• World history is shaped by conflict and

competition.

• Wars have changed the land, people,

culture, and history of almost every

civilization.

• Greek history changed because of two wars:

– Persian

– Peloponnesian

• While Greece was growing, the Persian

empire dominated most of the world.

• Persia already conquered India,

Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Egypt.

• Looked at Greece for

next area to conquer.

• Persian King Darius attacked

Greece at city of Marathon.

• Athens won because of better

weapons, armor, and tactics.

• Persians returned 10 years

later led by Darius’ son,

Xerxes.

• Xerxes led the entire Persian

army and navy into Greece.

• Athens and Sparta

decided to join forces

and defend Greece.

• Sparta led the army, Athens the navy.

• Massive battles begin:

– Thermopylae: 300 Spartans

vs. 250,000 Persians

– Salamis: Athenian naval victory

– Plataea: All Greek

city-states

united and defeated

the Persians

• The Persian Empire was defeated

but remained strong.

• Many city-states formed an alliance

to work together for protection.

• Became known

as the Delian

League.

• Sparta refused to join, so

Athens, led by Pericles,

took control.

• Athens forced other

city-states to join and

pay “protection” money.

• Without war or bloodshed,

Pericles created the

Athenian Empire.

• Fearing the strength of

Athens, Sparta began

a defensive league.

• Athens and Sparta

scrambled to gain

control over all free

city-states.

• Sparta declared war, and

civil war ripped Greece

apart.

• Finally after 30 years, and

with Persia’s help, Sparta

conquered Athens.

• Sparta’s control was harsh and cruel.

• The city-states of Greece rebelled.

• Greece was completely

devastated and weak.

• Eventually Greece was

conquered by a new

foreign power; Macedonia