Important People in Greek History

             Pericles was the leader of Athens during its Golden Age.
             principles, such as citizen involvement. Under Pericles' rule, Athens gained beautiful art and.
             architecture and threw marvelous festivals, banquets, and parades. These attracted merchants,.
             philosophers, and artisans from all over Greece. He had an imperialistic foreign policy; he wanted.
             the world to know the supremacy of Athens. Unfortunately, this policy led to the downfall of.
             Athens. When all the other city-states became angry enough, they revolted and conquered Athens.
             Sophocles was one of the greatest playwrights in the history of Greece. He lived during.
             Athens' Golden Age. He began his career as a playwright when he won the Dionysia, a prestigious.
             annual theater competition. From there, he wrote 120 plays in 62 years. 24 of his plays won first.
             place in the Dionysia, and the rest placed second. He made many innovations to the theater,.
             including a machine to raise and lower people to create the effect of flying and an increased.
             number of people in the chorus to allow for a more involved plot. He also introduced the idea that.
             people are responsible for their own actions and control their own fate, so they can't blame the.
             gods for their problems. Of all his works, only seven of Sophocles' plays remain fully intact.
             Plato was one of the most influential philosophers in Greece. Plato's real name was.
             Aristocles, but he adopted the nickname Plato, meaning "broad shouldered," due to his physical.
             build. Plato was born in Athens' Golden Age to an aristocratic political family. The political.
             corruption he observed is what convinced him to not go into politics. Instead, he became.
             interested in philosophy after meeting Socrates. Plato was one of Socrates' students until Socrates.
             was put to death for his beliefs. Plato then traveled to Italy. When he returned, Plato founded the.
             Academy, Europe's first school. There, Plato taught and learned for the rest of his life.