Classical Greece Part Two The Golden Age

The Persian Empire attacks…twice About 500 BC the Persian Empire was growing. It had taken control of Greek colonies on the coasts of modern Turkey. These colonies revolted with the help of Sparta and Athens The Darius King of the Persians send an invasion fleet. Their army was defeated by a smaller Athenian army at the battle of Marathon in 490 BC. In 480 BC Darius’ son Xerxes decides to invade again.

The Second Persian Invasion Xerxes assembles the largest army in History so far. Estimates run from 500,000 to 2.5 million. The vast army is halted at Thermopylae, a narrow place between the mountain and the sea by 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians, 400 Thebans They held them back for 3days before being wiped out This gave Athens time so while the Persians burn the city down, the people escaped The Greeks then won the naval battle of Salamis thus cutting the Persian supply line The Persian Army was then defeated at the battle of Palataea and retreated.

Athens After the Persians retreated Athens was rebuilt Pericles, a leader of Athens used taxes from the Delian League to fund building projects such as the acropolis Athens entered a Golden age

Athenian Golden Age In the 5th Century BC, Athens became a center for Learning and Art. Theater as we know it began: Sophocles etc. wrote tragedies, Aristophanes etc. wrote comedies Artists in Vase Painting, Architecture, Sculpture created works that are still admired today

The Foundation of Western Civilization is laid in Athens Philosophers: such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle taught. The Modern History, Mathematics, and Medicine have their roots in the Golden Age of Athens The Foundation of Western Civilization is laid in Athens

Peloponnesian War During the 400’s BC Athens and Sparta grew in power finally they clashed 431-404 BC The Peloponnesian War Sparta and Athens fought, plague decimated Athens in 430-429…Sparta won the war Athens continued as a center of learning but ceased to be a political power