In the third installment of ancient Greek times that has greatly changed the course of history, you will encounter the reason given and method of execution that befell the great mind of Socrates. Other influential characters mentioned in this particular article include Aristotle and Plato. War was also a common occurrence during the early years of Greece. Do you know who was top dog during the Hellenistic Period?
431-405 BC: The second round of the Peloponnesian Wars take place between Sparta and Athens.
399 BC: Due to his opposition expressed against the Thirty Tyrants, Socrates is tried and later executed for his beliefs. He was finally found guilty of “corrupting the minds of Athenian youths.” His punishment , drink a mixture that contain the poisonous hemlock plant. It was said that all throughout his trial, he was defiant to the very end and felt he was probably “better off dead.” Some accounts state that Socrates was at peace with his impending death and that he felt it was the right time in his life.
386 BC: A student of Socrates named Plato becomes the founder of the Academy. This Classical Greek philosopher is credited with sowing the seeds of Western philosophy along with his student Aristotle and mentor, Socrates. However, Plato was much more than a philosopher, as he also possessed mathematical skill and was effective in writing philosophical dialogues. The Academy in Athens would become one of the first schools of higher learning throughout the western world. Some of his drive and determination came from what he saw as the unjust death of his teacher.
384 BC: This year marks the birth of one of Plato’s future students, the infamous Aristotle, who would later become the teacher of Alexander the Great. As a prolific writer, he has been associated with a great deal of subjects like physics, poetry, theater, music, logic, government, biology, zoology, and politics. Other influences that have shaped the train of thought of Aristotle go beyond Plato and include the wisdom of Heraclitus, Socrates, and Parmenides.
359 BC: Philip II is crowned the king of Macedon. Most notably, he would become known as the father of Alexander the Great, Philip III, and in many minds , the father of Ptolemy I, who would later become the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty, located in Egypt.
357-356 BC: The Social War is fought during this time, where Macedon and Athens are at odds. This particular battle was also called the War of the Allies because it involved conflict between Athens and the allies of Chios, Cos, and Rhodes. It all came down to who supported the Second Athenian Empire and who sided with the independent Byzantium.
In the fourth and final installment of “Significant Moments in Ancient Greek History,” you will learn the events that would lead to the end of Greek power. King Philip II and Alexander the Great play important roles in the years to come , engaging in war and enjoying profitable victories.