Ancient History in the Secondary School
WILLIAM FAIRLEY, Ph.D., Editor.
THE GLORY AND THE RUIN OF GREECE.
With the work of the present month we come to a period of Greek history marked by the extreme of contrast. We are to study the crowning glories of Greece in the realm of mind, and her downfall on the side of political strength and success. Both facts should be emphasized. This section is specially well fitted for topical study. A series of such topics may well be as follows:
1. Map of Attica and the Athenian Empire at its widest. Plan of Athens. Pictures of Athens. Side topic: the sources of the wealth of Athens. (Mines, taxes, tribute).
2. Athenian public life. Intense devotion of citizen to state affairs. Opportunity for every citizen to hold office.
3. Social, industrial and private life. Aspasia, as throwing a side light on position of woman.
4. Greek art—sculpture, architecture, painting.
5. Greek drama: its development and power.
6. Greek philosophy. The attempt to read the problems of life. Special reference to Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.
7. Athenian democracy under Pericles. The Constitution.
8. The career of Pericles: born leader of a democracy.
9. The Peloponnesian War.
10. Military and naval affairs. Athenian naval supremacy. The Theban phalanx.
11. Spartan and Theban control. Military rule of conquered sections.
12. Greek political failure.
Here is a good month’s work; and one which will test the teacher. Remark has already been made in this series of articles on the surpassing debt of modern civilization to Greek thought. The present is the opportunity for the pupil to grasp the extent of this debt. The value of such grasp will depend on the teacher. It is easy to imagine the dullness of mere text-book work here. The student may be led through such a period, and have no more impression left on him than he would by learning the boundaries of our forty-six States. On the other hand, he may be so impressed by the marvellous activities of the Greek mind as to be able always hereafter to understand why literature makes so multitudinous references to this petty people.