Download Ancient Greece: Day 2

Ancient Greece: Day 2
Persian War, Peloponnesian War, and
Alexander
Athens
• Attica Peninsula; leading
Greek city-state (Polis) after
750 BCE
– Monarchyaristocracytyr
annydemocracy
• Early Problems:
– Small farmers unable to
compete with imports
• sold land, forced into slavery if
unable to pay debts
– Common people had no
voice in Government
Athenian Leaders
• Draco (621 BCE): codified Athenian laws
– VERY harsh (draconic)
• Solon: (594 BCE): Rewrote Laws
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cancel mortgages on land
free debt slaves
allow all males on juries
limit land owned by one person
commoners right to vote
• Pericles (461-429 BCE) “Golden Age of Athens”
– opened government service to all men
– salaries to public officials
Phalanx
• Greek military formation of hoplites
• Heavy infantry, column formation
• If the front row falls, the next row takes
their places
Persian War
• Persian Empire controlled Middle East and
Greek colonies on Asia Minor
– Colonies Revolted(with aid of Athens), Persian king
(Darius) determined to punish Athens
• Battles
– Marathon: Persia attacks, Athens defeats (490 BCE)
– Athens built huge navy and organized the city-states
(Themistocles)
– Thermopylae; attack by Xerxes (son of Darius), Persia
won (480 BCE)
– Naval battle of Salamis, Athens won
– Final battle of Platea, land battle won by Spartans,
drove off Persians
• Greek Democracy prevailed and were able to
have a “golden age”
Persian War
Peloponnesian War
• (431 BCE-404 BCE)
• Athens formed Delian League for protection against the
Persians, pirates
– really turns into the Athenian Empire
• Sparta & others create an anti-Athens alliance;
Peloponnesian League
• Sparta had no navy, made a deal w/Persians to get $ for
navy
Delian League
Peloponnesian War Continued…
• End of War
– Athens weakened by a plague & ruined crops; forced to make peace in
404 BCE
• Effects:
– Ruined fields, city-states ripe for take over, Athenians lose faith in their
democracy
– Sparta broke, detested for being anti-democratic
This picture actually
represents the Persian War,
but it looked cool. Notice
the Phalanx behind
Leonidas!
Alexander the Great
• Phillip of Macedonia (Alex’s Dad)
– Tried to unify city-states by force
– united the militaries and planned to attack Persia, but
was assassinated
• Alexander
– Conquered Persian Empire (Middle East and Egypt), to
the Indus River
– Largest empire to this point
– Died of fever at 33
• Spread Hellenism (culture of the Greeks)
Alexander the Great Conquering Persia
Dailies: Greece Day 2
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What is a Golden Age?
How does the Phalanx work?
What was the Delian League? Who lead
them?
What did the battle of Thermopylae do for
Athens?
Describe Hellenism.