1. Persian and Peloponnesian Wars SOL WHI.5d
Ancient Greece
Persian and Peloponnesian Wars
SOL WHI.5d

2. Essential Questions
Why were wars with Persia important to the development of Greek culture?
Why was the Peloponnesian War important to the spread of Greek culture.

3. Persian Empire
The Persian Empire was an autocratic empire ruled by a hereditary king.
In 490 B.C.E. the Persian Empire reached from India to Macedonia, a region just north of Greece.
The Persians exacted taxes and tribute from conquered people but usually let them rule themselves and practice their native religions.

4. Persian Empire

5. Ionian Revolt
The first Persian Greek War started because Athens supported Greek cities in modern day Turkey when they revolted against the Persians. The revolt was called the Ionian Revolt.
The Ionian Revolt lasted from B.C.E. when the Greek cities surrendered to Persia.

6. Greek Persian War
The ruler of Persia, Darius, decided to punish the Greek cities in Greece because they had supported the Ionians.
The army of Darius invaded Greece by sea in 490 B.C.E. and landed 25 miles from Athens at the Plain of Marathon.
Run of Pheidippides

8. Battle of Marathon
The Greeks were heavily outnumbered but they attacked the Persian force and won.
The Greeks lost less then 200 men. The Persians lost over 6,000 men.
The average Greek soldier, called a hoplite, was well trained and wore heavy armor and carried a large shield.

9. Battle of Marathon

10. Hoplite

11. Phalanx

12. Greek Persian War
Before Darius could send another army against Greece he died. His son, Xerxes, attacked Greece again in 480 B.C.E.
Xerxes invaded Greece by land and sea with a massive army and fleet.

13. Greek vs. Persian War

14. Greek Persian War
The Oracle at Delphi said that Greece would be safe behind a “wooden wall”
Themistocles’s interpretation: Trireme
Xerxes army was blocked at a narrow pass called Thermopylae by 300 Spartan soldiers.
All of the Spartans died but they delayed the Persian army.

15. Trireme

16. Thermopylae

17. Greek Persian War
The Persians burned Athens but were later defeated at sea and on the land.
The sea battle was at Salamis. The land battle at Plataea in 479 B.C.E.

18. Outcome of Persian Wars
Greeks remained independent and continued to develop unique political institutions that influenced western civilization.
Athens and Sparta united to defeat Persians and continued to liberate Greek city states in the Aegean and Ionia from Persian rule.

19. Outcome of Persian Wars
At the end of the second Persian War the Greeks controlled the Aegean.
Athens formed the Delian League. A group of Greek city states that contributed money or ships to fight the Persians.
The Delian League became the Athenian Empire.

20. Greek Golden Age Time to progress and growth
Pericles led the Athenians through the Golden Age
Why do you think Athens was considered the city- state with “the Golden Age”
What did they just accomplish that gave them power?

21. Pericles Expanded Democracy The Parthenon was built during this time
Most adult males had an equal voice
The Parthenon was built during this time
Temple in Athens for the goddess Athena
One of the greatest architectural achievements of Ancient Greece
Still standing (in ruins) today!

24. Peloponnesian War
war/videos#the-peloponnesian-war

25. Peloponnesian War
In 431 B.C.E. the Peloponnesian War started between Athens and Sparta.
The war lasted until 404 B.C.E. with the surrender of Athens.
The war weakened both Sparta and Athens and led to the decline of the Greek city states.

26. Peloponnesian War
Competition between Sparta and Athens caused the Peloponnesian War.
Athens controlled the Delian League and Sparta controlled the Peloponnesian League.
Both cities feared the power of the other and this fear and distrust was a primary cause of the war.

27. Peloponnesian League

28. Peloponnesian League

29. Sparta vs. Athens Sparta Athens Land power Oligarchy
Economy based on agriculture
Little money
Naval power
Democracy
Economy based on agriculture and trade
Reserves of gold and silver

30. Sparta gets some help Alcibiades
Tried to take over the island of Sicily
Arrested for “defacing statues”
Angry at the Athenians
Helped the Spartans

31. Athens Walls

32. Peloponnesian War Effects
The Peloponnesian War was the end of the golden age of Athens.
Slowed down cultural advance
Weakened political power
Marks the fall of Athens all together
Begins the fall of Greece (Rome takes over in 146BC)
Many Athenians died in a plague during the first few years of the war including Pericles, the man who had been instrumental in building the Parthenon and expanding Athenian power.