Ancient Greece: Day 2 Persian War, Peloponnesian War, and Alexander.

Ancient Greece: Day 2Ancient Greece: Day 2

Persian War, Peloponnesian War, and Alexander

AthensAthens

• Attica Peninsula; leading Greek city-state (Polis) after 750 BCE– Monarchyaristocracytyr

annydemocracy

• 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 LeadersAthenian Leaders

• Draco (621 BCE): codified Athenian laws– VERY harsh (draconic)

• Solon: (594 BCE): Rewrote Laws– 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

PhalanxPhalanx

• Greek military formation of hoplites

• Heavy infantry, column formation

• If the front row falls, the next row takes their places

Persian WarPersian 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 WarPersian War

Peloponnesian WarPeloponnesian 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 LeagueDelian League

Peloponnesian War Continued…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 GreatAlexander 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 PersiaAlexander the Great Conquering Persia

Dailies: Greece Day 2Dailies: Greece Day 2

• 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.