The Events Leading Up to The Trial of Socrates
In the years preceding the birth of Christ many ancient cities flourished. One particular city was the acropolis, or city-state of Athens. The city was ruled by the Council of Elders, who appointed magistrates, or archons, who were responsible for the conduct of war, religion, and law. In the 450s B.C., the Council of Elders elected a statesman named Pericles into power. Pericles was eloquent, wise, and patriotic. Pericles sought to enable all Athenian citizens to take active part in the first democratic government. His foreign policy was expansionism, and because of his tactics Athens became supreme. Pericles used public funds to build the renowned Parthenon, the temple of Nike, the Erechteum, and other great monuments. These architectural advances made Athens the center of building in the known world. Arts, too, became important. Athens was, in short, becoming a center of culture as a result of the patronage of Pericles. During the reign of Pericles Athens became the head of the Delian League. The Delian League was the federation of city-states of ancient Greece founded in 478 BC, whose purpose was to prepare against Persian invasion. As the head of The Delian League of Greek city-state, Athens was now the ruling po
feared that the clubs were widespread. "If anyone did oppose, at once in some convenient way he was a dead man." says the historian Thucydides. The writer compares these groups with modern anarchist and mobsters. Throughout the political and social revolution that came about as a result of the Pelopennesian War, everyone was forced to take a stand somewhere. Whether care. There seemed to be a lack of compassion either way. Socrates never weeped for Athens. The writer believes it was unfair to have the weight of and entire acropolis on the shoulders of a philosopher who was in his fifties when most of this began, which is quite old considering that people thirty-five usually died from old age. The people of Athens were too dependent upon the the election of office members of the oligarcial party. These clubs also plotted for the acquittal of other club members when they were put on trial. They secretly put to death certain officials so the people who were in support of the democracy would be confused and, thus, more easily overthrown. Terror spread. No civilians wanted to speak out against these clubs because it was
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Approximate Word count = 1452
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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