Marathon reversed

[sharrukin]

It is hard to belive that Socrates , Plato , Aristotle etc' were as they were , under Persian occupation

Now , again , the greek philo' could write what they wrote just because greece was independent , their views came from one point , the freedom of Helas.

Didn't the Greeks make Socrates drink hemlock as a form of execution?

[Steppe Merc]

Perhaps under the Persians he would have lived longer, since they might have kept those quarlesome city states apart from each other...

[conon394]

Considering Socrates was 70 when he was executed, I doubt he could have lived much longer. In any case, the fact he never voluntarily left Athens kind of suggests he didn’t think he have more freedom of speech and inquiry somewhere else. His accusers were very likely not all that interested in Socrates anyway, but the fact that some of his associates had been leading figures in the brutal oligarchy imposed on Athens by Sparta after the Peloponnesian war. His trial was political revenge via proxy. Had Socrates asked for banishment as alternative to execution, the jury almost certainly would have opted for that instead.

[caesar44]

Considering Socrates was 70 when he was executed, I doubt he could have lived much longer. In any case, the fact he never voluntarily left Athens kind of suggests he didn’t think he have more freedom of speech and inquiry somewhere else. His accusers were very likely not all that interested in Socrates anyway, but the fact that some of his associates had been leading figures in the brutal oligarchy imposed on Athens by Sparta after the Peloponnesian war. His trial was political revenge via proxy. Had Socrates asked for banishment as alternative to execution, the jury almost certainly would have opted for that instead.

Agreed !
Socrates could easily escaped his death , but he choose to get killed by his beloved Athens .

[PyrrhusofEpirus]

Agreed !
Socrates could easily escaped his death , but he choose to get killed by his beloved Athens .

This is what we know from Plato's scripts. I'm pretty sure that Plato, as a student of Socrates, prettified his teacher execution, as a result of his high moral principles. See Plato's ideal society.

As for the thread's subject, I have to say that history isn't a straight line. If the Greek cities-states had fell under the persian rule, the history would follow, more or less, a different path.
Greek philosophy, reasoning and rational thinking was based on freedom, democracy and the prosperity of the cities states. Ancient greeks were traders, they have settled all over the Mediterranean Sea, and keep trading relationships with most of the ancient Mediterranean civilizations. Trade led to ideas exchanging and in combination with the weak royal or oligarchic authorities of the tiny states, gave birth to democracy. Democracy provided the philosophy and vice versa. The democratic states, managed to kept their freedom from persians and this led the states to prosper. Democracy, freedom and prosperity attracted all ancient great minds, who were able to study and exchange ideas. If this line -democracy, freedom and prosperity-
was broke, it would definitely led history on another path.
PS
See also the medieval Italian cities-states, Milan, Genoa, Venice, Siena, and Florence the medieval Athens. These state were democracies, and managed to keep their independence for centuries. They attracted all medieval great minds, gave rebirth to philosophy and reasoning, which finally led to Renaissance.

[conon394]

PyrrhusofEpirus

How exactly would you say he 'prettified" the execution?

[PyrrhusofEpirus]

PyrrhusofEpirus

How exactly would you say he 'prettified" the execution?

Actually I want to say that Plato, as a student of Socrates, prettified his teacher actions and speakings, during his trial and the time which Socrates waited to be executed. See Socrates apology. I find it too dramatic.