Section 5: The Expansion of Greece

At first, the Greek city-states developed without interference from the nearby empires of Southwest Asia. Eventually, the mighty Persian Empire entered into Greek affairs. In 546 B. C. King Cyrus of Persia conquered the Greek colonies on the western coast of Asia Minor. Cyrus permitted these Greeks to keep their local governments. Later rulers, however, tightened Persian rule and raised taxes.

I. The Persian Wars The Persian Wars, a series of conflicts between Greece and Persia, lasted over 20 years

Persian Infantry formation I. The Persian Wars About 500 B.C. Athens helped Greek city-states in Asia Minor rebel against the Persians Greek phalanx Persian Infantry formation

A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes The Persian ruler Darius crushed the Greek revolts and invaded Greece

A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes The Athenians defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C.

A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes In 480 BC Xerxes led the Persians against Greece; city-states united to stop the Persians

A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes In the Battle of Thermopylae, 300 Spartans blocked the Persian army for three days

A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes Xerxes’ army slaughtered the Spartans and moved on to destroy Athens Xerxes was king of Persia from 486-465 BCE

A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes Athens’ leader Themistocles tricked Xerxes into attacking in the Salamis Strait and sunk most of the Persian ships Xerxes was sure of victory. He had his throne placed on a hill overlooking the sea, in part to savor his victory and in part so his commanders would know that their king was watching them The Battle of Salamis

A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes In 479 BC Athens and Sparta joined forces, defeated the Persians at Plataea, and ended the Persian Wars Battle of Plataea

B. The Results of the Persian Wars The Athenians rebuilt their city and by 450 BC had created an empire in the Aegean Sea

B. The Results of the Persian Wars Persia was still a threat and 140 Greek city-states united under the Delian League, led by Athens

From 461 BC to 429 BC Pericles brought Athens to the peak of its power II. The Age of Pericles From 461 BC to 429 BC Pericles brought Athens to the peak of its power

II. The Age of Pericles Pericles brought stability and prosperity to the Delian League, but Athens made all the decisions

III. The Peloponnesian War The Peloponnesian War broke out in 431 B.C. between Athens and Sparta

III. The Peloponnesian War The stronger Spartan army invaded the Attica Peninsula and laid siege to Athens

III. The Peloponnesian War The Athenian navy was stronger and was able to supply Athens by ship - the siege lasted for 27 years Control of the Aegean Sea ensured that the grain ships could reach the Athenian harbor of the Piraeus safely. The corridor guaranteed that grain could be transported to the fortified city without any threat from enemy infantry

III. The Peloponnesian War Athens attacked Syracuse and suffered great losses, aristocrats seized power and internal fighting weakened Athens

III. The Peloponnesian War Sparta united with the Persians and forced Athens’ surrendered in 404 BC The Spartans attacked Athens and were soon joined by the Persians. For awhile the Athenians hung on. But in 405, their navy was destroyed in a surprise attack, and by the next year the situation was hopeless. In 404 BC, the Athenians surrendered totally to the Spartans, who tore down the walls of the city, barred them from ever having a navy, and installed their own oligarchic government, the Thirty. The Age of Athens, the Age of Pericles, the Classical Age, the Athenian Empire, had come to an end.