The Persian and Peloponnesian Wars Western Civilization Ms. Tully
Dec 16, 2015
The Persian and Peloponnesian Wars
Western CivilizationMs. Tully
500-338 BCE – Greek civilization reached high point◦ Philosophy,
architecture, drama, warfare
Herodotus (ca. 485-425)◦ “Father of history”◦ Recorded oral
accounts of Persian War
The Persian Wars (499-479 BCE)
Cyrus the Great conquered Ionia in 547 BCE◦ Appointed tyrants to
govern independent-minded Greeks
Ionian city-states rebelled against Persian rule in 499 BCE ◦ Help from Athens and
Eritrea
Origins of the Wars
Battle of Marathon – 25 miles from Athens◦ Persian war machine – massive naval expedition
& infantry◦ Hoplites defeated lightly armed Persian infantry◦ 6400 Persians dead vs. 192 Greeks ◦ Greek victory – taught Greeks they could defeat
the Persians Persian rule passed from Darius the Great to
his son Xerxes◦ Built up massive campaign to invade Greece◦ Temporary setbacks b/c of Egyptian revolts
Persians Invade Mainland Greece
Unified Greek city-states ◦ Spartans - overall leadership◦ Themosticles of Athens – naval commander
Battle of Thermopylae◦ Spartan king Leonidas and his personal
bodyguard of 300 men ◦ Supported by allied Greek troops◦ Two days of battle against Persians ◦ Betrayed by local resident – scouts revealed this
to Leonidas
Invasion Round 2 – 480 BCE
◦ Dismissed allied troops – Held pass with 300 men for one more day, but all were killed or captured
◦ Persians occupied most of mainland Greece◦ Athens evacuated in advance of Persian invasion
Battle of Salamis◦ Naval battle in narrow Salamis straits◦ Persian numbers became a hindrance ◦ Greeks won – sinking/capturing 200+ Persian
ships ◦ Xerxes retreated with majority of his army
Battles of Plataea and Myclae, 479 BCE◦ Final defeat of remaining Persian army
Demonstrated independence of Greeks – would not be dominated by outside culture or monarchy◦ Monarchy = very un-Greek◦ Symbolized lack of freedom
Greeks defined by freedom and independence
Ensured that Greek ideals and culture would be passed on to future generations
Significance of Greco-Persian Wars
Athens formed the Delian League – a military naval alliance of Greek city-states from around the Aegean – shortly after Persian war◦ Led by Pericles (ca. 494-
429 BCE)◦ Intellectual, aggressive,
imperialistic ◦ Eventually became
Athenian empire
The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE)
Growing power of Athens worried Sparta◦ Numerous clashes between allies of Athens and
Sparta in years leading up to Peloponnesian wars◦ Led to war between the two city-states and their
allies Sparta and its allies besieged Athens
repeatedly◦ Athens built walls around city for protection◦ Athenians cloistered in city◦ Plague in 430 – killed 1/3 of population (including
Pericles) Athenians had naval power
◦ Triremes – Athenian ships built for speed◦ Repeated attacks on coastline of Peloponnesus
Peace of Nicias (421 BCE)◦ Resulted in cold war (sort of…)◦ Invasion of Melos – demonstration of Athenian
brutality◦ Alcibiades (ca. 450-404 BCE) – new ambitious
Athenian leader Invasion of Syracuse
◦ Alcibiades encouraged Athenians to invaded Syracuse in Sicily Cut off grain supply to Spartans
◦ Alcibiades defected from Athenians to Spartans Wanted to avoid trial, had many political enemies
◦ Nicias took over command of Athenian military◦ Spartans sent reinforcements to Sicily◦ Syracuse defeated Athenians in 413 BCE
Sparta declared war against Athens again in 413 BCE
Numerous revolts in Athenian empire (especially islands and Ionia)
Sparta created alliance with Persians◦ Alcibiades idea◦ Persians agreed to build navy fleet for Sparta so
they could defeat Athenians
Second Phase of Peloponnesian War
Alcibiades leaves Sparta for Athenians ◦ Led a series of victories against Spartans – Battle
of Syme and Battle of Cyzicus Spartan victory at Battle of Notium (406 BCE)
◦ Alcibiades leaves Athens ◦ Political infighting within Athens weakens and
demoralizes navy Battle of Aegospotami
◦ Lysander became new Spartan general – very cunning and excellent military strategist
◦ Sailed Spartan fleet to Hellespont – cut off grain supply to Athens
◦ Athenian fleet had no choice but to follow – completely defeated
Athenians starved into submission – surrendered in 404 BCE◦ Gave up fleet, overseas
possessions◦ Corinth and Thebes
wanted Athens destroyed◦ Sparta allowed Athens to
remain intact – cited great leadership during Persian war
◦ But Athens was beholden to Sparta – never rose to same level of power they once had