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Victory and Defeat in the Greek World Key Terms • • • • • Alliance Direct Democracy Stipend Jury Ostracism The Persian Wars • Athens emerged as the wealthiest Greek citystate – They sent forces to help the Ionian Greeks fight the Persians • Persia was victorious • For punishment, Darius I sent a huge force across the Aegean to punish – Battle of Marathon • Overwhelmed by the fury of the Athenian assault, the Persians hastily retreated to their ships Renewed Attacks • Darius’s son, Xerxes, sent a much larger force to conquer Greece • A small Spartan force guarded the narrow mountain pass at Thermopylae – Leonidas held out against the Persian Force – After defeating the Spartans, the Persians marched south and burned Athens • The Athenians lured the Persian navy into narrow strait of Salamis – Persian navy was trapped • Greeks defeated the Persians on land in Asia Minor – Marked the end of the Persian invasions Results • Athens emerged from the war as the most powerful citystate in Greece • Athens organized the Delian League – Alliance with other Greek city-states – Athens dominated it Athens in the Age of Pericles • Years after the Persian Wars were a golden age – Under Pericles • Athens was a direct democracy • Athenian jury included hundreds or even thousands of jurors • Citizens would vote to banish a public figure whom they saw as a threat to their democracy The Funeral Oration • Pericles praised the Athenian form of government • Pericles stressed not only the rights but also the duties of citizenship • Considered one of the earliest and greatest expressions of democratic ideals Economic and Cultural Life • Hired the best architects and sculptors to rebuild the Acropolis • Building projects increased Athenians’ prosperity by creating jobs for artisans and workers – Gods favored the Athenians • Pericles turned Athens into the cultural center of Greece The Peloponnesian War • Other Greek states in the Delian League opposed Athenian domination – Sparta formed the Peloponnesian League • Athens faced a serious geographic disadvantage • Sparta was located inland so it could not be attacked from the sea • Many people from Athens moved within the city walls – Overpopulation led to plague • Killed 1/3 of the population • With Persian help, Sparta finally over took Athens The Aftermath of War • The Peloponnesian War ended Athenian domination of the Greek world • Athenian economy revived and Athens remained the cultural center of Greece. Questions to Consider • What is the Funeral Oration? Why is it important? • Explain the importance of the Age of Pericles. What did Pericles do for Athens? • What is the difference between the Persian and Peloponnesian War? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJZSTX0x0c