Learning History In Person

Learning History In Person

By: Samantha Sekelick

“So why is Aristotle an important part of Greek history?” Ms. Smith looked around the classroom to see if anyone had paid attention to a word she had just said. What she saw instead were kids chewing gum, passing notes and whispering to friends. “I know you don’t think history is very interesting, but if you take the time it can be the most fascinating subject in the world.”

Amy lugged her heavy backpack over her shoulder. Her best friends, Bobby and Kate followed closely behind. “I say as soon as we get to Kate’s house we get some chips and soda and try to forget all about Ms. Smith’s boring history lesson.”

“Yeah, who needs Aristotle anyway?” Bobby huffed.

After the soda can was sucked dry and chips lay all over the couch Kate suddenly sat up. “We really need to do our history homework.” Amy and Bobby groaned but sat up anyway and followed Kate into her room. They sat down at her desk and opened the monstrous history book.

“Solon was considered the father of democracy in ancient Greece. He passed laws that said you couldn’t be enslaved or arrested for debt. He also divided the citizens into four political groups based on class,” Amy read the passage out of her textbook breathlessly.

“He sure sounds like a fun guy… not!” Bobby said sarcastically. They turned the page. This time Kate took over the reading. “Solon’s teachings didn’t last long because soon Greece was under a dictatorship again.

It was Cleisthenes that really changed Greece into a democracy. He promised the people they would have the right to vote on everything. He also divided the citizens into ten political groups and he took 50 people from each group to form the Council of 500.” Kate stopped reading and looked over at her friends, who were sleeping.

Kate threw a pillow at them. “So basically Cleisthenes stole Solon’s idea,” Bobby accused. “He didn’t steal it. He expanded on it to make it better,” Kate corrected.

Now it was Bobby’s turn to read. “Pericles was the most important person in the development of Greek democracy. He gained support of the people and led them into the Periclean Age where Athens became a great center for literature and art. During this time Greece became the most powerful and wealthy nation in the world.”

By now even Kate was sick of history. “I wish there was a way we could go back in time and actually see this stuff.” Then suddenly a little man with a long white beard and trench coat appeared in the doorway.

Kate, Bobby and Amy gasped when the little man opened his mouth to speak. “I am Werlin, the wizard. I understand you want to go back to the time of Aristotle. Well, I am your ticket!”

Bobby, Kate, and Amy felt shaken and dizzy. That feeling vanished however, when they saw where they were. In a corner of the room sat a boy about their age. From the numerous pictures of him in their history textbook they knew it was Aristotle.

“Hi, I’m Amy and these are my friends. We’re from 2007 and our homework is to learn about you.” Aristotle just stared at them. For a great mind he certainly looked confused now!

“So I must’ve done something great to be in textbooks if you want to know more about my life,” Aristotle realized. “We really need to know about your ideas of life and government,” Kate ventured nervously. “Would you mind telling us?” Aristotle still looked a little lost.

“Sure I guess I can. I believe it is unrealistic for every citizen to be educated. The ideal government should be a king who rules closely with a philosopher.” Just as he finished speaking an older man walked in the room.

Again the friends knew it was Plato, Aristotle’s mentor and teacher. He looked over at Aristotle who just shrugged. For geniuses they weren’t really acting that smart. “Aristotle told us his views on politics.

Would you mind telling us yours,” Bobby asked. “Any views he has most certainly came from me.” Plato gave a hearty laugh and playfully punched Aristotle on his arm. “No he is a great mind in his own right.

I also believe in a king who rules with a philosopher. I think talent should determine one’s role in society not natural born right. People cannot be trusted to govern themselves unless they are educated.” Kate, Bobby, and Amy looked on realizing how interesting these people actually were.

“The last person we need to talk to is Socrates. Do you know where we can find him?” Kate asked. “Socrates is long dead,” Plato broke the news sadly. After all, Socrates had been Plato’s mentor.

The kids hung their head low. They’d really needed to talk to him. “If you’d like I could share some of his thoughts on politics,” Plato offered. In a corner of the room Werlin kept looking at his watch hinting that they’d better be getting back to 2007 soon.

“Socrates always believed philosophers should be the kings or at least the kings should rule through philosophy. If there wasn’t philosophy in the government the city-states would never have rest. Aristotle and I generally have the same ideas, although we have expanded on them,” Plato explained. After the kids said goodbye to the philosophers, Werlin took them back to 2007.

“That was the most amazing thing ever!” Amy gushed. They eagerly opened the history textbook. “Direct democracy is the system the ancient Greeks used while indirect democracy was the system the ancient Romans used and the system we use today in America.” “What’s the difference?” Kate wondered.

“With direct democracy every citizen can vote on a law. However this was often complicated because decisions took a long time to make. Indirect democracy is when the citizens voted on a representative who then voted on the laws. This was the best system. In fact, that’s how our government in the United States works,” Bobby told them.

“So we learned a lot from the Romans. Without them we wouldn’t have a government and they shaped the way we vote today,” Kate realized. “Who knew history could be so fun?” With that the friends went back to their own houses eagerly awaiting Ms. Smith’s history lesson tomorrow.

Glossary

Aristotle (2) – Greek philosopher. Lived from 384 BCE to 322 BCE. Considered great thinker of the ancient world.

Cleisthenes (7) – Changed Greece from tyrannical rule to a democracy.

Council of 500 (7) – Cleisthenes gathered 50 people from ten political groups and put them together to make decisions.

Democracy (5) – A system where citizens have a say in government.

Dictatorship (6) – One person has control over a country.

Direct democracy (22) – Citizens have a direct say in voting on laws.

Four political groups based on class (5) – Solon divided the citizens and formed a Council of 400 with 100 member of each class.

Indirect democracy (22) – citizens pick a representative to vote on laws.

Natural born right (18) – some people thought when you were born into a certain class you had to live in that same class until you died. You couldn’t move up or down.

Periclean Age (9) – A time when Greece was very skilled at literature and art. Greece also became the most powerful and wealthy nation in the world.

Pericles (8) – Important person in Greek democracy. Led the Greeks into the Periclean Age.

Philosopher (15) – a person who offers views or theories on profound questions in ethics or logic.

Plato (16) – A Greek philosopher who offered ideas on government. A pupil of Socrates and a teacher of Aristotle.

Socrates (19) – A Greek philosopher that offered ideas on government. A teacher of Plato.

Solon (5) – A founding father of democracy in ancient Greece. Divided the citizens into four political parties based on class.

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