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Ancient Greece:
The Classical Age
After Greece Defeated Persians
Took a part of Persia’s empire along the
coast of Asia Minor.
Greece wanted to form an alliance with
Sparta to fend off future attacks, but
Sparta said no.
Aristeides of Athens organized the Delian
League.
Delian League
 Each Greek state signed a defence treaty
with Athens.
Agreed to pay annual tribute to maintain a
common fleet.
Originally voluntary, then became
mandatory to join.
Had meetings on island of Delos, hence the
name Delian League.
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Pericles
Athens enjoyed its greatest period of
wealth (30 years) under the leadership of
Pericles.
Democracy at this time meant that every
citizen could speak and vote on every piece
of legislation in the assembly.
All law cases decided by majority vote of a
jury of citizens of between 210 and 1501
people.
Pericles himself was elected annually.
Rivalry With Sparta
In 462 BCE Sparta asked Athens for help in
defending themselves against a Helot
revolt.
When the Athenians arrived to help, the
Spartans refused their help and sent them
home.
This insulted the Athenians.
During 450’s BCE
Athens tried to build a land empire that
threatened the Spartans power base.
Added to the tension between the two
states.
Tried to ease the rivalry by signing a peace
treaty in 445 BCE. They agreed to stay out
of each other’s internal affairs.
Rivalry continued despite the treaty.
Led to all out war.
Spartan & Athenian Territory
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Differences
 Sparta
 Land power
 Oligarchy (rule by few)
 Not progressive in
trade, wealth, or
culture.
 Sought to expand
empire to protect
itself and its narrow
interests.
 Athens
 Sea power
 Democracy
 Progressive, wealthy,
trading state with
advances in culture
(literature, philosophy,
etc.)
 Expanded empire for
power and income it
provided.
Peloponnesian War
Began with Corinth, a rich trading city in
Greece.
Corinth belonged to Sparta’s Peloponnesian
League - an ally that was given protection
and security by Sparta.
Athens began to interfere with Corinth’s
colonies and was accused of breaking the
peace treaty with Sparta.
Peloponnesian War
Longest and most costly war the Greeks
ever fought.
Almost every city-state took a side.
In the beginning, Athens seemed the
strongest and best prepared for war.
Why?
Athens Prepared
Athens knew they could be invaded by
land, so they arranged for food to be
imported and for the people to take refuge
behind the Long Walls whenever Attica
(greater Athens) was attacked.
Long What?
Long Walls
 Walls built from a city to its port that
provides a secure connection to the sea in
times of siege.
Athens had a long wall that connected to
the sea port of Piraeus.
Long Walls
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The Plague
In 430 BCE (second year of war) the
Spartans invaded Attica.
The Athenians sought refuge behind the
Long Walls.
The plague hit the cramped, unsanitary
conditions and spread.
In two years, a third of the Athenians died,
including Pericles.
Peloponnesian War
Lasted for 27 years.
Athens and Sparta won minor victories back
and forth.
416 BCE - Athens, under leadership of
Alcibiades, conquers Melos.
After that the Athenians tried to conquer
Syracuse, a very powerful city on island of
Sicily.
Syracuse
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Syracuse
Campaign to conquer Syracuse lasted 2
years.
Required a lot of ships, manpower, and
money.
By 408 BCE, Persians began supporting
Spartans - provided ships to fight Athens.
Athens became weak as money dwindled
for building new ships and losses at sea
continued.
Defeat
In 405 BCE the Athenians put one last fleet
of ships out for battle.
Didn’t battle for days.
Athenians went to shore for food.
Peloponnesians caught them off guard and
burned their ships.
Punishment
Athens was required to tear down its Long
Walls.
Athens surrendered all but 12 of its ships.
Athens had to acknowledge Spartan
leadership in matters of war and peace.
Aftermath
Athens was ruled by the 30 Tyrants.
A time of terror and bloodshed.
In 8 months, 1500 men died.
Athens began to recover in 403 BCE, but
was never again a great power.