The concept of a democratic society, such as the one our country enjoys today, began in the Greek capital some 8,000 years ago. The city of Athens is sometimes referred to as the cradle of Western civilization.
Ancient Athens was called Athenai, which is plural, since the city was actually a collection of villages that would eventually be called Athens. The Greeks believed that the city was named for the goddess Athena.
Athens began as a hilltop fort on the Acropolis. This was a perfect defensive location,
surrounded by a ring of mountains and fertile land.
One of the most important religious sites in the city was the Temple of Athena, known
as the Parthenon.
The most important religious site was the Erechteion. Named for an Athenian king, it housed sacred shrines. The site is also home to a legendary olive tree, a symbol of peace and prosperity that the ancients believed Athena planted herself.
The Acropolis contains the ruins of temples and monuments, which collectively are a
masterpiece of classical Greek architecture.
The classic Greek orders of architecture are Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. The Doric style is featured at the New York City Custom House, built in 1834.
At its peak during the 5th and 4th centuries BC, Athens had more than 300,000 residents, most of whom were slaves or foreigners who had no political rights. Only about 20 percent of the citizens were eligible to vote. Many people left the city after the conquests of Alexander the Great in the 4th century.
It was also during this period that the philosophers Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were expanding the realms of knowledge and reason. Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus were writing literary works that would become classics.
Athens was ruled by an aristocracy called the Eupatridae, or well-born. This group had exclusive rights and privileges. During this time, it was the wealthiest state on the Greek mainland, but the majority of its residents were excluded. Civil unrest broke out.
The statesman and lawmaker Salon was appointed to create a new constitution. He would go on to lay the groundwork for Athenian democracy.
The reforms that Salon implemented were both political and economic.
Slavery was no longer used as a punishment for debt. Large estates were broken up. Trade and commerce were increased.
Salon divided the Athenians into four classes based on wealth and ability to perform military duty. The Thetes, the largest and poorest of the four classes, had political rights for the first time, but only the upper classes could hold office. This new system however, failed to reduce civil unrest and class conflict continued.
Salon’s cousin Peisistratus seized power and became a popular ruler, making Athens a wealthy cultural center. He also founded the Athenian navy, which dominated the Aegean
Sea. He preserved his cousin’s constitution.
Athens was once the provincial capital of the Byzantine Empire, and in the 19th century emerged as the capital of the independent Greek state.
Today, Greece’s largest city is a sprawling metropolis, with more than 3.2 million residents, and is a leading vacation destination. Athens boasts an abundance of history, culture, architecture, mythology and philosophy. A trip to the Benaki Museum is a must to help visitors understand the vast history of this world-class city.
Weatherwise, Athens enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate and has occasional snowfall. It’s ideal for enjoying the beach, as well as for hiking and biking.
Famous Greek natives include Socrates, Aristotle and Alexander the Great, the poet Euripides and the mathematician Hippocrates of Chios.
ACTIVITIES
USE the Internet or other reference source to learn more about Athens.
USE a map or globe to locate Athens. Why was it considered to be in a ideal location.
LEARN more about the origins of democracy in Athens. What similarities are there with our democratic system?
PICK a famous Athenian mentioned in this article or one discovered during your own
research and write a short essay about him or her.