Download Greece 440-500BC - Essay Examples

Essay Examples
1. Assess the relations between the Greek world and the Persians during
this period
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Period 500-440
o Highlighted by struggle and power of control the Aegean and
Eastern Mediterranean
Ionian revolt
o Expansion of the Persian Empire
Relations revolved around conflict
o “Power vacuum in the Aegean”
 The Aegean world consisted of powers without anyone able
to tie them together under one influence until the Athenian
Empire
Why did the Persians invade?
What was the aim?
And what were the consequences?
o The Persians attempt at spreading across into the Greek world was
“forever” dented, it never happened again
Delian league  continuation of the struggle against the Persians
o Liberating other Greeks from Persian control
o Providing a system of security from future Persian threats
o Seek revenge/compensation upon the territory of the Persians of
the damage caused in the wars
o Mycale  taking the war to Asia Minor
o Hellespont
 Siege of Sestos
Was resolved with the battle of Eurymedon  468
Peace of Callias  469?
Main source  Herodotus
The Athenian Empire copied many of the administrative principles that
the Persians used in their Empire
o Athenian Empire and control reflected the idea that the Persians
were a model for them
 Loyal citizens  proxenoi
 Supervisor  episcopoi
Pivotal point of Xerxes control
o Salamis
 Highlights the importance of the Navy
 Development of Naval program and Athenian
vision/expansion of making herself a naval power was
central to that relation
The relations between the Greek world and the Persians during the period of
500-440BC revolved around conflict.
The Greeks and the Persians first came into contact during the Ionian Revolt
where the Greek settlements along the Ionian coast rebelled against Persian rule.
The Greeks desire for revenge led to the Marathon campaign of 490BC. The
Marathon campaign reflected the growing intention of the Persians to expand
across the Aegean and Xerxes’ mission of conquest is the pivotal issue.
The impact of the relations between the Greeks and Persians was that the
Athenian Empire transposed Persian methods of control upon the states that had
been previously ruled by Persians.
Athens came out dominant through her transformation of the Delian League into
an Athenian Empire.
Therefore the 5th century relations between the two regions are characterised by
extensive, continued and consistent conflict in a competition for power. While
Athens became the dominant power through the Athenian Empire, the Persian
threat remained and came about again during the Peloponnesian War, to be
finally resolved with Alexanders conquest of the whole state.
2. Assess the significance of the Marathon campaign for Greece and Persia
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It is clear that the 490BCE Marathon Campaign was significant for both
sides
Impacted on preparations
o Lessons were learnt
CONSCRIPT VS CITIZEN
Persia
o Political
 Darius dies  Xerxes takes over
 Divisions in the court  Mardonius vs. Artabanus 
Manifests later at Plataea
o An overload of Persian tactics
o Revenge  conquest  “Land-naval collaborations”
o Preparations  Display might and power: Ehrenburg states that
this has was rather a display of technological and engineering
genius
 Grain dumps in Macedonia
 Cutting of the Athos canal
 Hellespont bridge
o Military
 2 million men (Herodotus)
 Plucked from all corners of the empire
 Conscript levies  Ethiopians  Persian Immortals
 Lightly equipped with linen tunics, wicker shields  not as
effective when compared to hoplite phalanx  fighting for
their homeland
Greece
o Political
 The rise of Themistocles
 Realisation that a united national defence was needed 
Congress at Isthmus
 Miltiades imprisoned
o Military
 The naval programme of Themistocles
 The value of hoplites
 483  Laurium
 Persians lost many men  poor tactics, different forces
 Leadership  Miltiades
o Social
 Treasury of Delphi
Naval program had a critical impact on the 480BCE invasion
While these outcomes were significant, it was Themistocles’ development
of the naval program as well as his input in organising a unified Greek
resistance that was instrumental in bringing about victory at the battle of
Salamis.
Therefore, it is clear that the outcomes of the Marathon campaign were
significant for the Greeks and the Persians due to the lessons learnt from
the preparations underwent by both sides. These lessons enabled both
sides, particularly the Persians, to develop their battle strategies
Arguments Against Greek Unity
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Sparta was recognised as leader even though it was unqualified to lead to
navy
Arguments about Salamis
o “At each others throats”
Delphi remained neutral and issued oracles that were not inspiring
3. Evaluate the contributions of Athens and Sparta in the defeat of Persia in
479BC
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Congress of Isthmus
o Themistocles made a significant gesture,
o Newfound cooperation?
o Early 5th century politically divided
o Power struggles
o Degree of respect and cooperation
o For the first time there was talk of a united defence against an
external enemy
Sparta
o The leadership of Pausanias
o The leadership of Leonidas
o Commander of the navy  Eurybiades
Athens
o Athens naval prowess
o The leadership of Themistocles
 Strategy
 Foresight
o Naval program central to any discussion of Athens’ contribution
Whilst both sides played distinctive roles they made equally significant
contributions to Persian defeat
It was necessary to avoid the Persians sailing to the Peloponnese and
allying with the restless Helots
4. Assess the relations between Athens and Sparta during this period, 500440BC
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Greek Unity
o Congress of Isthmus
Sparta  didn’t want to send troops to assist Athens
o Marathon  didn’t turn up
Delian League
o Sparta gave “half” of their power to Athens
Themistocles built up the walls
Spartans assisted in the overthrow and invaded Athens under king
Cleomenes and drove out the tyrants
o Sparta was recognised as leader even though it was unqualified to
lead to navy
Traditional hegemony  assistance of alliance under Spartan domination
o Allowed each state to retain their independence
Cimon  pro-Spartan policies
Friction despite unity  “Rollercoaster”
o Spartan self interest
o Isolationism
o Power
Vast difference between Athens and Sparta
o Athens “School of Hellas”  different to the rest of Greece
Despite the fact that there were attempts at Greek unity, seen at the Congress,
there were still multitudes of tension between the Athenians and the Spartans
due to the growing Athenian Empire, which erupted in open conflicts at times.
1. Marathon
a. Didn’t rock up
2. Congress
a. 31 states
b.
3. Wars
a. Tension before Plataea
b. Salamis
c. Heavily reliant on Athenian navy and Sparta was always lacking in
sending reinforcements
d. 5000 vs. 300
4. Delian League
a. Athens assuming leadership of the league
i. Ionians looked towards Athens to assume leadership
b. Athens building walls for protection
i. Sparta felt “secretly aggrieved”  Thucydides
ii. Sparta would protect Athens, they didn’t need walls for
protection
5. Delian League
According to Thucydides, Thasos revolted against Athens over economic control
Spartans promised that they would assist Athens but then claimed they couldn’t
due to an earthquake  Incident that highlights the emergence of the hawks
within Athens
Confirmed by Cimon being sent back, Sparta didn’t trust the Athenians anymore
Pericles  first Peloponnesian War  30 year’s peace treaty, which brings about
stability and agreement to return to the dual hegemony  can only exist as long
as they believed they were equal
This could not go on forever, under Pericles guidance Athens, who started to
encroach on Spartan allies, tipped the scale and headed towards the
Peloponnesian War.
The relations between Athens and Sparta during this period are characterised by
various instances of open cooperation between these two independent city
states. However, a close examination of this period also highlights periods of
tension and open warfare largely due to Athens’ growing power, coming into
conflict with a more conservative Spartan policy.
At the outset of the 5th century, Sparta was recognised as the dominant authority
and military power amongst the independent Greek states. When Miletus revolts,
Aristagoras to Sparta in recognition of this importance. However, it was Athens
that provided assistance in the Ionian revolt. The different outlook of Athens and
Sparta are highlighted by the Marathon campaign, whereby Sparta fails to
provide assistance for Athens, claiming religious festival obligations.
With Xerxes’ invasion, Athenian-Spartan relations gravitated between
cooperation and disagreement.
1. Cooperation
2. However, cooperation often lapsed into open disagreement
Panhellenic league  continuation of the wars
The war against Persian was continued under the guidance of Spartan
leadership, but control soon came under Athenian power. Pausanias was the
leader but was discredited, Athens then became leader and Sparta was happy
with this relationship as they were “friends” and Athens had a better Navy.
Enabled a dual hegemony to develop.
This dual hegemony continued until there was a growth of dissatisfaction in
Athens and Sparta with this policy by the 460s.
Helots  80% of the populations, apartheid system (minority keeping control of
the majority)
Sparta’s growing concern about Athens’ rise to power, as well as fuelling a more
aggressive policy in Athens under the leadership of Pericles.
It was during the 450s that open conflict finally occurred. Pericles made an
alliance with Argos and other Peloponnesian states and attacked Boeotia, ending
up in the first Peloponnesian War. This ended with the defeat of the Athenian
land army and the signing of the 30 years peace treaty, which then maintained
relative stability until Athens embarked on a further aggressive policy against
Corinth and Megara.