Perry suggests that the rise of the polis marked a "break with theocratic politics." "The polis gave individuals a sense of belonging, for its citizens were intimately involved in the political and cultural life of the community. . . . In the fifth century B.C., at its maturity, the Greeks viewed their polis as the only avenue to the good life- `the only framework within which man could realize his spiritual, moral, and intellectual capacities'. . ."
How do the speech by Pericles, Solon's poetry, the play Antigone, and the description of Sparta support the above statements? In what ways do these readings raise questions about the nature of the polis?
What are the chief issues in Antigone? How are these issues reflected in the words of Solon?
How do Athens and Sparta compare?
How does the poetry of the ancient Greeks enhance our understanding of early classical Greek civilization?
Based on the primary sources, what kinds of comparisons could you make between Greek and Near Eastern civilizations?
Posted by mdsec
at 2:36 PM PDT
