Changes

3.Literature.  Of all that the Greeks have left behind, their writings- from epic poems like the Illiad and Odyssey to single lines translated from crumbling manuscripts- best demonstrate their vision and view of life.  To really ''get'' the Greeks, you have to read what they wrote.  You can look at all the architecture, logic, reasoning, and other tools of the Greeks, but it only comes together at the words of Aeschylus, about their hope and vision: “A shining wind out of this dark shall blow, piercing the dawn, growing as great waves grow, to burst in the heart of sunrise.”

3.Literature.  Of all that the Greeks have left behind, their writings- from epic poems like the Illiad and Odyssey to single lines translated from crumbling manuscripts- best demonstrate their vision and view of life.  To really ''get'' the Greeks, you have to read what they wrote.  You can look at all the architecture, logic, reasoning, and other tools of the Greeks, but it only comes together at the words of Aeschylus, about their hope and vision: “A shining wind out of this dark shall blow, piercing the dawn, growing as great waves grow, to burst in the heart of sunrise.”

4.On more than one occasion, the Ekklesia (the assembly of citizens in the Athenian democracy) voted compulsively and had to later rescind its vote, or deal with the consequences.  When the passions of the people are mindlessly inflamed with nationalism or worry or stress during war or domestic crisis, a direct democracy almost necessarily ensures that the nation will be lead emphatically in the wrong direction, unprepared or with a rash mentality.  For example, the Ekklesia voted in 406 BC to execute eight generals who failed to collect survivors from ships damaged in a storm.  The trial tried all eight generals together and thus was an illegal proceeding, which happened anyway due to the excitement of the people after years of war.  Later the Ekklesia made up for the unlawful executions by executing those who had accused the generals.  More infamously, Socrates was executed by the Ekklesia- an event which Greek reason might helped avoid.   

4.On more than one occasion, the Ekklesia (the assembly of citizens in the Athenian democracy) voted compulsively and had to later rescind its vote, or deal with the consequences.  When the passions of the people are mindlessly inflamed with nationalism or worry or stress during war or domestic crisis, a direct democracy almost necessarily ensures that the nation will be lead emphatically in the wrong direction, unprepared or with a rash mentality.  For example, the Ekklesia voted in 406 BC to execute eight generals who failed to collect survivors from ships damaged in a storm.  The trial tried all eight generals together and thus was an illegal proceeding, which happened anyway due to the excitement of the people after years of war.  Later the Ekklesia made up for the unlawful executions by executing those who had accused the generals.  More infamously, (though not related to a war) Socrates was executed by the Ekklesia- an event which Greek reason might helped avoid.   

[[Category:World History lectures]]

[[Category:World History lectures]]