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Greek Warfare
Spreading Democracy through the
sword!
Phalanx
• A rectangular mass military formation,
usually composed entirely of heavy
infantry armed with spears, pikes, or
similar weapons. The troops were
disciplined to hold a line which created a
nearly impenetrable forest of points to the
front .
Trireme
• Refers to a class of warships used by the
ancient civilizations
• The early type had three rows of oars on
each side, manned with one man per oar
• Fast, quick, and elusive – these were the
most sophisticated ships on the seas of
the ancient world
Persian Wars
• Persians land at Marathon - 25 miles
north of Athens
• Athenians are greatly outnumbered so they
launch a surprise attack and defeat the Persians
• Athenians send their fastest runner Pheidippides
to relay the message they have won - He sprints
25.2 miles and relay’s the message to the king when he’s finished he collapses and dies - we
now run marathons in his honor
Persian Wars Cont.
• 10years later the Persians return to Thermopylae - A
mountain pass north of Athens
• Upon receiving a request from the confederated Greek
forces to aid in defending against the Persian invasion,
Sparta consulted the Oracle at Delphi. The Oracle is said
to have made the following prophecy
"Hear your fate, O dwellers in Sparta of the wide spaces; Either
your
famed, great town must be sacked by Perseus' sons,
Or, if that be not, the whole land of Lacedaemon Shall mourn
the death of a king of the house of Heracles, For not the
strength of lions or of bulls shall hold him, Strength against
strength; for he has the power of Zeus, And will not be
checked till one of these two he has consumed.”
Persian Wars Cont.
• In August 480 BC, Leonidas set out to meet Xerxes'
army at Thermopylae with 300 of his personal body
guards, all with sons to carry on their names, where he
was joined by forces from other Greek city-states to
defend the pass.
• Leonidas and his men held back the Persians, including
the elite Immortals, frontal attacks for the first 2 days,
losing very few of their own. On the third day, a traitor
named Ephialtes led the Persians to a mountain track to
the rear of the Greeks.
• 300 Greeks led by the Spartans hold
off the larger Persian force for 3
days to stall until the Navy could
arrive
Persian Wars Cont.
• Even though they are defeated they stall until the navy arrives and
destroys the Persian fleet at the Battle of Salamis
• Oracle says a wall of wood alone shall be uncaptured, a boon to you
and your children– Argument ensues – Build a wall or create ships –
Literal or metaphor?
• In 482 BC the Athenian statesman Themistocles used his political
skills and influence to persuade the Athenian assembly to start the
construction of 200 triremes,
The decisive naval clash
occurred at Salamis, where Xerxes'
invasion fleet was defeated.
Peloponnesian War
• Athens v. Sparta
• After years of unsuccessful fighting the
Spartans turn to their enemy the Persians
for help (Navy)
• War and plague strikes Athens - kills 1/3 of
the Athenian Population
The Rise of Alexander
• Phillip II unites all the individual tribes
• His son Alexander is to be the next King - His
mother out maneuvered other mothers to win
her son the crown
• Conquers 2/3 of the known world including the
Persian Empire
• Dies suddenly trying to conquer India
• Spreads Hellenistic Culture - Blend of Greek,
Egyptian, Persian, and Indian Culture
• At his death his empire is divided into 4 sections