Unit 6 Lesson 8 The Persian and Peloponnesian Wars

Lesson 8 – The Persian and Peloponnesian Wars 1. Greece defeated two major Persian invasions in the _________________. (Battle of Salamis/Persian Wars) 2. The ____________________ began when Sparta declared war on Athens. (city-state/Peloponnesian War) 3. While Athens had a powerful navy, Sparta had a strong _____________. (government/army) 4. In 415 BC, both the army and navy of Athens were badly damaged when they were defeated on the island of __________________. (Sicily/Sparta) 5. The fighting between the Greek city-states in the years after the Peloponnesian War left Greece open to attack from ____________. (armies/outsiders)

Generalization: Conflict can both strengthen and weaken a culture

Big idea – The Persian fought Greece twice in the Persian wars, but after Persia’s defeat Sparta and Athens fought over who should have power and influence in Greece

1. - explain – Why did Persia want to invade Greece? Because many Greek city-states were rebelling against the Persian Empire

2. - summarize – What happened to the Dalian League?

Athens increased its influence over the other city-states in the league, began to treat other members unfairly and used the league’s money to benefit Athens. The league became an Athenian empire

3. - explain – Why did many city-states form an alliance against Athens? Because Athens treated them like subjects

The Persian War - expansion of the empire by Darius I - 499 BC the Ionian Greeks in Asia Minor rebelled – failed - received help from city-states in Greece - mainly Athens - Darius angry at Greek interference in internal affair - swore revenge

Athens and Sparta unite against them - Athens used phalanxes of Hoplites (citizen soldiers)

The First Invasion of Greece - 490 BC – Darius invaded Greece - Persian fleet burned city-state of Eretria - battled the Athenians on the Plains of Marathon - Persians – 15,000 men - Athenians – 11,000 men - Greek victory - better weapons and leaders

Battle of Marathon - Greeks outnumbered 2 to 10, but still defeated the Persians - sent warning then the army moved to defend Athens – the marathon - when the Persians arrived saw they were defended and left

War continued under Xerxes I – Athens built a powerful navy to prepare

Second Invasion - 480 BC – led by Xerxes I - Persian army, navy and Immortals - Athens worked with Sparta to lead an alliance of Greek city-states - Sparta – strongest army - Athens – strongest navy - Spartans slowed the Persian’s advance at Battle of Thermopylae - Persians burned Athens - Persians defeated in naval battle at Salamis - smaller Athenian ships had greater mobility - final battle – Plataea - Persia withdrew and did not return

- predict – After Athens and Sparta joined to defeat Persia, do you think they remained allies

- predict – How might the Persian Wars have ended if the Spartans had not slowed the Persians at Thermopylae? - analyze – How did the Greeks use strategy to defeat a larger fighting force?

Invaded in 480 BC - Spartans held them off at Thermopylae -- annihilated

Athens occupied and burned

Battle of Salamis – defeated in 479 BC – never attacked Greece again

The Peloponnesian War - The Dalian League - alliance to defend Greece from the Persians - each city-state gave money for defense - Athens was the strongest member – strongest navy - money went to them - they had complete control - treated the others like subjects - referred to as the Athenian Empire - refused to let members withdraw - forced other city-states to join - used defense money on their own city

- The Peloponnesian League - formed by those worried about Athens growing power - led by Sparta - declared war on Athens 431BC - Sparta attacks the city of Athens, but Athenians stayed behind their walls - Sparta destroyed the surrounding farms - besieged the city - got supplies through their navy - Athenian navy began attacking Sparta’s allies - disease swept through Athens – killing thousands - 10 years – neither could gain an advantage - agreed to a truce - Athens kept its empire - Sparta went home

415 BC - Athens broke the truce by attacking Sicily – Sparta’s ally - Sicilians - defeated the Athenian army - destroyed most of their navy - Sparta attacked Athens – Sparta victorious

- evaluate – Do you agree or disagree with this statement: “The Athenians brought the Peloponnesian War on themselves.” Defend your argument.

Sparta now the most powerful city-state - controlled most of Greece - resentment against them grew - led to wars between the city-states - weakened all of Greece

Being part of the Hellenistic world improved the quality of life for the people who lived there in what way? a. By all speaking the same language it made it trade easier and the people had access to more goods b. c. They were able to trade with more people which caused them to compete for available resources d. through war the Greeks were able to control more land and slave which made their lives better.