Download Greek cities of Anatolia – 5 year revolt against Persian rule (499 BCE)

Early Encounters:
Greek cities of Anatolia – 5 year revolt against Persian rule (499 BCE)_
(helped by Athenians and Eretria)
Led to Persian Wars – 2 Persian attacks on Greece
First Persian War:
Darius I captured Eretria and attacked Athens (490 BCE)
-Athenians defeated Persians at Marathon
Second Persian War:
-Xerxes – led army and fleet against Greeks (480 BCE)
-many city-states lost
Sparta: organized Hellenistic League – alliance of city-states. Defeated
Persians
Delian League (477 BCE) – led by Athens
-offensive and drove Persians out of Mediterranean (except Cyprus)
Athenian Power:
Classical Period (480-323 BCE): dominant rule of Athens
-Athens became an imperial power over city-states, great navy,
technological innovation (trireme – fast, maneuverable 170 oar-boat) –
lower class men = rowers = demanded full rights of citizens
Athens – Profitable trade and annual tribute collection = impressive public
works, grand festivals, and increase in arts and science.
Philosophers:
Socrates – ethics – meaning of words – Socratic method, tried for
corrupting youths and not believing in gods; sentenced to death.
Plato: disciple of Socrates – justice, excellence, wisdom, ideal reality;
wrote books, formed school “The Academy”
Athens – other city-states resented them.
Peloponnesian War (431 BCE)
Athens vs. Sparta: war of alliances
Sparta: navy paid by Persians. Defeated Athens in 404 BCE
Sparta (arrogance) – led to other city-states hating Sparta
Internal conflict – Persia took advantage: Regained land in Anatolia and
western Asia.
Macedonia –
King Phillip: became major military power: longer spears, cavalry and
infantry, catapults = very new technology
King Phillip’s son: Alexander the Great – invaded Persia (336 BCE) and
won all the way to modern-day Pakistan.
-kept administration apparatus of Persian Empire. Used Persian officials
and Greeks and Macedonians. Successor to Persian King.
Hellenistic Synthesis: 323-30 BCE
Alexander died – empire broke into 3 kingdoms. Ruled by a Macedonian
Dynasty
Hellenistic Age: 323-30 BCE
Seleucid kingdom:
Mesopotamia, Syria, parts of Anatolia and some of Iran and Indus Valley
Persian System
Established new Greek city-states
Ptolemy:
Egypt-Palestine
Alexandria – capital
Encouraged Greek immigration
Egyptian culture remained basically the same
Egyptians resented Greek rule.
Uprisings after 2nd Century BCE – stole Alexander’s body (gain Ptolemaic
legitimacy)
Antigonids:
Macedonia and parts of Greece
Sparta resisted
Athens – neutral
Alexandria – greatest city of Hellenistic Age
½ million people
Learning
Mausoleum of Alexandria
Trading City
Library
Museum
Political Center
Alexandria – Greek city and Greek life
Citizenship
Residents – Assembly in Council
Public Baths, theatres, gyms
Significant Jewish population
Hellenization:
Intermarriage
Greek language and lifestyle
Indigenous and Greek culture
Comparative Perspectives:
Persian Empire:
large collection of diverse peoples
Flexibility and tolerance of local customs and local laws
Administration: local leaders
Zoroastrianism – authority of the Kings as appointee to God
Perception is having justice and defense against evil
Persian law: provided security and stability = commerce and stability
Large scale labor = water distribution
Persian culture mixed with Mesopotamia
Persian language not widely used (Persian Administration used
Mesopotamia, Syrian, and Egyptian language)
Hellenistic Period:
City-States eventually became inconsequential with Alexander the Great’s
conquests
Greek influence more profound effect than Persian Period
Alexander’s successors relied more on Greek soldiers and administration
Greek alphabet used for economic purposes
Greek style cities – increased literacy and communication = long-term
Hellenistic influence in Middle East