The Greek Civilization

The Greek civilization, known as the Western Civilization, was ones home for the incredible works of art, science, trade and philosophy. It centers famous cities that are now written and studied in our history books. One of these cities is the city of Athens.

Athens was known for being the first democratic state in history. The ideology in Athens has led people to do more and was given a right in a humane way. The change of ideology in Athens has not only improved the lives of people in the city and the Athens itself, it has also improved the lives and cities in the Greek Civilization.

But before the city of Athens was a democratic state it was merely ruled under a dictatorship. The city of Athens at that time was under in an unruly and injustice laws proposed by the tyrants and aristocrats. The people have no human rights and they were mistreated by the aristocrats. Some of the people try to revolt against the aristocrats to fight for their freedom. And it was only Cleisthenes who led the people of Athens to freedom.

Cleisthenes was born in Helens, now we called as Greece, on 570 B.C. He has led the people of Athens to revolt against the aristocrats to fight for their rights. Cleisthenes and his men won the revolution and in 508 B.C. the people of Athens was in control of the laws. At that time Cleisthenes develop a system that all people can choose who will lead their city. So he devised a simple system by using a black and white stones for voting their leader---and thus the beginning of the democratic ideology in the city.

In 519 B.C., the city of Athens was in great peril of losing their ideology because of an incoming invasion from the Persians led by King Darius. The Athenians were desperate to preserve and protect their city that they send Heiphimidus to Sparta to seek help even if he doesn't know he will make it in time for the invasion. Outnumbered by 2-to-1 by the Persians, the Athenians were still eager to defend their city. The Athenians managed to defend their city and won the war against the Persian by killing 6,000 of their men.

After the war, the Athenian leader Demisticles knows that the war against Persians was not yet over. In preparation of the incoming war, Demisticles demanded to build war boats called tryrines to have a strategically war advantage on seas.

After the death of King Darius, he was replaced by Xerxes as the leader of Persians. Xerxes promised that he will avenge the defeat of King Darius in the city of Athens. And in 418 B.C. the Persians prepared for war and have set out towards Greece. This news frightened the Athenians because of the staggering number of Persians coming in for invasion. The news caused panic all over the Greek civilization.

Because of the commotion, the Athenians go to the sacred place called the Dilphe to consult the Gods about their situation. At this place Demisticles got his courage to fight the Persians, for his interpretation