Download Chapter 4 Section 3 - Classical Greece

Classical Greece
CIRCA 500 B.C.E. – 338 B.C.E.
CHAPTER 4 SECTION 3
The Challenge of Persia

Ionian Greek cities (In Asia Minor) had fallen to the Persian empire
from the East. The Athenian Navy tried to help the Ionian Greeks
revolt, but the challenge was unsuccessful.
- Darius, the Persian ruler at the time vowed to seek revenge
against the Athenians.
* In 490 B.C.E. the Persians land near Athens . Although the Persians
outnumbered the Athenians, the Athenians were victorious, marking
the 1st time a group of Greeks defeated the Persian Empire.
The Challenge of Persia

Mindful of a possible threat of more attacks by the Persians, Some
(not all) of the Greek city-states formed a defensive pact led by the
Spartans, the most skillful of all the Greek warriors.
- The Athenian’s however had other ideas for their defense, they
would build a Navy with over 200 ships.

In 480 B.C.E. the Persians again return to Greece to exert their
influence over the Greeks. This time the Persians returned with over
180,000 troops and thousands of war ships.
The Persian Wars
The Challenge of Persia

Individually these city-states were outnumbered, their only chance
to survive was to put their rivalries & differences aside & unite
against the Persians.

The first major battle was in Thermopylae, here the united Greeks led
by 300 Spartans battle courageously against the larger Persian Army
before eventually falling.

The Athenians, knowing that the Persians had defeated the Greeks
in Thermopylae, abandoned Athens for the island of Salamis as the
Persians approached. From Salamis the Athenian Navy launched an
attack on the Persian fleet, defeating them even though they were
outnumbered.
Battle of Thermopylae
The Challenge of Persia

Following the defeat of the Persian Navy, an Army of united Greeks
defeated the Persian Army near Athens.
Age of Pericles

Under the guidance of Pericles, an Athenian political figure, the
Athenian Empire flourished mainly due to a democratic government
but also due to the expansion of its territories abroad.

Democracy, and even more so the style of democracy (direct
democracy) was a major reason why the Athenians maintained
control of the Greek world.

The poorer class also partook in politics, some were now interested
in running for certain positions because these posts paid well.
The Athenian Empire

Following the defeat of the Persians, Athens became the most
power Greek city-states, They now controlled the entire Greek
world.

Still fearful of the Persian threat, the Greek city-states, led by Athens
created the Delian League to defend against the Persians.

The league was not only formed for defensive purposes. The league
also initiated conflicts with the Persian until virtually all the Greek
city-states were free from Persian rule.
Peloponnesian War

Following the conflicts with the Persians, The Greek world was split into
two camps.
- The Athenian Empire
- Sparta & their Allies

The two camps split due to differences amongst their distinct society.

The Athenians knowing they could not defeat the Spartans in battle,
Stayed within Athens, whose great wall kept the Spartans from entering
the city.

The Athenians heavily weakened after spending much of their time
behind the city walls, eventually fell to the Spartans when the Athenian
Navy was destroyed. As a result of this war Athens and Sparta were
both weakened and now susceptible to attack from the growing
Macedonian Empire to the North.