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Transcript
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. • • • • 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 • • • • 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