Changes

3. Pick one of the Greek philosophers and compare and contrast him with another Greek philosopher.

3. Pick one of the Greek philosophers and compare and contrast him with another Greek philosopher.

:I would like to contrast Socrates and Plato. I think the lecture states incorrectly that Socrates was a teacher at the Academy. Plato founded the Academy in 387 BC, twelve years after Socrates' death in 399 BC. Socrates was actually a man of the street, he tought informally on the market square in Athens, he talked to ordinary people, challenged their conceptions and developed his theories in

:I would like to contrast Socrates and Plato. I think the lecture states incorrectly that Socrates was a teacher at the Academy. Plato founded the Academy in 387 BC, twelve years after Socrates' death in 399 BC. Socrates was actually a man of the street, he tought informally on the market square in Athens, he talked to ordinary people, challenged their conceptions and developed his theories in active debates. He was a well-known figure in Athens: for instance he is caricatured in Aristophanes' comedy "The Clouds". He attracted a lot of followers, the greatest among them surely Plato. Socrates was in a way "the best of the public", but, as it happens too often, he also had powerful enemies who managed to get him sentenced to death.  As mentioned, Plato founded the Academy and thus institutionalized philosophy and higher learning. Unlike Socrates, Plato also wrote extensively, and it is in his books that we can still hear Socrates' voice. The Academy attracted many students, not just from Athens but also from other Greek cities. So, whereas Socrates thought and debated for himself and for a comparatively small local circle, Plato strove to spread his teachings and to preserve it for posterity.  

active debates. He was a well-known figure in Athens: for instance he is caricatured in Aristophanes' comedy "The Clouds". He attracted a lot of followers, the greatest among them surely Plato. Socrates was in a way "the best of the public", but, as it happens too often, he also had powerful enemies who managed to get him sentenced to death.  As mentioned, Plato founded the Academy and thus institutionalized philosophy and higher learning. Unlike Socrates, Plato also wrote extensively, and it is in his books that we can still hear Socrates' voice. The Academy attracted many students, not just from Athens but also from other Greek cities. So, whereas Socrates thought and debated for himself and for a comparatively small local circle, Plato strove to spread his teachings and to preserve it for posterity.  

4. Explain how the expansion and influence of the Greek culture became useful to the growth of Christianity.  Mention the role played by Alexander the Great.

4. Explain how the expansion and influence of the Greek culture became useful to the growth of Christianity.  Mention the role played by Alexander the Great.

5. Pick two of the important ancient empires other than the Greek empire, and briefly describe them.  

5. Pick two of the important ancient empires other than the Greek empire, and briefly describe them.  

The Persian empire had its centre in what is now Iran, but ruled over a vast area from modern Iraq to almost India. Persia was governed by kings who were thought of as divine. The best known are Dareios and Xerxes, both of whom started attacks on Greece and both of whom were spectacularly defeated (at Marathon and Salamis).  The most important ancient empire was the Roman Empire, which at its largest extent covered the entire area around the Mediterranean, but also Gaul (modern France), Britain and parts of Germany. Interestingly, most of this expansion occurred while Rome was a republic. It was, however, not a democracy in the modern sense because only a fairly small upper class had the right to participate.   

:The Persian empire had its centre in what is now Iran, but ruled over a vast area from modern Iraq to almost India. Persia was governed by kings who were thought of as divine. The best known are Dareios and Xerxes, both of whom started attacks on Greece and both of whom were spectacularly defeated (at Marathon and Salamis).  The most important ancient empire was the Roman Empire, which at its largest extent covered the entire area around the Mediterranean, but also Gaul (modern France), Britain and parts of Germany. Interestingly, most of this expansion occurred while Rome was a republic. It was, however, not a democracy in the modern sense because only a fairly small upper class had the right to participate.   

6. Write 150 words on any aspect of the lecture, or describe 3 important terms from the lecture (such as adding them to the study guide above).

6. Write 150 words on any aspect of the lecture, or describe 3 important terms from the lecture (such as adding them to the study guide above).

I would like to take up the mystery whether Jesus spoke Greek. My view differs a little from the view presented in the lecture. I think Jesus may well have tought and preached in Aramaic, rather than Greek. Matthew 4:23 says: "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,..." Jesus wanted to get his message to the people and therefore probably used their language, Aramaic, to speak to them. The lecture mentions "the powerful Greek language". But isn't any language powerful? Or rather, doesn't any language become powerful through the use we make of it? Greek became powerful because Homer, Plato, Aristotle, etc. wrote in it and developed it. But while Greek was probably widely understood in Israel around Jesus' time, it was still a foreign language, and most people's mastery may not have been sufficient to appreciate all the nuances of the language. Jesus message is so powerful in itself that it can be expressed in any language (see the translations of the Bible into almost any language on Earth!), so in order to be understood by the people, he would probably have used the people's language, Aramaic.  

:I would like to take up the mystery whether Jesus spoke Greek. My view differs a little from the view presented in the lecture. I think Jesus may well have tought and preached in Aramaic, rather than Greek. Matthew 4:23 says: "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,..." Jesus wanted to get his message to the people and therefore probably used their language, Aramaic, to speak to them. The lecture mentions "the powerful Greek language". But isn't any language powerful? Or rather, doesn't any language become powerful through the use we make of it? Greek became powerful because Homer, Plato, Aristotle, etc. wrote in it and developed it. But while Greek was probably widely understood in Israel around Jesus' time, it was still a foreign language, and most people's mastery may not have been sufficient to appreciate all the nuances of the language. Jesus message is so powerful in itself that it can be expressed in any language (see the translations of the Bible into almost any language on Earth!), so in order to be understood by the people, he would probably have used the people's language, Aramaic.  

:If we turn now to the Gospels, those were certainly written in Greek, and for good reason. As explained in my answer to question 4, Greek was the "lingua franca" of the time, so in order to make Jesus' message heard as widely as possible, the New Testament was written in Greek.  

:If we turn now to the Gospels, those were certainly written in Greek, and for good reason. As explained in my answer to question 4, Greek was the "lingua franca" of the time, so in order to make Jesus' message heard as widely as possible, the New Testament was written in Greek.  

8.  What weaknesses, if any, do you see in the ancient Greek democracy?

8.  What weaknesses, if any, do you see in the ancient Greek democracy?

Greek democracy, or more precisely Athenian democracy, was a form of direct democracy. Decisions were made in the assembly, where every citizen had a vote. This caused a number of problems: Direct democracy is fairly inefficient and only works on a small scale. Even in the small region of Attica, people from the villages may have had problems leaving their work and travelling into town to attend the assembly. The system did not work for a large empire. The system was also fairly easily influenced by demagogues. Not all the inhabitants of Athens were citizens. There was a fairly large number of immigrants who could not vote (as today, of course), and there was also slavery, which luckily all modern democracies have abolished.  

:Greek democracy, or more precisely Athenian democracy, was a form of direct democracy. Decisions were made in the assembly, where every citizen had a vote. This caused a number of problems: Direct democracy is fairly inefficient and only works on a small scale. Even in the small region of Attica, people from the villages may have had problems leaving their work and travelling into town to attend the assembly. The system did not work for a large empire. The system was also fairly easily influenced by demagogues. Not all the inhabitants of Athens were citizens. There was a fairly large number of immigrants who could not vote (as today, of course), and there was also slavery, which luckily all modern democracies have abolished.  

9.  Discuss the ancient Persian empire, and suggest reasons why it could not withstand the expansion of Alexander the Great.

9.  Discuss the ancient Persian empire, and suggest reasons why it could not withstand the expansion of Alexander the Great.

10. Discuss any aspect of the lecture.

10. Discuss any aspect of the lecture.