1. Aftermath of Peloponnesian War (404-399 B.C.)

A. Revolutionary Coup ("Thirty Tyrants")

B. Trial and death of Socrates

i. Context

• Sophists and moral relativism: implications of nomos/physis debate
• Aristophanes' Clouds: Socrates as a sophist (422)
• Socrates' friends: Alcibiades, Critias (uncle of Plato, leader of the Thirty)

ii. Socrates: (469-399): the citizen and critic

• public service: hoplite, Council of 500 (406: battle of Arginousae)
• views of democracy as represented by Plato

iii. The trial

Prosecutors: Anytus and Meletus

• Charges
  • not believing in the gods the city believes in
    • Anaxagoras the sophist/natural philospher
    • Socrates' "divine being" or "supernatural experience"
  • corrupting the youth

   

2. The Greek World of the 4th century B.C.

A. Social, Economic, Intellectual Effects of Peloponnesian War

i. Economic weakening

ii. Rise of mercenaries

iii. Rise of philosophical schools

Plato and the Academy, Theory of Forms

absolute vs. relative

B. Political/Military Sphere, 404-338 B.C.

(classical Greece)

i. Era of Hegemonies

Sparta: 404-371 B.C.

Athens: 377-338 B.C.

Thebes: 371-338 B.C.

ii. Role of Persia ("King's Peace" 386)

iii. Other strange bedfellows: e.g. Thebes, Corinth, Athens and Argos (380s); Sparta and Athens (360s)