Western Civ Blog 30

Today we watched three videos about ancient Geek history. All of the Athenians were behind the Athens walls and the plague was introduced to Athens. All of the citizens were in one tight space and the disease "spread like a wildfire". The symptoms were beyond human suffering and the city was in horrible shape. There was so much terror going around Athens because the citizens were worried about being attacked and about getting the disease. With the crisis erupting, the people began breaking all laws and religious customs. The Athenian society broke down because people stopped being good because the good and the evil were being affected by the disease. The plague killed over a third of Athen's population. Pericles got the plague and lost all strength, he began relying on magic potions to help him survive. After 6 months of struggling, Pericles died in 429 BC. Pericles planned to make Athens the best in the Mediterranean sea but his plan of close quarters brought death and disease. Pericles underestimated the power of the uncontrollable factors. Pericles was the strongest leader so after his death many other leaders tried to take his position. The other leaders did anything and everything to gain power. Direct democracy began "sliding into mob rule".Because of mob rule they had no power to fight a war. Pericles plan to glorify Athens and make it the strongest only brought death and disease which led to them not being able to fight a war.