1. The Classical Age Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus Athenian Democracy
The Persian Wars
Map: Persian Wars
The Golden Age of Athens
Faces of History: Pericles
The Peloponnesian War
Map: Greece Before the Peloponnesian War
Quick Facts: Causes and Effects of the Peloponnesian War

2. The Classical Age Main Idea Reading Focus
The Classical Age of ancient Greece was marked by great achievements, including the development of democracy, and by ferocious wars.
Reading Focus
What were the characteristics of Athenian democracy?
How did the Greeks manage to win the Persian Wars?
What advances were made in the golden age of Athens?
What led to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War?

3. Athenian Democracy Beginnings Reform Draconian Laws
The prosperity of Athens was due in large part to its stable and effective government. That government was the world’s first democracy, a form of government run by the people.
Athens, birthplace of democracy
Not always democratic city
First ruled by kings
Later ruled by aristocrats who had money and power
Beginnings
Most Athenians poor, had little power over lives
Gap between rich, poor led to conflict
Official named Draco reformed laws
Reform
Draco thought way to end unrest was through harsh punishment
Belief reflected in Draco’s laws
Harshness of laws worsened dispute between classes
Draconian Laws

4. Solon and Peisistratus
590s BC, lawmaker Solon revised laws again, overturned Draco’s harshest laws
Outlawed debt slavery; tried to reduce poverty by encouraging trade
Allowed all Athenian men to take part in assembly that governed city, serve on juries
Only wealthy men could run for, hold political office
Revision of Draconian Laws
Solon’s laws relieved tension for a time, did not resolve it
Tensions flared again after a few decades
541 BC, politician Peisistratus took advantage of conflict, seized power
Peisistratus a tyrant
Claimed to rule for good of people
Violent but popular
People liked fact that he pushed aristocrats out, increased trade
Peisistratus

5. Cleisthenes took over Athens after Peisistratus
Reforms set stage for Athenian democracy
Cleisthenes broke up power of noble families
Divided Athens into 10 tribes based on where people lived
Made tribes, not families, social groups, basis for elections
Each tribe elected 50 men to serve on Council of 500, proposed laws
Each tribe elected one general to lead Athenian army

6. The Nature of Athenian Democracy
As democracy, Athens ruled by the people, but not all people able to take part in government; only about 10 percent of total population
Only free male Athenians over age 20 who had completed military training allowed to vote
Women, immigrants, children, slaves had no role in government
Athenian Government
Those allowed to take part in government expected to:
Vote in all elections
Serve in office if elected
Serve on juries
Serve in military during war

7. Height of Democracy Three Main Bodies Assembly Council of 500 Courts
Athenian democracy consisted of three main bodies—
Assembly
Council of 500
Courts
Assembly
Included everyone eligible to serve in government
All present voted on laws, all important decisions
Called direct democracy
Council of 500
Created by Cleisthenes
Wrote laws to be voted on by full assembly
Courts
Complex series of courts
Members could number up to 6,000
Chosen from the assembly
Heard trials, sentenced criminals

8. Special Roles Elected Officials Archon Most governing done by assembly
Some elected officials had special roles
Among elected officials, generals who led city in war
Another elected official, the archon
Elected Officials
The archon acted as head of both assembly, Council of 500
Archons elected for term of one year, but could be re-elected many times
Public servant, could be removed from office, punished if failed to serve people well
Archon

9. What were the key features of Athenian democracy?
Analyze
What were the key features of Athenian democracy?
Answer(s): direct democracy; only certain men could vote; consisted of assembly, Council of 500, and court system

10. The Persian Wars Causes of the Conflict Revenge
In the early 400s BC, the Greek city-states came into conflict with the vast Persian Empire, a larger, stronger opponent.
Roots of Persian Wars lay in region of Ionia, in what is now Turkey
Ionian city-states founded as Greek colonies, fell under Persian rule, 500s BC
Ionian Greeks unhappy with Persian rule
Wanted independence
Rebelled, 499 BC
Causes of the Conflict
Ionian Greeks asked fellow Greeks for help
Athens sent aid, ships
Persians put down revolt
Revolt made Persian emperor Darius angry enough to seek revenge
Planned to punish Ionians’ allies, especially Athens, by attacking Greek mainland
Revenge

11. First Invasion The First Persian Invasion Persian Retreat Marathon
490 BC, Persians set out to fulfill Darius’s plans for revenge
Fleet carrying tens of thousands of Persian troops set out for Greece
Came ashore near town of Marathon, not far from Athens
Persian Retreat
Warned in advance, Greeks arrived at Marathon, caught Persians unloading ships, charged in phalanx, tight rectangle formation
Persians counterattacked, more Greeks closed in, Persians retreated
Marathon
Legend says Athenian messenger ran from Marathon to Athens after battle to announce Greek victory; died from exhaustion after delivering message
Legend inspired modern marathon, 26-mile race commemorating dedication, athleticism

12. Preparations for a Second Invasion
Greek victory at Marathon shocked both Greeks, Persians
Athenians could not believe they had defeated stronger foe
Persians humiliated, furious
Darius planned second invasion, but died before invasion launched
Son Xerxes vowed revenge, continued to plan attack on Greece
480 BC, 10 years after first invasion, Xerxes set out for Greece
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, sailors, animals, weapons, supplies
Greek accounts say Persian army so huge took week to cross bridge built into Greece
Xerxes
Faced with invasion, Athenians called on other Greek city-states to help fight off Persians
Athens, bitter rival, agreed to help
Had recently built large navy, took charge of Greek fighting ships
Sparta took charge of Greek armies
Athenians

13. Second Invasion and Aftermath
The Greeks worried that they would not have time to prepare their troops for battle. To slow down the Persians, a group of Spartans and their allies gathered in a mountain pass at Thermopylae, through which the Persians would pass to get into Greece.
Spartans held off entire Persian army for several days
Persians shown alternate path through mountains; were able to surround, kill Spartans
Spartans’ sacrifice bought time for Greeks’ defense
The Second Persian Invasion
Persians marched south to Athens, attacked, burned city; needed fleet to bring additional supplies
Athenian commander lured fleet into narrow strait
Greek warships cut them to pieces
After Thermopylae
Persian army was no longer a match for the Greeks; and within a year the Greeks had won the Persian Wars.

15. What events led to the Greek victory in the Persian Wars?
Sequence
What events led to the Greek victory in the Persian Wars?
Answer(s): Athens and Sparta allied to fight the Persians; Spartans held off the Persians at Thermopylae, allowing Athens to prepare; Persian supplies were cut off when the Greek fleet destroyed their ships; Spartans led the Greek army to defeat the Persians at Plataea

16. The Golden Age of Athens
As leaders in the Persian Wars, Athens and Sparta became the two most powerful, influential city-states in Greece. After the wars, Athens entered a golden age as the center of Greek culture and politics.
After Persian Wars city-states banded together to defend each other, punish Persia
Largest, richest of alliance members was Athens
Alliance
Alliance’s treasury kept on islands of Delos
Alliance known as Delian League
Athens controlled ships, money
League grew in membership, power
Delian League
Some members resented Athenian dominance
Members who tried to quit attacked by league fleet, forced back into alliance
League became Athenian empire
Increased Influence

17. Rebuilding Athens A City in Ruins Collective Funds to Rebuild
People wanted to rebuild Athens after Persian Wars
Some money for rebuilding came from within Athens
Substantial amount came from treasury of Delian League
Collective Funds to Rebuild
Other members of League not happy Athenians used collective funds to rebuild city, but none powerful enough to stop Athens
Rebuilding began at top, with acropolis, series of grand temples
Height of Culture
Grandest temple, Parthenon, dedicated to goddess Athena
Athenians expanded port, built new roads, constructed high walls around city
Rebuilt Athens considered height of Greek culture, sophistication

18. The Age of Pericles Pericles Patron of the Arts
Much of the rebuilding of Athens was due to one man—Pericles, a skilled politician and gifted public speaker.
460s, elected one of Athens’ generals, became Athens’ most influential politician
Great champion of democracy
Introduced payment for those who served in public offices, on juries
Encouraged Athenians to introduce democracy elsewhere
Pericles
Commissioned building Parthenon, other monuments
Hired artists, sculptors to decorate them
Wanted Athens to be most glorious city in Greece
Believed it had best government, noblest people, monuments to prove superiority
Patron of the Arts

20. Trade brought great wealth to Athens.
Life in the Golden Age
Trade brought great wealth to Athens.
Merchants from other parts of world moved to city, bringing own foods, customs
Athens very cosmopolitan as result
Grand festivals, public celebrations, events
Athletic games and city theaters
Athens was the heart of Greek culture

21. What made the 400s a golden age in Athens?
Draw Conclusions
What made the 400s a golden age in Athens?
Answer(s): trade brought great wealth; cosmopolitan city; city rebuilt; center of Greek culture and politics

22. The Peloponnesian War
As the leader of the Delian League, Athens was the richest, mightiest polis in Greece. Being rich and mighty brought many powerful rivals, the greatest of which was Sparta, which wanted to end its dominance.
Peloponnesian League
Sparta head of Peloponnesian League, allied city-states
Formed 500s BC, to provide protection, security for members
Tensions built between Delian, Peloponnesian Leagues
Mutual fear led to war between Athens, Sparta
Tension Built
Athens feared military might of another league
Sparta feared loss of trading
431 BC, the two declared war
Lasted many years
War

23. The Course of War War in Greece Plague and Peace Sparta’s Victory
Initially neither side gained much advantage
Sparta, allies dominated land; Athens, allies dominated sea
Athenians avoided land battles; neither side won more than minor victories
Plague and Peace
430, 429 BC, plague struck Athens, changed course of war
Pericles, Athens’ leader through beginning of war, among dead
After plague, fighting heated up until truce in 421 BC
Sparta’s Victory
415 BC, war broke out again; Sparta took to sea as well as land, destroyed Athenian fleet; Athens surrendered 404 BC
Peloponnesian War almost destroyed Athens; Sparta also exhausted by war

25. Cycle of Warfare
After victory, Sparta’s army tried to act as Greece’s dominant power
Sparta’s wealth, resources badly strained, power worn down
Spartans could not keep control of Greece
City-state of Thebes defeated Sparta, could not maintain control either
Struggle for power led to long cycle of warfare that left all Greece vulnerable to attack
340s BC, Macedonia, Greek-speaking kingdom to north, swept in, took control of all Greece

27. Identify Cause and Effect
What caused the Peloponnesian War?
Answer(s): mutual fear; Sparta feared Athens would stop it from trading, Athens feared the military might of the Peloponnesian League