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Classical Greece. Section 4.3. The Challenge of Persia. The Greek states of Athens and Sparta formed alliances to defeat Persian invaders. As the Greeks spread throughout the Mediterranean , they came into contact with the Persian Empire .
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Classical Greece Section 4.3
The Challenge of Persia • The Greek states of Athens and Sparta formed alliances to defeat Persian invaders. • As the Greeks spread throughout the Mediterranean, they came into contact with the Persian Empire. • The Ionian Greek city-states in Western Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) had fallen to the Persian Empire. • The Ionians revolted against Persian rule, with the help of the Athenian Navy, but were unsuccessful in freeing themselves.
The Challenge of Persia • The intervention of Athens in the Ionian revolt led the Persian ruler Darius to seek revenge by invading Greece in 490 B.C. • The Persians landed at Marathon, where a greatly outnumbered Athenian army defeated them. • According to legend, an Athenian messenger, Pheidipides ran from Marathon to Athens (42km) and cried “nike” (victory) and died.
The Challenge of Persia • In 486 B.C. Xerxes became the new Persian ruler and vowed revenge on the Greeks for the Persian defeat at Marathon. • The Greeks prepared for war under the leadership of the Spartans on land and the Athenians at sea. • King Leonidas of Sparta led the Greek army while Themistocles led the naval force.
The Challenge of Persia • Xerxes led a massive invasion force of 180,000 troops into Greece. • A Greek force led by the Spartans held of the Persians at Thermopylae for two days. • The Greek fleet led by the Athenian commander Themistocles, defeated the Persians near Salamis. • The final defeat of the Persians came at Plataea, where a combined Greek force destroyed the invading Persian army.
The Athenian Empire • In 478 B.C. the Athenians formed a defensive alliance against Persia, called the Delian League. • Its main headquarters was on the island of Delos while the chief officials and commanders of the league were Athenians. • The Delian League would free the Ionian Greek city states from Persian rule and free the Aegean Sea from pirates. • In 458 B.C. the Delian League’s treasury was moved to Athens giving it control of a mini Greek Empire. • Under Pericles leadership Athens would expand its empire between 461 B.C. and 429 B.C. This period would become known as the Age of Pericles.
The Age of Pericles • By creating a direct Democracy, Pericles expanded the involvement of Athenians in their democracy. • Every male citizen participated directly in government in mass meetings held every ten days in which the assembly voted on all major issues. • Anyone attending the meetings could speak but usually only respected leaders did so. • Ten officials, or generals directed policy.
The Age of Pericles • Athenians devised the practice of ostracism to protect against ambitious politicians. • On a pottery fragment members of the assembly could write the name of a person they considered dangerous. A person who had their name mentioned 6,000 times would be exiled for 10 years. • Under Pericles Athens became the center of Greek culture. Pericles undertook a massive rebuilding program including temples, and statues. Art, architecture, and philosophy flourished.
Daily Life in Classical Athens • Before the plague in Athens in 430 B.C. there were 300,000 people living in Athens. • 60,000 were adult males with political power. • 10,000 were Adult male foreigners who had protection of the laws. • Slaves numbered around 100,000 • Slavery was common in the Ancient world most people in Athens owned at least one slave. • Slaves usually worked in the fields or in the home as cooks and maids. • Slaves owned by the city would work on public building projects.
Economy and Society • The Athenian economy was largely based on farming and trade. • Athenians grew grains, vegetables, and fruit for local use. • Grapes and olive trees were cultivated for wine and olive oil, for local use and for export. • Athenians raised sheep and goats for wool, milk and dairy products.
Economy and Society • Athenians had to import from 50 to 80 percent of its grain for public use. • Trade would become increasingly valuable as demand for basic goods such as grain increased. • The Athenians would build a port at nearby Piraeus which would help them become a leading trade center in the Greek world.
Economy and Society • The family was an important institution in Ancient Athens. • It was usually composed of a husband, wife, children and grandparents. • The family’s role was to produce new citizens for Athens.
Economy and Society • Women who were citizens could take part in most religious festivals. • They were expected to remain at home and if they left the house they had to have a companion. • Athenian women could not own property except for personal items. • Athenian girls married at age 14 or 15 and were taught from an early age how to run a home.
The Great Peloponnesian War • After the Persian Wars the Greek city states divided into two major alliances. One led by Athens (the Delian League) and the other by Sparta (the Peloponnesian League). • War would break out between the two sides in 431 B.C. • With the Spartans commanding a superior land force the Athenians withdrew behind their walls and received supplies from their colonies. • In the second year of the war plague broke out in Athens killing one third of the population of Athens including their leader, Pericles.
The Great Peloponnesian War • A major defeat of the Athenians came at Aegospotami when their fleet was destroyed. • The war lasted from 431-404 B.C. when Athens finally surrendered. For the next 67 years. Sparta, Thebes and Athens would fight for domination of the Greeks. • The Greeks would eventually be conquered by their northern neighbors, the Macedonians.
