Ancient Worlds Season 1 Episode 5 The Republic of Virtue

The Republic of Virtue is the fifth episode in the first season of Ancient Worlds, a documentary series that explores the history of ancient civilizations. This episode takes us back to the ancient Greek city-state of Athens in the 5th century BCE, during the era of the famous statesman Pericles.

The episode begins with a brief overview of the historical context of Athens during this time. Athens was a powerful city-state, with a thriving democracy and an empire that stretched across the Aegean Sea. The Athenians were proud of their culture and believed they were the pinnacle of human achievement. However, Athens was also facing difficult challenges, including threats from rival city-states like Sparta and internal political tensions.

The heart of this episode is an exploration of the central figure of Athens during this time, the statesman Pericles. Historians consider Pericles to be one of the most important figures in Greek history, and some even credit him with laying the foundation for Western democracy. The episode explores Pericles' early life and how he rose to power in Athens, as well as his contributions to Athenian democracy and culture.

In particular, the episode focuses on Pericles' vision of the "Republic of Virtue." This was Pericles' idealized vision of Athens as a society where each citizen was dedicated to the common good and committed to living a virtuous life. Pericles believed that Athens could only be truly great if its citizens embodied the values of wisdom, courage, justice, and self-discipline. The episode explores how Pericles tried to instill these values in Athenian society, and how they shaped Athenian culture and politics.

One of the highlights of this episode is the exploration of Pericles' famous funeral oration. Pericles delivered this speech in 431 BCE, shortly after the start of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. In the speech, Pericles celebrated Athens as a model of democracy and culture, and he called on Athenians to honor their fallen soldiers by continuing to uphold the values that made Athens great. The episode examines the historical context of the speech, as well as its enduring legacy as a classic example of rhetoric and political philosophy.

Throughout The Republic of Virtue, the episode also explores the limits and contradictions of Pericles' vision for Athens. In particular, the episode looks at how Pericles' efforts to create a society of virtue excluded women, slaves, and foreigners from full citizenship. The episode considers how these exclusionary policies may have contributed to the ultimate downfall of Athens, and how modern critics have evaluated Pericles' legacy and his vision for Athenian democracy.

Overall, The Republic of Virtue is a fascinating exploration of one of the most important periods of ancient Greek history, as well as one of its most iconic figures. Through interviews with historians, archival footage, and stunning reenactments, the episode brings the world of ancient Athens to life and provides a compelling exploration of the values and contradictions that shaped this unique society.