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The Challenge of Persia and the Peloponnesian War
Objective:
Determine the causes of the Peloponnesian War, the outcome of the war, and the effect it
had on Greek civilization.
The Challenge of Persia
King Darius of Persia wanted to seek revenge on Athens because the Athenian navy tried to
help Greek cities in Asia Minor to revolt against Persia.
Battle of Marathon
The Battle of Marathon proved to the Athenians that
1. Persians could be defeated
2. Gave them new confidence in their city-state
Persia Plots Revenge
When Darius dies in 486 B.C., Xerxes becomes the new ruler of Persia and plans an invasion of
Greece.
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When Persians invade Greece, Athenians and Spartans unite by common goal and
defeat Persians, taking control of the Aegean Sea.
The Athenian Empire
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After defeat of Persians, Athens took over leadership of entire Greek world.
478 B.C. Athenians formed defensive alliance against Persians known as Delian
League, that liberated all Greek states in the Aegean from Persian control.
The leader in Athens from 461 to 429 B.C. who helped create democracy is Pericles.
The Age of Pericles refers to the height of Athenian power and brilliance
Roots of the Peloponnesian War
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After defeat of Persians, Greek world divided into two sides
1. Athenian Empire: Delian League
2. Sparta and its supporters: The Peloponnesian League
Athens and Sparta had very different societies and couldn’t tolerate the other’s
systems
Sparta feared the growing power of the Athenian empire
This series of disputes led to the outbreak of the Great Peloponnesian War in 431
B.C.
The Peloponnesian War
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Began in 431 B.C.
Strategies of each side
o Athens: Planned to remain behind city’s protective walls and receive
supplies from their colonies and navy
o Sparta surrounded Athens, hoping Athenians would send their army to fight
outside the walls.
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Sparta had stronger army, Athens had stronger navy
Athens surrendered in 405 B.C. when their fleet was destroyed
Outcome and Effect on Greek Society
1. Weakened major Greek city-states
2. Ruined any possibility of cooperation
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During next 67 years, Sparta, Athens, and the new Greek power of Thebes
struggled to dominate Greek affairs
By continuing their wars, Greeks ignored the growing power of Macedonia to the
north
o This would eventually cost them their freedom