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The Persian and Peloponnesian Wars

The Persian and Peloponnesian Wars. Western Civilization Ms. 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 ).

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The Persian and Peloponnesian Wars

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  1. The Persian and Peloponnesian Wars Western Civilization Ms. Tully

  2. 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

  3. The Persian Wars (499-479 BCE)

  4. Origins of the Wars • 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

  5. Persians Invade Mainland Greece • 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

  6. Invasion Round 2 – 480 BCE • 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

  7. 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

  8. Significance of Greco-Persian Wars • 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

  9. The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) • 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. Second Phase of Peloponnesian War • 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

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