Download Background to Lysistrata

Background to Lysistrata
The Persian & Peloponnesian
Wars
Mommy, Where does. . ?
• Herodotus—Story-like although
one of the first examples of
history.
• Much of what we know of the
Persian wars comes from him.
Marathon 490 B.C.
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Sparta in religious festival
Alone with Plataia against Persia
25,000 Persians vs. 12,000 Greeks
Persians & Darius Repelled:
–6,400 to 120 casualty buttwhooping.
• Quick March & myth of Pheidipedes
Xerxes Strikes Back
• Themistokles (Athenian
leader):
–Spent Laurion silver on
Navy for Athens
–Hellenic League: Athens,
Sparta, & others
Xerxes Strikes Back
• Thermopylai (480):
–7,000 Greeks vs. 250,000 Persians
–Greeks hold them off twice
–Number cut to 1,400 Greeks after
betrayal
• 300 Spartans with Leonidas &
1,100 others
• All those left behind die, but give
time
Xerxes Strikes Back
• Salamis (480):
–Themistokles gives up Athens
and retires to the island of
Salamis
–Greeks nervous—Themistokles
tricks Xerxes
–Athenian Navy cripples tired
Persian navy
Xerxes Strikes Back
• Plataia (479):
– Xerxes left some guys behind with his
second in command.
– Greeks win—small contingent of
Persians run away.
– Greek naval victory at Mykale in Asia
Minor ends the Persian threat.
– Later Alexander will take it all away from
Persia and then succumb to Persia
Mommy, Where does. . ?
• Thucydides: History of the
Peloponnesian War
–Rational Analysis
–Research: Interviews, war
veteran
–Psychology of individuals
through speeches
–Tended to get a little “preachy”
Athenian Empire
• Delian League:
– Maritime city-states & islands
– Get lost “stuff” back from Persians and
prevent further threat
– Treasury on the island of Delos, but shifted
to Acropolis of Athens in 454
– Themistokles—began to rebuild Acropolis &
built long walls to Piraeus
– Mytilene (almost dead)—Melos (really dead)
– Stole money and built the Acropolis “for real”
Peloponnesian War 431-404
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Pericles Plan & Thucydides’ sympathy
Plague—yuck!
Sphacteria 425: Almost peace
Endless twists and turns & a failed sea
expedition in Syracuse
• Athens loses—Sparta installs oligarchy—It
doesn’t last
• Lysistrata written in 411 when there was
still hope for a fair peace