Golden Age
1.Fifth century BC Athens was one of the first societies to have golden age. Philosophy or literally the ‘search for truth’ , was born with philosophers like Protagoras, Socrates and Plato. Hippocrates, ‘the father of medicine’ ,the historian Herodotus and others began the systematic study of the world. With the playwrights Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides came the birth of serious drama in western culture, attracting thousands to see their masterful tragedies and comedies. Sculpture and painting both flourished and a great programme of public building was undertaken. Culminating in the magnificent temple of the Parthenon.
Why did this all happen in Athens and not somewhere else? To start with, Athens could afford it. The city state of Athens was the greatest trading centre in the Mediterranean with an empire which provided plentiful food and other goods. Rich Athenian citizens had plenty of time for leisure and culture as most of the work in the city was done by slaves and much of the business and trade conducted by ‘metics’ or foreigners. Many of these foreigners, such as Herodotus, were drawn to the cultural magnet of Athens and played a vital role in the cultural life of the city.
Socially, Athens was in a period of transition between a conservative, aristocratic society and an urban, commercial society in which citizens were equal by law. Athens became the first direct democracy in history where major political decisions were taken by large numbers of citizens At the same time, Athenian society was moving away from the old beliefs in the gods and ancient myths towards values based on rationality and a belief in human nature.
2.In the 15th century, the Italian city state of Florence was to undergo a frenzy of creativity as the cradle of the Renaissance. Outstanding painters and sculptors like Botticelli, Donatello and later Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci rediscovered classical traditions. They aimed, like the Greeks before them, to create an ideal form of beauty based on nature. Brunelleschi’s breathtaking cathedral dome is just one example of the architectural splendor of Florence during this period
Why did this happen in Florence and not in other Italian cities like Milan, Genoa or Venice? One reason was that Florence was able to build on the cultural achievements of the previous century. The fourteenth century had not only produced great writers such as Petrarch and Dante but also was simply the richest city; its central position made it a major trading and industrial city. Florence was also the scene modern banking and accounting.
As a result, Florentine society was in a state of flux between the old, stable medieval world and a new dynamic commercial world. There was greater social mobility than before with many opportunities for individuals to go up (and down) socially. The new merchants and bankers had money to spend and they were not afraid of showing off their new wealth by building magnificent palaces and filling them with superb works of art. Finally, there was an open and tolerant climate for artists to work in, helped by an increase in the number of schools and an improved literacy rate
3.In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, there was a sudden creative flowering of all forms of literature in London. There were poets such as Donne and Spenser but the main explosion of creativity was centred around the theatre. The building of London’s first theatre in 1576 changed drama from an amateur recreation into a professional art. Within a few years, a dozen theatres employed increasing numbers of professional actors and attracted large but not always well-behaved audiences. There was an insatiable demand for new plays and well over 800 plays were written and performed in London between 1570 and 1620.Brilliant playwrights emerged, like Marlowe, Jonson, Webster and of course Shakespeare.
What caused this burst of literary activity, to take place? At, this time, London was undergoing dramatic changes. It was growing rapidly, attracting thousands from the countryside, such as the young William Shakespeare from Stratford. The city was also undergoing an economic revolution as a centre of commerce with ships from London going all over the world. London was the home of the English court and the aristocracy, but traditional society was being revolutionized by the new money from trade. London was a place where fortunes could be made from trade. London was a place where fortunes could be made or lost. A new class was emerging, ready to spend to show their new status and looking for ways of enjoying themselves. Theatres like the Globe grew up outside the city to satisfy the demand for entertainment for both rich and poor. The London theatre was big business with companies of actors and playwrights like Shakespeare or Jonson who were celebrities in their time.
Why did this all happen in Athens and not somewhere else? To start with, Athens could afford it. The city state of Athens was the greatest trading centre in the Mediterranean with an empire which provided plentiful food and other goods. Rich Athenian citizens had plenty of time for leisure and culture as most of the work in the city was done by slaves and much of the business and trade conducted by ‘metics’ or foreigners. Many of these foreigners, such as Herodotus, were drawn to the cultural magnet of Athens and played a vital role in the cultural life of the city.
Socially, Athens was in a period of transition between a conservative, aristocratic society and an urban, commercial society in which citizens were equal by law. Athens became the first direct democracy in history where major political decisions were taken by large numbers of citizens At the same time, Athenian society was moving away from the old beliefs in the gods and ancient myths towards values based on rationality and a belief in human nature.
2.In the 15th century, the Italian city state of Florence was to undergo a frenzy of creativity as the cradle of the Renaissance. Outstanding painters and sculptors like Botticelli, Donatello and later Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci rediscovered classical traditions. They aimed, like the Greeks before them, to create an ideal form of beauty based on nature. Brunelleschi’s breathtaking cathedral dome is just one example of the architectural splendor of Florence during this period
Why did this happen in Florence and not in other Italian cities like Milan, Genoa or Venice? One reason was that Florence was able to build on the cultural achievements of the previous century. The fourteenth century had not only produced great writers such as Petrarch and Dante but also was simply the richest city; its central position made it a major trading and industrial city. Florence was also the scene modern banking and accounting.
As a result, Florentine society was in a state of flux between the old, stable medieval world and a new dynamic commercial world. There was greater social mobility than before with many opportunities for individuals to go up (and down) socially. The new merchants and bankers had money to spend and they were not afraid of showing off their new wealth by building magnificent palaces and filling them with superb works of art. Finally, there was an open and tolerant climate for artists to work in, helped by an increase in the number of schools and an improved literacy rate
3.In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, there was a sudden creative flowering of all forms of literature in London. There were poets such as Donne and Spenser but the main explosion of creativity was centred around the theatre. The building of London’s first theatre in 1576 changed drama from an amateur recreation into a professional art. Within a few years, a dozen theatres employed increasing numbers of professional actors and attracted large but not always well-behaved audiences. There was an insatiable demand for new plays and well over 800 plays were written and performed in London between 1570 and 1620.Brilliant playwrights emerged, like Marlowe, Jonson, Webster and of course Shakespeare.
What caused this burst of literary activity, to take place? At, this time, London was undergoing dramatic changes. It was growing rapidly, attracting thousands from the countryside, such as the young William Shakespeare from Stratford. The city was also undergoing an economic revolution as a centre of commerce with ships from London going all over the world. London was the home of the English court and the aristocracy, but traditional society was being revolutionized by the new money from trade. London was a place where fortunes could be made from trade. London was a place where fortunes could be made or lost. A new class was emerging, ready to spend to show their new status and looking for ways of enjoying themselves. Theatres like the Globe grew up outside the city to satisfy the demand for entertainment for both rich and poor. The London theatre was big business with companies of actors and playwrights like Shakespeare or Jonson who were celebrities in their time.
