Greece at War!

Greece at War Two conflicts we study Greek City-States against Persia (modern-day Iran) Ionia, Athens, and Sparta v. Persia Athens super wealthy, Sparta super jealous... Athens v. Sparta (Peloponnesian) Greece in tatters…No real winner... Rise of Macedonians

Greeks v. Persians How did it begin? Conflict over Greek city-state of Ionia Large & wealthy, but they fell under Persian Rule in 500 BCE Rebelled, asked Athens for help

Thermopylae Marathon Persian Wars Salamis

Marathon-1st Persian Invasion Darius, king of Persians, sought to crush Athens Large Persian Army landed at Marathon, just outside of Athens Greek Phalanx forced Persians to retreat Horrible Histories-Spartan Phalanx https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEJayUynde4 Phidippides ran all the way to Athens, pronounced victory, and died of exhaustion

Battle of Marathon

2nd Invasion-Thermopylae Darius I dies, Xerxes takes the throne Athenians knew Persians would attack again, asked Sparta for help Sparta would control Army, Athenians control the Navy Persians advancing, Athenians needed more time to prepare

Thermopylae Armed forces, led by a group of Spartans, marched to Thermopylae Persians would have to pass, only way to reach Greece Held Persians for days, finally defeated Why do we discuss?

Salamis Following victory at Thermopylae, Persians reached Athens & burned it Not a total loss-Why? Persians needed more supplies, waiting for Navy Athenian navy lured Persians into narrow Strait of Salamis

Salamis Greek Triremes smaller, more maneuverable Tore Persians to shreds Effects? Persian Army had no naval support; stranded & defeated within the year Persians were not a threat again “Golden Age of Athens”

Golden Age of Athens Pericles- most influential Athenian politician Athens began paying a stipend to Assembly/Council Commissioned Public Works (Parthenon) Assisted in creation of Delian League

Delian League-Athenian Empire? Collection of Greek city-states who agreed to defend one another Main purpose? Rebuilding Athens (Pericles) Supposed League of Equals, but Athens controlled the entire alliance More joined, increasing trade & wealth as well as Athenian power Funds came from the League, used to rebuild & renovate Athens Acropolis (Parthenon & other temples) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwHNZVy9p_c

Peloponnesian War Causes? Athens & Delian League success Sparta & creation of the Peloponnesian League -Spartans answer to the Delian League Each feared the other, and this mutual fear led to both declaring War! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfYvXXxz_hU

Peloponnesian War Athenian Strategy Knew they could not best the Spartans on land Refused to fight them in open Pericles ordered Athenians to withdraw behind walls of the city Rely on Navy to bring in supplies

Plague of Athens Probably brought in by Navy, spread through city like wildfire Killed thousands, including Pericles Fighting continued, but both sides agreed to a truce Six years later, Athens attacked Spartan ally & War resumed

Effects Sparta attacked on land & sea, destroying the entire Athenian Fleet Athens destroyed- Democracy replaced with Spartan chosen Oligarchy Sparta’s wealth & resources strained, eventually defeated by Thebes Rise of Macedonia- Phillip II led Macedonian Army from the North & conquered all of Greece