Ancient Greece: Day 2

1
Ancient Greece Day 2

• Persian War, Peloponnesian War, and Alexander

2
Athens

• Attica Peninsula leading Greek city-state
  (Polis) after 750 BCE
• Monarchy?aristocracy?tyranny?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

3
Athenian 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

4
Phalanx

• Greek military formation of hoplites
• Heavy infantry, column formation
• If the front row falls, the next row takes their
  places

5
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

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Persian War
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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

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Delian League
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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!
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Alexander the Great

• Phillip of Macedonia (Alexs 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)

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Alexander the Great Conquering Persia