The Classical period of Ancient Greece
157 years: 480 BC to 323 BC
The Classical period of Ancient Greece is a specific timeframe in Greek history that is also called "the Golden Age." The development of Greek culture was marked by significant achievements in a variety of fields such as politics, philosophy, arts, literature, and science.
The key characteristics of the Classical "Golden Age" period:
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Democracy: The Classical period in Greece is notable for the development of democracy, especially in Athens. This political system allowed citizens to participate directly in political decision-making.
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Philosophy: This period saw the rise of significant philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, whose teachings continue to influence Western philosophical thought.
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Arts: In arts, the Classical period was characterized by the creation of many iconic works, particularly in architecture, sculpture, and drama. The Parthenon in Athens, the works of the sculptor Phidias, and the plays of Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes are some examples.
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Literature: The Classical period also saw the creation of significant literary works, particularly in history and philosophy. This includes the works of Herodotus, often called the "father of history," and Thucydides, known for his history of the Peloponnesian War.
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Science and Mathematics: This period also saw significant developments in the fields of science and mathematics with figures like Hippocrates in medicine and Euclid and Pythagoras in mathematics.
The Classical "Golden Age" is marked as reaching an end with the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. The following era is called "TheHellenistic period."
Ten Famous Personalities of the Classical Golden Age of Greece
Ten of the most famous and influential personalities from that period:
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Socrates (469-399 BC): An influential philosopher, Socrates is credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy. His Socratic method of questioning is still used in a variety of fields today.
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Plato (428/427-348/347 BC): A student of Socrates, Plato was a philosopher and mathematician who founded the Academy in Athens, one of the earliest known organized schools in Western civilization.
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Aristotle (384-322 BC): A student of Plato, Aristotle made significant contributions to a number of fields, including logic, biology, politics, and ethics. He tutored Alexander the Great.
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Pericles (495-429 BC): A prominent and influential statesman, orator, and general of Athens during its Golden Age, Pericles is credited with the construction of some of the most notable buildings in Athens, such as the Parthenon.
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Hippocrates (460-370 BC): Often referred to as the "Father of Medicine," Hippocrates made significant contributions to the field of medicine, establishing it as a discipline distinct from philosophy and religion.
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Herodotus (484-425 BC): He is often called the "Father of History," Herodotus wrote extensively about the Persian Wars and is a primary source for later historical texts right into the 21st century.
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Thucydides (460-395 BC): Both a military general and historian, Thucydides is known for his work "The History of the Peloponnesian War," which detailed the war between Sparta and Athens.
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Sophocles (496-406 BC): Sophocles wrote over 120 plays, but his most famous five are Oedipus Rex (aka Oedipus the King), Antigone, Electra, Ajax and Philoctetes.
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Euripides (480-406 BC): Another of the three ancient Greek tragedians, Euripides was a writer of tragedies (literally meaning "goat song" in ancient Greek) is known for plays like "Medea" and "The Bacchae." His work often explored moral and social issues.
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Phidias (480-430 BC): A Greek sculptor, painter, and architect, Phidias is widely recognized as one of the greatest of all classical sculptors. He is known for his design of the statues of the goddess Athena on the Athenian Acropolis and of Zeus at Olympia, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Greece's Golden Visa program
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Original page May 12, 2023
