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.Originally Posted by caesar44
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.![]()
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