Classical Greece Desire, Emotion, and Knowledge: Greek

Classical Greece

Desire, Emotion, and Knowledge: Greek Society and Culture in the Classical Period (480-338 B.C.)

Following the aftermath of Greeks' victory over Persians during 480-479 B.C., Greek society has undergone rapid changes and revival in its political, economic, and cultural structures, called the Classical period of Greek society and culture. This period, 480-338 B.C., is characterized by the emergence of new reforms in the society, such as the establishment of a new Athenian democratic government, the gradual assertion of women equal treatment in a patriarchal Greek society, and the flourishing of the arts through philosophy, literature, mathematics, and science.

Indeed, the Classical period is more appropriately described as a time wherein human potential and intelligence is at its highest. As Plato had stated, "Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, knowledge." This statement from the Greek philosopher brings into lucidity the important works of literature that had helped change the course of Greek history. In desire, Greeks have shown their need to become independent from colonizers and establish their own form of government. Through emotions, Greeks were able to discuss and express everyday life according to prevalent social issues. Lastly, knowledge served as the guiding principle in which Greeks have enriched their society and culture through intellectual development.

These assertions are discussed thoroughly in the texts that follow. Using texts from Thucydides, Euripides, and Plutarch, this paper provides an in-depth look at the important cultural and social changes that occurred in Greece during the Classical period.

One of the most important events that occurred in Greece during this period is the establishment of an Athenian democracy. A new form of government in Athens developed, mainly because Sparta became inactive right after the Greeks have attained freedom from Persian rule. Thus, since Athens had greater leadership and naval power that made it necessary to maintain Greece's freedom, Sparta gave the bastion of leadership to Athens. From the Delian League, Greeks began building a new government, which includes a democratic legislation and the existence of a popular assembly, which is composed of 51 to 1, 501 citizens. What makes Athenian democracy remarkable during the period is the absence of a police force, truly a mark of the society's desire to become a democratic empire.

Thucydides, in his discourse entitled, "The Delian League becomes the Athenian Empire," elucidates on the function of the Delian League for the eventual establishment of the Athenian Empire and democracy. He defends the Delian League as a necessity for post-colonial Athens, since he considers the allied nations comprising the Athenian Empire as inefficient, wherein "defections" are prevalent. He cites these "defects" as follows: (1) their (allies) neglect to pay the tribute or to furnish ships and (2) failure of military service. In this discourse, it is evident that Thucydides argues for the abolition of the former alliance of Athens before the Persian rule. Being subjected to colonization allowed Greeks to reconsider the kind of governance that they want to have in the society -- that is, a government wherein leaders are efficient, allied societies are not "exacting and oppressive," and society is prepared and trained for future occurrences of war or conflict with other societies or nations.

Apart from the Greeks' desire to attain an almost perfect and efficient government, Greek civil society also took an active role in participating in current issues that are important for Greeks during the time. Classical Greek society is mainly patriarchal, where the privileges that democracy gives to the people is only limited to males -- this means that they cannot participate political assemblies, hold public office, and cannot vote. Women's role in the society is to accomplish household chores, attend to her husband and children's needs, and to produce male heirs for the family. Apparently, the freedom and privilege that Greeks achieved during the Classical period does not include the women of their society.

Critical assessment of the plight of women in Greek society becomes evident in Euripides' literary creation entitled, "Medea," which serves as a critique of the condition of Greek women during the 5th century B.C. In "Medea," he includes the character of the "foreign woman," a woman who enjoys the privileges of Greek males and does not illustrate the injustices of the females. In the literary work, Euripides describes Greek women as "unfortunate creatures," a sector wherein "...we are forced to keep our eyes on one alone. What they say of us is that we have a peaceful time... How wrong they are! I would very much rather stand Three times in the front of battle than bear one child."

Medea" accurately shows the sentiments and emotions of women during the classical period. Despite the flourishing of its society and culture, patriarchal Greek society still suffers from being intolerant and rigidly conservative when it comes to changing the established social norms and rules imposed by the society. The passage from "Medea" brings into light the strength and courage of Greek women, their untapped characteristics and potential to become productive citizens of their society. In effect, Euripides evokes, through emotions, the injustices and sufferings women experience, how they are forgotten in the midst of the glory that is Classical Greece.

Lastly, knowledge through intellectual development is one of the most profound changes that happened in Greek society. With intellectual development, there also occurred a development in the arts, literature, philosophy, and the sciences. Studies on and inventions about the natural world of human beings became the interest of Greeks, of which a particular field of study is astronomy and the life sciences, such as biology, zoology, and medicine.