Athens finally surrendered to the Spartan Commander
[Music] Lysander the Spartans terms were
Lysander the Spartans terms were [Music]
[Music] heavy the Great Walls which had defend
heavy the Great Walls which had defend ended the city were to be torn
ended the city were to be torn down her fleet was to be
destroyed we have this wonderful scene of Lysander sailing into the pyus and
of Lysander sailing into the pyus and dismantling the Athenian Fleet that's
dismantling the Athenian Fleet that's important because the destruction is
important because the destruction is symbolically a destruction of the
symbolically a destruction of the Athenian Empire
what remained of Athens Mighty Navy was put to the
put to the torch with only 12 ships allowed to
Mediterranean the Athenians became convinced that they could
convinced that they could do finally in the end more than they
do finally in the end more than they really could and I think this is really
really could and I think this is really the the point in which the potential
the the point in which the potential that Athenian democracy brought about
that Athenian democracy brought about could turn to
tragedy they could achieve great things they could not achieve all great
they could not achieve all great things but it would still take one more
things but it would still take one more Act of vanity and
Act of vanity and violence before the Athenians could
violence before the Athenians could redeem themselves
and their City could be [Music]
reborn humiliated their empire
humiliated their empire lost the Athenians looked for someone to
lost the Athenians looked for someone to take the blame for their defeat
take the blame for their defeat [Music]
[Music] they searched for an enemy within their
they searched for an enemy within their City
City walls someone who had dared to question
walls someone who had dared to question their dreams of
[Music] Supremacy they searched for
Supremacy they searched for Socrates Socrates was a Critic he was
Socrates Socrates was a Critic he was critical of the thinking and the thought
critical of the thinking and the thought processes of his fellow citizens and he
processes of his fellow citizens and he was critical about the public affairs of
was critical about the public affairs of [Music]
[Music] Athens for over 50 years Socrates had
Athens for over 50 years Socrates had been publicly questioning and attacking
been publicly questioning and attacking the traditions of Athenian
the traditions of Athenian life and around him he had gathered a
life and around him he had gathered a group of youthful
group of youthful followers surely this must have weakened
followers surely this must have weakened the city's moral character undermined
the city's moral character undermined her hunger for
Lori Socrates was arrested on charges of undermining the state
on charges of undermining the state religion and corrupting the Youth of the
city I am quite sure that especially in a relatively small Society like Athens
a relatively small Society like Athens someone who is constantly questioning
someone who is constantly questioning the principles by which the society has
the principles by which the society has traditionally governed itself we
traditionally governed itself we perceived as a very major danger by at
perceived as a very major danger by at least some people in
least some people in society you can easily see that a few
society you can easily see that a few hundred people might want him out and
hundred people might want him out and they
did the Athenians would now put to trial the one man who Dar to question the way
the one man who Dar to question the way they live their
lives Socrates trial would be held in Athens Central
Athens Central Marketplace under a canopy to shade the
Marketplace under a canopy to shade the fierce heat of the Greek
sun he would be Tried by a jury of his fellow citizens chosen at random the
fellow citizens chosen at random the same kind of group that had condemned
same kind of group that had condemned six generals to summary execution only 7
six generals to summary execution only 7 years
years [Music]
[Music] before Socrates would be given only a
before Socrates would be given only a limited time to defend himself
limited time to defend himself for all speeches in the Athenian courts
for all speeches in the Athenian courts were timed by a water
were timed by a water clock one jar of water steadily running
clock one jar of water steadily running into
[Music] another but Socrates shows no fear in
another but Socrates shows no fear in the face of his accusers in fact he is
the face of his accusers in fact he is positively
positively stubborn to put it bluntly I've been
stubborn to put it bluntly I've been assigned to this city as if to a large
assigned to this city as if to a large horse which is inclined to be lazy and
horse which is inclined to be lazy and is in need of some great stinging fly
is in need of some great stinging fly and all day long I'll never cease to
and all day long I'll never cease to settle here there everywhere rousing and
settle here there everywhere rousing and reproving every one of
reproving every one of you it is not an approach designed to
you it is not an approach designed to win
win sympathy Socrates is setting himself and
sympathy Socrates is setting himself and his life against the entire Athenian
State he is doing what he thinks is the right thing to do he thinks the life he
right thing to do he thinks the life he has chosen this life of thinking for
has chosen this life of thinking for yourself is the best life as he says in
yourself is the best life as he says in his speech the unexamined life is not
his speech the unexamined life is not worth living for a human
being if Socrates had simply apologize to the court he might well have been
to the court he might well have been acquitted but instead he demands free
acquitted but instead he demands free dinners for life for all the work he has
done I can just imagine what that jury and the audience to that trial must have
and the audience to that trial must have thought at the time they must have been
thought at the time they must have been absolutely
absolutely [Music]
[Music] speechless when the final vote came the
speechless when the final vote came the verdict could hardly have been a
surprise the court found Socrates guilty with the penalty of death
serenity well now it is time to be off I to die and you to live but which of us
to die and you to live but which of us has the happier Prospect is unknown to
has the happier Prospect is unknown to anyone but heaven
Socrates was taken from the court to Athens
prison the S of this Prison still exists we can still trace the layout of
exists we can still trace the layout of the cell in which Socrates was probably
the cell in which Socrates was probably [Music]
[Music] held and we still have account accounts
held and we still have account accounts of Socrates last
of Socrates last days from friends who visited him in his
cell Socrates would be executed in the traditional Athenian
traditional Athenian Mana by drinking
Hemlock some of the hemlock cups used for the poison are still
for the poison are still [Music]
[Music] preserved death by Hemlock is EXC IA
preserved death by Hemlock is EXC IA inly painful causing gradual paralysis
inly painful causing gradual paralysis of the central nervous
system but as the moment of his execution Drew near Socrates turned to
execution Drew near Socrates turned to his friends treating the whole Affair as
his friends treating the whole Affair as if it were nothing at
if it were nothing at all for me the fated hour
all for me the fated hour calls in other words I think it's about
calls in other words I think it's about time I took my bath I prefer to wash
time I took my bath I prefer to wash before drinking the poison rather than
before drinking the poison rather than give the women the bother of washing me
give the women the bother of washing me when I am
dead but as the hemlock was poured his friends broke
friends broke down we have the account of one named
phido in spite of myself the tears came pouring down so that I covered my face
pouring down so that I covered my face and wept
and wept brokenhearted and then everyone in the
brokenhearted and then everyone in the the room broke down except Socrates
the room broke down except Socrates himself who said really my friends what
himself who said really my friends what a way to behave I'm told that one should
a way to behave I'm told that one should make one's end in a reverent silence
make one's end in a reverent silence calm yourselves and be
calm yourselves and be [Music]
[Music] brave as Socrates lay back on his bed
brave as Socrates lay back on his bed and let the poison take effect his
and let the poison take effect his friends watched in silence
friends watched in silence here was a man who was dying not for
here was a man who was dying not for Glory not for fame and
Glory not for fame and honor but for the sake of his principles
honor but for the sake of his principles because he believed that man should
because he believed that man should question the world around
question the world around him it was a sight they would never
him it was a sight they would never [Music]
[Music] forget Socrates in his life and in his
forget Socrates in his life and in his death becomes a completely new Greek
death becomes a completely new Greek hero from now on the hero is a person of
hero from now on the hero is a person of conviction a person who will follow
conviction a person who will follow nothing but the dictates of his
nothing but the dictates of his intellectual conscience and that is a
intellectual conscience and that is a new conception of what a human being is
new conception of what a human being is like and what a good human being must be
like and what a good human being must be like
for centuries the Athenians had believed in one
ideal the vision of a marshal warrior [Music]
[Music] hero it had driven them to conquer great
hero it had driven them to conquer great foes to build a mighty
foes to build a mighty Empire but now in the depths of defeat
Empire but now in the depths of defeat they discovered a new figure to venerate
Effigies of Socrates have been found amongst the ruins of the Athenian
prison perhaps offerings to the dead philosopher perhaps the most important
philosopher perhaps the most important lesson that Socrates left is the need to
lesson that Socrates left is the need to be critical and the need to be
self-critical the interesting thing that I see in Athens in the years after the
I see in Athens in the years after the execution of Socrates is this same
execution of Socrates is this same capacity to look at themselves and
capacity to look at themselves and recognize that they have perhaps gone
recognize that they have perhaps gone too far in the past and indeed to
too far in the past and indeed to embrace a certain kind of
maturity Athens was never again a great Imperial
power but neither did her democracy lapse again into M ru
instead she became a city of intellectual
discussion where Socrates students and his student students slowly began to
his student students slowly began to build a world based on reason
Society Aristotle studied nature establishing biology and
establishing biology and [Music]
[Music] zoology and slowly the ideas and work of
zoology and slowly the ideas and work of these Greek thinkers began to spread
these Greek thinkers began to spread across the known
world one could say that a major part of the energy of the
major part of the energy of the Athenians
Athenians turns into building what one might call
turns into building what one might call empires of
empires of thought so where before you had Athens
thought so where before you had Athens sending its ships to the various Islands
sending its ships to the various Islands in order to collect taxes here you have
in order to collect taxes here you have reason extending its dominion over all
reason extending its dominion over all areas in which our lives are actually
lived Socrates principles of reason of questioning a assumptions and the world
questioning a assumptions and the world around you still
around you still [Music]
[Music] endure in the space of less than 200
endure in the space of less than 200 years the ancient Greeks transformed
years the ancient Greeks transformed their
world for amongst these ruins a few great figures carve at a mighty Empire
they invented democracy and politics science and
politics science and [Music]
[Music] philosophy they gave us literature and
philosophy they gave us literature and drama art and monuments which still take
drama art and monuments which still take our breath
our breath [Music]
[Music] away and ultimately these Greeks taught
away and ultimately these Greeks taught us how to reason and
think 2 and a half thous years later their astonishing achievements continue
their astonishing achievements continue to shape our world
to shape our world [Music]
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