Crucible of Civilization: Empire of the Mind / 17:14-24:46

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   During the Peloponnesian War, Sparta's army invaded Athenian territory, burning Athen's farmland around their city. Athenians could only watch their fields and crops being destroyed from behind their city walls, because Pericles convinced his people to go with his plan. Pericles' plan seemed like an efficient strategy at first, but eventually, it led to devastation in Athens. Pericles believed that he could strengthen Athenian navy so that they would be the greatest power in the Mediterranean. By doing so, he decided that they shouldn't try to fight off Sparta's land army. Therefore, his plan was to keep Athens within their city walls. Because of this, Athens was relying on fleet and shipments from overseas to survive. This is the start to a great fall. One year into the war, the grain boats that fed the city of Athens brought plague along with them! Since the Athenian population was crammed together, within city walls, plague spread rapidly. Not only was this plague spreading throughout the city, but it was brutal. "The body was suddenly seized- first, with violent heats around the head and redness and inflammation of the eye... disease descended into the bowels producing violent ulceration and uncontrollable diarrhea... sufferings of individuals seemed almost beyond the capacity of human nature." This is how Thucydides, an Athenian historian and general, describes the harsh plague that unexpectedely struck Athens. It was so bad that those with fever and unquenchable thirst crawled into the city systems/water mains to die. Bodies of men were stacked on top of each of and half dead animals roamed Athenian streets. In fact, the plague would kill over one-third of Athens population; and soon enough, it would strike Pericles too. Pericles' health declined, his strength weakened, and he developed terrible symptoms recorded by his biographer, Plutarch. He became so desperate that he relied on potions and magic to try to save his life. However, after six months of having this terrible illness, Pericles dies in 429 BC. Those who resented Pericles when he was alive soon realized when he was gone that all along, he was their main protector of public safety. Even after Pericles' death, a new threatening potential emerged in Athenian government. People were so desperate for power, that they would do anything the crowd wanted. Their Athenian democracy had potential to slide into mob rule.

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