The chorus also was a major part of the plays. They danced, sang, and recited poetry during the plays. Now let?s get into the two forms of drama, tragedy and comedy. The first form of drama, tragedy means ?the downfall of the main character.? This meant somebody important, let?s say a king. Love, war, and hate are some examples of themes presented in tragedy. The second form, comedy, is less dramatic than tragedy. Comedies are more fun, often making fun of politics, people, or ideas of that time. They usually end happily. The Greeks had many ways of entertaining themselves at the theater.
Advancements: Mathematicians and Astronomers
In ancient Greece mathematicians and astronomers made important discoveries of that time. There were numerous Greek astronomers who made important discoveries. The first one we are going to talk about is Eratosthenes. He found a way to estimate the circumference around the earth and sun. Ptolemy also studied astronomy, more specifically the universe. The funny thing is, he placed earth in the center of the universe, and this incorrect thought lasted for 1.400 years!
Now let?s get into mathematics. There were also famous mathematicians. Euclid, Archimedes, Hypatia, are all examples of famous mathematicians. Euclid was a mathematician who wrote text about geometry. These texts are still the basis for geometry. The law of the lever, a device to lift water, is one of Archimedes? inventions. These ideas led to building pumps and steam engines. Hypatia, one of the first noted mathematicians, was also an astronomer. She was famous for writing about the works of Ptolemy and about Euclid?s geometry. Also, she was noted for being the leader of a philosophical movement based on works of Plato.
Peloponnesian War: Causes
The Peloponnesian War was a brutal civil war. The main city-states fighting were Athens and Sparta. The war was fueled when Athens spent money from Delian League, to beautify itself. The Delian League was formed for mutual protection. They also didn?t like Athens because of Athens?s grab for power and prestige. They also didn?t like Athens because they turned from a city state to a naval empire. Also, Athenian settlers started to move into other city-states. This led to Sparta forming the Peloponnesian League. Then, Sparta declared war on Athens.
Peloponnesian War: Strategies
Athens and Sparta had completely different strategies. They both had disadvantages and advantages. Sparta had a better military force on land. Because of its location, it could not be attacked by sea. Athens had a better navy and could fight Sparta?s allies by sea. Now let?s get into strategies. Since Athens had a better navy, they tried to avoid battles on land. Sparta?s plan was to cut their food supply, and Athens let them. They moved all the people from the countryside to the city, with big surrounding walls. This failed because an outbreak of plague, which killed one third of its people and armed forces. They also lost their leader Pericles, because of the plague. Finally in 421 B.C. Athens signed a truce. In 404 B.C. they surrendered.
Peloponnesian War: Consequences
The war lasted for 27 years. Could you imagine what was lost? Even a 5 year war seems a lot, but 27! Cities and crops were destroyed. City-states also lost economic and military power. Finally, King Phillip II of Macedon took this war as an easy way to build an empire. He eventually took over Greece, and Greece became part of Alexander the Great?s vast empire.
Mythology: The Beginning of the World
This myth is about how the world was created. In the beginning, the world was empty and dark. There was only one thing in the whole world. Her name was Nyx, a bird. She laid out a golden egg. She sat on this egg for ages. Finally, Eros came out. Then one half of the egg rose to create the sky, and the other half created the earth. Eros named the two parts. She named them Uranus and Gaia. Uranus was the sky and Gaia was the earth. Since Eros was the god of love, she made Uranus and Gaia fall in love. Uranus and Gaia had many children. This included the Titans, the Cyclopes, and the Hundred Arms.
Cronus and Rhea married. Cronus swallowed his children because he was afraid that he would get overthrown. However, when she had her youngest child, Zeus, Gaia tricked Cronus by giving him a rock wrapped in clothes. He then swallowed it. She then hid Zeus in Mount Ida, where he was raised by a shepherd family. Once Zeus reached manhood, his mom told him to trick his father so he could spit out his brothers and sisters. When Zeus tricked Cronus, and he got his brother and sisters, they had a war against Cronus and the Titans. Zeus and his brothers and sisters won the war.
