The Persian and Peloponnesian Wars

Western CivilizationMs. 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)

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

Origins of the Wars

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

Persians Invade Mainland Greece

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

Invasion Round 2 – 480 BCE

◦ 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

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

Significance of Greco-Persian Wars

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

The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE)

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

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

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

Second Phase of Peloponnesian War

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

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