Origins & Early Life

Isocrates (; Ancient Greek: Ἰσοκράτης [isokrátɛ̂ːs]; 436–338 BC) was an ancient Greek rhetorician, one of the ten Attic orators. Among the most influential Greek rhetoricians of his time, Isocrates made many contributions to rhetoric and education through his teaching and written works. Greek rhetoric is commonly traced to Corax of Syracuse, who first formulated a set of rhetorical rules in the fifth century BC. His pupil Tisias was influential in the development of the rhetoric of the courtroom, and by some accounts was the teacher of Isocrates.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Within two generations, rhetoric had become an important art, its growth driven by social and political changes such as democracy and courts of law. Isocrates starved himself to death, reportedly out of disappointment with the loss of Greek liberty following the Battle of Chaeronea, two years before his 100th birthday. Isocrates wrote a number of works calling on the Greeks to unite and invade the Persian empire. He addressed a number of Greek leaders asking them to undertake such a campaign, and later in his life he saw Philip II of Macedon as the ruler who could accomplish this task. He did not live to see the conquest of the Persian empire...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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• -338 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -338