Section 5: The Expansion of Greece

At first, the Greek city-states developed without interference from

the nearby empires of Southwest Asia. Eventually, the mighty Persian Empire entered into Greek affairs. In 546 B. C. King Cyrus of Persia conquered the

Greek colonies on the western coast of Asia Minor. Cyrus permitted these

Greeks to keep their local governments. Later rulers, however,

tightened Persian rule and raised taxes.

I. The Persian WarsThe Persian Wars, a series of conflicts between Greece and Persia, lasted over 20 years

I. The Persian Wars

About 500 B.C. Athens helped Greek city-states in Asia Minor rebel against the Persians

Persian Infantry formation Greek phalanx

A. Wars under Darius and XerxesThe Persian ruler Darius crushed the Greek revolts and invaded Greece

A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes

The Athenians defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C.

A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes

In 480 BC Xerxes led the Persians against Greece; city-states united to stop the Persians

A. Wars under Darius and XerxesIn the Battle of Thermopylae, 300 Spartans blocked the Persian army for three days

A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes

Xerxes’ army slaughtered the Spartans and moved on to destroy Athens

Xerxes was king of Persia from 486-465 BCE

A. Wars under Darius and XerxesAthens’ leader Themistocles tricked Xerxes into attacking in the Salamis Strait and sunk most of the Persian ships

Xerxes was sure of victory. He had his throne placed on a hill overlooking the sea, in part to savor his victory and in part so his commanders would know that their king was watching them The Battle of Salamis

A. Wars under Darius and XerxesIn 479 BC Athens and Sparta joined forces, defeated the Persians at Plataea, and ended the Persian Wars

Battle of Plataea

B. The Results of the Persian WarsThe Athenians rebuilt their city and by 450 BC had created an empire in the Aegean Sea

B. The Results of the Persian WarsPersia was still a threat and 140 Greek city-states united under the Delian League, led by Athens

II. The Age of Pericles From 461 BC to 429 BC Pericles brought Athens to the peak of its power

II. The Age of Pericles Pericles brought stability and prosperity to the Delian League, but Athens made all the decisions

III. The Peloponnesian WarThe Peloponnesian War broke out in 431 B.C. between Athens and Sparta

III. The Peloponnesian WarThe stronger Spartan army invaded the Attica Peninsula and laid siege to Athens

III. The Peloponnesian War

The Athenian navy was stronger and was able to supply Athens by ship - the siege lasted for 27 years

Control of the Aegean Sea ensured that the grain ships could reach the Athenian harbor of the Piraeus safely. The corridor guaranteed that grain could be transported to the fortified city without any threat from enemy infantry

III. The Peloponnesian WarAthens attacked Syracuse and suffered great losses, aristocrats seized power and internal fighting weakened Athens

III. The Peloponnesian WarSparta united with the Persians and forced Athens’ surrendered in 404 BC

The Spartans attacked Athens and were soon joined by the Persians. For awhile the Athenians hung on. But in 405, their navy was destroyed in a surprise attack, and by the next year the situation was hopeless. In 404 BC, the Athenians surrendered totally to the Spartans, who tore down the walls of the city, barred them from ever having a navy, and installed their own oligarchic government, the Thirty. The Age of Athens, the Age of Pericles, the Classical Age, the Athenian Empire, had come to an end.