History of Western Philosophy, Russel: Ch-7 Athens in Relation to Culture

3/29/2016
- Greatness of Athens at the time of 2 persian wars (490 BC and 480-479 BC.)
- Wise leadership of Pericles
- Greek tragedy by Aeschylus, followed by Sophocles, followed by Euripides
- Reconstruction after war, Pheidias, the sculptor
- Achievement of Athens astonishing
- Aristocracy, young men with free time, pursued leisure in pursuit of science, mathematics and philosophy.
- Threat for Athens from inside (democracy) and outside Sparta
- Athens was crushed in Peloponnesian war (432 - 404 BC.)
- Prestige survived - schools survived till A.D 529 BC.