Anyone who’s been to Athens could hardly fail to appreciate its physical context in the lowlands of Attica. Imposing prominences like the Acropolis Hill, crowned with brilliant architecture from the 5th century BCE, dominate their surroundings.
The physical processes Understanding the processes involved in creating and expressing the culture of Pericles Athens is best begun by seeking an understanding of the forces that have shaped this unique context. Of course, there are many ways to begin the quest for understanding, but my training in geography leads me to assert that an area's physical geography shapes the choices available to people.
Athens of Pericles was a consequence of a constellation of interdependent and interactive elements. At is base were the geomorphic processes that give shape to modern day Athens, as well.
Using this ThingLink ThinLink is a useful tool, both as a stand alone comment on images, and as a starting point for student projects. I'd welcome any additional links that readers consider might be included.
Preserving the full meaning of Heritage
It's my contention that museums and collectors who seek to remove important elements from heritage sites, like the Acropolis and its monuments, diminish the meaning of the elements they remove and display in alien contexts. It's only in an original context that the full meaning of ancient cultural expressions can be understood, as they stand still subject to the elemental forces that played such an important part in their gestation.
The Australian National Curriculum
At the beginning of Middle School the new Australian Curriculum requires the study of one of three ancient Mediterranean societies. In the case of Greece it offers a choice between Athens and Sparta. In summary, a study of 5th Century BCE Athens would have the following focus:
- Influence of physical features on ancient civilisation
- Athenian society and the roles of citizens, women, slaves including the influence of law and religion
- Significant beliefs - everyday life, warfare, or death and funerary customs
- Contacts and conflict relating to the expansion of trade, colonisation and war
- A significant individual in ancient Greek history - Pericles
A ThingLink, such as this, could be used in a digital project as a summary of the key concepts in the topic. I intend producing more of these and I invite participation from colleagues.
Colloquy 2013
As background you might also like to read a document I produced as notes for a presentation on using 21st century pedagogy to teach about ancient Athens, at the recent Colloquy 2013: The Parthenon an Icon of Global Citizenship.
